WASHINGTON — After a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed in East Palestine in February 2023, members of Congress quickly proposed legislation designed to reduce the chances of a repeat disaster — but lawmakers have yet to act, even after a report by the National Transportation Safety Board, which blamed the derailment on an overheated bearing that went undetected until it was too late.

“I’m in my third year here and facts like that kind of frustrate me as well,” said Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., a co-sponsor of the latest version of the Railroad Safety Act. The measure was introduced in February on the second anniversary of the derailment by a bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Aspinwall.

Responding to a disaster

The bill remains a response to a derailment and s

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