Robb Blasdel Introduces Resolution to Create Congressional Committee

COLUMBUS—State Representative Monica Robb Blasdel (R-Columbiana) introduced a resolution urging Congress to establish a special committee to investigate the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment and the federal Environmental Protection Agency's response to it.

“I have been fighting for East Palestine at the state level ever since I took office in 2023. The newly-obtained documents acquired through a Freedom of Information Act are contradictory and extremely concerning. If any information has, in fact, been withheld from the public, that information needs further investigation. I demand full transparency from the federal government as we monitor long-term health outlooks for residents. This is why I have introduced a resolution calling on Congress to act. The people of East Palestine were let down by the mismanagement of the Biden administration and now is the time to figure out the full extent of what was withheld from the public. I have been working with our U.S. Senators and Congressional delegation in Ohio to help establish a special committee to investigate the response, uncover the facts, and provide the full needed support to the people of East Palestine.” 

Rep. Blasdel introduced the resolution amid newly obtained documents acquired through a Freedom of Information Act request showing that officials from FEMA voiced concerns that the chemical spill and the plume of smoke set off by the controlled burn could cause "cancer clusters.”

The resolution urges Congress to establish a special committee to investigate the East Palestine train derailment and the United States Environmental Protection Agency's response to it and urges Congress to appoint members of the Ohio Congressional delegation to the special committee.