Political Quotes

“I rise today on a pretty solemn occasion in Eastern Ohio. Frankly, I rise today to recognize a town in Eastern Ohio, one that most of my colleagues probably didn't even know existed a year ago. On February 3, 2023, less than a year ago, 38 railcars from a train spanning 1\1/2\ miles--think about that: a train spanning 1\1/2\ miles--derailed and overturned right outside the center of East Palestine, OH. Flames flared and thick, black plumes of smoke billowed into the sky. Toxic chemicals started spewing into the air and the water and the ground. We saw the footage. We all saw that footage that dominated the news. People read the articles. They scrolled through it on social media. Americans watched it, but the people of East Palestine lived it. They had to pack up and evacuate their homes in the middle of the night. They didn't know if the air they were breathing and the water coming from their faucets was safe. Their lives were turned upside down. My job is to always, always fight for Ohio. When disaster struck, we got to work. Residents in the surrounding area needed air, water, and soil testing. We secured it. They needed initial health screenings. We made it happen, and we got the Centers for Disease Control to support a free health clinic. They needed answers and help with cleanup. We got that done. Local business owners and farmers and manufacturers needed investment to keep their community alive.…”