Biden, in a Friday speech, condemned what he described as corporate greed in light of 2023’s crash, and also pushed for railroads to implement more safeguards.
“While there are acts of God, this was an act of greed that was 100 percent preventable,” Biden said.
“We were pushing railroads to take more precautions, to deal with braking, to do a whole range of things that were not dealt with. Norfolk Southern failed its responsibility,” he added.
Biden also said “there’s a lot more to do” and vowed that the government would continue to support the community, “[continuing] to hold Norfolk Southern accountable… what they cannot make whole, the government will make whole.”
Norfolk Southern has pledged to cover all costs for cleanup, although the EPA had also invoked the so-called Superfund law, which allows them to require the railroad to cover cleanup costs.
Norfolk Southern has defended its response to the train derailment and said it faces more than $1 billion in costs related to the cleanup and other expenses.
Last year, a train operated by Norfolk Southern railroad spilled chemicals including vinyl chloride, which is used to make plastic. Long-term exposure to vinyl chloride has been linked to liver cancer.
The incident also became a political flashpoint, with Republicans previously criticizing Biden for not having visited.
Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel continued that criticism Friday, saying in a written statement, “When Americans are in crisis, real leaders show up. Joe Biden’s visit is too little, too late.”
The Hill has reached out to Norfolk Southern for comment.
Read more at TheHill.com.
