GOP resolution demands Pete Buttigieg RESIGN for response to Ohio train derailment

Now that Congress is back in session, lawmakers are taking into their own hands remediation efforts for East Palestine, Ohio following immense criticism of the Biden administration's handling of the toxic train derailment.

Republican Rep. Mike Waltz is leading the effort calling on Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to resign for his extremely delayed and alleged inadequate response to the 50-car train crash last month.

The Florida lawmaker also notes that the resolution comes after years of Buttigieg 'neglecting his duties during a historic supply chain crisis, commercial flight crisis, [and] rail worker strike.'

Buttigieg was blasted for going on a Portuguese vacation following the Ohio train derailment last month instead of immediately visiting the site of the crash. 

Republicans introduced a resolution on Wednesday calling on  Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to resign and condemning him for being 'AWOL' during a series of infrastructure-related crises over the last two years

It comes after the latest debacle when the Biden administration bungled the response to the toxic train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio last month

Meanwhile in the upper chamber, Ohio's Democratic and Republican senators are co-sponsoring legislation that would tighten railroad safety requirements.

Although no individuals were injured or killed in the accident, the derailment and its aftermath has thrown the entire small Ohio village and its surrounding towns into disarray.

Roughly half of East Palestine's more than 4,700 residents were evacuated after the crash as hazardous chemicals entered the air, ground and water.

After they were cleared to return, some residents told DailyMail.com that they are still feeling the effects of the toxic runoff, including rashes, shortness of breath, headaches and more.

The bill from Ohio Senators JD Vance, a Republican, and Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, would require railroads to establish emergency response plans, as well as provide information to local emergency response officials when trains are coming through their jurisdictions carrying hazardous materials.

While shipments of hazardous materials by train make up about 7 percent to 8 percent of 30 million deliveries each year, almost any train could carry at least one or two cars of materials deemed hazardous.

The Railway Safety Act of 2023 is a bipartisan piece of legislation, and echoes much of what Buttigieg called for when he finally visited East Palestine 20 days after the derailments – to which residents claimed it was 'too little, too late.'

'Through this legislation, Congress has a real opportunity to ensure that what happened in East Palestine will never happen again,' Vance said in a statement.

'We owe every American the peace of mind that their community is protected from a catastrophe of this kind.'

Buttigieg has been called on to resign from his post by Republicans in response to the latest crisis.

Trump beat Buttigieg to East Palestine weeks after the 50-car derailment. He brought water and canned food for the residents

'Over the last two years, Secretary Buttigieg has gone AWOL during multiple national crises,' Congressman Waltz said in a statement introducing a resolution to remove Buttigieg from office.

'From failing to immediately respond to last month's major economic, environmental, and humanitarian disaster in East Palestine to neglecting his duties during a historic supply chain crisis, commercial flight crisis, rail worker strike, and so much more, Buttigieg has endangered and failed the American people time and time again,' he added.

'That's why I am calling for his resignation.'

The resolution was co-sponsored by Representatives Lauren Boebert of Colorado; Clay Higgins of Louisiana; Greg Steube and Bill Posey both of Florida; Claudia Tenney of New York; Ryan Zinke Montana; Mary Miller of Illinois; and Mike Collins of Georgia.