‘Anything They Need Is Available or, We’ll Make It Available to Them’
President Biden responds to the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio
Despite ongoing and piercing political attacks over his administration's handling of the toxic train accident earlier this month in Ohio, the truth is that help was on the ground within hours and began a robust response, according to President Biden.
Biden and his team have been criticized for failing to show up before Thursday at the site of the massive and environmentally catastrophic train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited the scene Thursday, some three weeks after the initial incident, which left toxic chemicals spilling into the ground and water around the small town.
Biden's potential rival for reelection next year — Donald Trump — made his own ham-fisted appearance at a McDonald's in East Palestine, taking swipes at Biden while handing out campaign hats and other items.
“Let’s put this in perspective. Within two hours of that derailment, the EPA was in there. Within two hours. Every major agency in the United States government that had anything to do with rail and or clean-up was there and is there,” Biden said Friday, referring to the federal Environmental Protection Agency. “In addition to that, I’ve spoken at length to the congresspersons, the governors, the senators from both states of Pennsylvania and in Ohio. And I’ve made it clear to them anything they need is available, or we’ll make it available to them.
“Whatever happens here, we got to understand is the responsibility of the railroad company who’s made, by the way, tens of billions of dollars in profits, tens of billions of dollars of profits lately,” the president added.
California Democratic congressman John Garamendi agreed that responsibility for the derailment — as well as for cleanup and recovery — lies with the rail company, Norfolk Southern.
“Well, the help in East Palestine must come from Norfolk Southern. This is not a taxpayer problem. This is a railroad company problem,” he said. “They created the problem, and they must be fully down to the very last penny responsible.”
Meanwhile, in other news, First Lady, Dr Jill Biden, said that her husband is ready to run for a second term.
“He says he's not done. He's not finished,” she said.
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