U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a full committee Executive Session on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. ET to consider legislation and a presidential nomination. The Committee will hold a full committee hearing titled “Improving Rail Safety in Response to the East Palestine Derailment” directly following the Executive Session.

Executive Session

The following actions were taken during today’s executive session.

Approved:

1. S. 127, the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency Act of 2023 as amended by
1. Cantwell substitute (as modified)
2. Budd_1 (as modified), _2 (as modified), and _3 (as modified)
3. Cruz_4, _5, _6, _7, and _8
4. Tester-Capito_1
2. S. 66, the NOTAM Improvement Act of 2023 as amended by
1. Klobuchar-Moran-Capito substitute
2. Klobuchar_1 and _2
3. S. 90, the Informing Consumers About Smart Devices Act as amended by
1. Lujan_1 (as modified)
1. Markey_1 to Lujan_1 (as modified)
4. S. 318, the Save our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act as amended by 
1. Sullivan substitute (as modified)
5. S. 467, the CADETS Act
1. Cruz_1

Executive Session Details:

Full Committee Executive Session
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
10:00 a.m. ET
Committee Hearing Room, Russell 253

Hearing: Improving Rail Safety in Response to the East Palestine Derailment

The Committee will hear testimony regarding Norfolk Southern’s safety record and how the February 3, 2023, derailment and the controlled burn of vinyl chloride impacted the East Palestine, Ohio, community. Witnesses will also discuss suggestions for how to improve the safety of the nation’s rail network, hazardous materials transportation safety and emergency response, including the provisions of S. 576, the Railway Safety Act of 2023.

Introduction Panel:

• U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown
• U.S. Senator J.D. Vance
• Hon. Mike DeWine, Governor of Ohio
• Misti Allison, Resident of East Palestine

Witnesses:

• Jennifer Homendy, Chair, National Transportation Safety Board
• David Comstock, Chief, Ohio Western Reserve Joint Fire District
• Clyde Whitaker, Legislative Director, Ohio State SMART-TD
• Alan Shaw, CEO, Norfolk Southern
• Ian Jefferies, CEO, Association of American Railroads

Hearing Details:

Full Committee Hearing
Wednesday, March 22, 2023 
Directly Following the Executive Session @ approximately 10:45 a.m. ET
Committee Hearing Room, Russell 253

WATCH LIVE STREAM:  www.commerce.senate.gov and on Twitter @CommerceDems

Due to limited space, the general public is encouraged to view this hearing via the live stream.