Ohio toxic train derailment to face congressional scrutiny – live

Democrats and Republicans in Senate and House have pledged to hold hearings on crash that has sparked major pollution fears

Good morning, US politics blog readers. East Palestine, Ohio, became America’s latest political battleground earlier this month when a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in the small community, sparking fears of life-changing pollution for its nearly 4,800 residents. Congress is now poised to get involved, with lawmakers of both parties pledging to hold hearings into the incident. For Democrats in the Senate, the focus looks to be on whether government deregulation and corporate malfeasance contributed to the accident. House Republicans, meanwhile, may see it as another opportunity to turn the public against the Biden administration.

Here’s what else is going on today:

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will hold a White House event to celebrate Black History Month at 5 pm eastern time.

Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre will take reporters’ questions at 2:30 pm.

The House and Senate are back in action, though no votes are expected.