Ohio Republican Sen. J.D. Vance called upon House and Senate Republicans to support the citizens of East Palestine over special interests in the rail industry, Breitbart reported on Thursday.

Vance’s statements come a little over a month after a train carrying highly toxic materials derailed in the town of East Palestine, Ohio, polluting the immediate vicinity and a currently unknown number of waterways. The Environmental Protection Agency has barely responded to the situation, and are refusing to carry out the necessary testing to ensure safety.

An estimated 43,000 fish and other aquatic animals have died as a result of the spill. Residents have also reported illnesses, Breitbart noted. (READ MORE: Senator Takes Shocking Video At Site Near Ohio Train Derailment)

“We are the party of working people in this country,” Vance said, referring to Republicans.

“There’s been a big political realignment in this country over the last 30 years … we are the party of firefighters, of police officers, of the people who go to work, pay their taxes, fight our country’s wars, and keep our communities safe. We are proud of that and we should be proud of that in the Republican Party,” he continued. “But now we are faced with a choice, with this legislation and how we respond to this crisis, do we do the bidding of a massive industry that is in bed with big government, or do we do the bidding of the people who elected us to the Senate and to the Congress in the first place?”

Vance said Republicans now have a choice: to support people, or Big Government and Big Business. (READ MORE: Biden Visits Ukraine Instead Of Helping American Citizens In East Palestine, Ohio)

His statements came in testimony for the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Vance blasted rail lobbyists who are trying to destroy his proposed bipartisan safety bill. The bill is co-sponsored with Montana Republican Sen. Josh Hawley, Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, John Pennsylvania Democrat Sen. Fetterman, and two other Democrats.

If you support people over Big Business and Big Government, here’s how to get involved in the fight for our safety:

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