EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — President Joe Biden sought to reassure East Palestine, Ohio, residents of the federal government’s commitment to cleaning up their community following a toxic train derailment last year.

Biden traveled to East Palestine, near Ohio‘s border with Pennsylvania, on Friday, more than a year after a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed there in a fiery crash. Many of the almost 40 cars that left the tracks became engulfed in flames, more than 10 of which contained hazardous material. A state of emergency was declared, and residents were evacuated for a controlled burn, which released vinyl chloride, used to construct polyvinyl chloride hard plastic resin, into the air. Community concerns range from those related to their health to their property prices.

Biden teased traveling to East Palestine for months after the Feb. 3, 2023 crash but angered Mayor Trent Conaway with his decision to go to Ukraine instead for the first anniversary of Russia‘s invasion. Conaway repeated Friday that Biden’s visit was “long-awaited” but wanted to focus on the future and cooperating with the federal government to continue improving the economic situation of the village and its residents.

“You’ve been through hell,” the president opened his Friday speech to residents. “I want you to understand that we’re not going home, no matter what, until this job is done. And it’s not done yet. There’s a lot more to do.

“But we’re gonna stay to the very end, and every need is met,” he continued.

Biden touted his administration’s response to the disaster, including holding Norfolk Southern fiscally and physically responsible for the cleanup, which he referred to as an “act of greed.”

The president additionally announced six new National Institutes of Health grants to assist with both short- and long-term monitoring of the health impacts of the derailment. Biden further urged Congress to pass bipartisan legislative reforms governing rail and freight safety standards and a tax provision ensuring that East Palestine residents are not taxed on any reimbursements they receive pursuant to the derailment.

“All told, we have done in one year what would typically take many years, and I’m going to keep going,” Biden concluded. “There’s nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together, and we’re going to stay here and do it together as long as it takes.”

Prior to his remarks, the president and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan met with Conaway and local officials for a tour of the site of the derailment himself. Biden was briefed on the cleanup and recovery efforts, yet reporters were kept at a distance and could not hear specifics of the exchange.

In the village itself, Biden’s arrival was met by scores of protesters, including both supporters of former President Donald Trump and activists pressuring the president to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Earlier in the day, the president visited with first responders in nearby Darlington, Pennsylvania, who helped with the immediate response and cleanup following the Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine.

“God made men, and then he made a few firefighters,” the president joked while visiting with the emergency crews, repeating a line he has frequently used throughout his political career.

The president additionally referred to first responders as the “heart and soul of the community” and claimed, having gone to a Catholic school across the street from a firehouse, that all of his friends became either firefighters, police officers, or priests.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Thursday that Biden was only now traveling to East Palestine “at the invite of the mayor” and that Biden would “hear directly from the people of” that community during his visit.

“This is a trip that he has been wanting to make but wanted to make sure that it was the right time to do,” Jean-Pierre added. “You will see a president that goes out there, whether it’s a red state, blue state, urban America, rural America, to hear and make sure that he is a president for all, especially when they’re dealing with this, you know, this awful, awful event that happened specifically in this community.”

Last February, the Environmental Protection Agency ordered Norfolk Southern to address the environmental damage caused by the derailment, including contaminated soil in water.

Then, in September 2023, Biden issued an executive order directing the federal government to hold Norfolk Southern to account and ensure East Palestine had access to federal assistance for needs “not met by Norfolk Southern,” according to the White House.

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“At the same time, the administration has taken action to improve rail safety — including by deploying historic investments to modernize and upgrade rail infrastructure and make passenger and freight rail safer,” White House officials added on Thursday. “The president continues to call on Congress to do its part by passing the Bipartisan Railway Safety Act.”

Biden’s remarks can be seen in full below.