CNN
—
The Senate on Thursday passed legislation to prevent railroad closures following a dire warning from President Joe Biden about the economic danger posed by the strike.
House through the proposed railway agreement on Wednesday. The measure can now be sent to the president for signature into law. The vote comes after pressure on lawmakers to act quickly. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said earlier on Thursday that the Senate “can’t leave until we’ve done the job.” The final vote in the Senate was 80-15.
Without congressional action, a railroad strike could have become a reality as early as December 9, triggering shortages, skyrocketing prices and factory activity. machine stalled. It may also have disrupted commuter rail services for seven million passengers a day and the daily transport of 6,300 carts of food and farm produce, among other items, according to a collection of business groups. .
One potential complication in the attempt to pass the bill is the push by progressives to add a provision to the agreement regarding paid sick leave.
On Thursday, the Senate failed to pass a paid sick leave measure passed by the House of Representatives supported by progressives.
President Biden defended the administration’s efforts to prevent a railroad strike on Thursday, despite criticism from union leaders that a White House-brokered deal did not meet meet the employee’s request for paid leave.
“I negotiated a contract that no one else could negotiate – the only thing left was whether to get paid leave,” Biden told reporters in the East Room of the White House. “You know, I’ve been trying to get paid leave, not just for railroad workers but for everyone.”
“Now, under this agreement, we will avoid rail strikes, keep the tracks running, keep things running, and we will be back and we will be on paid leave – not just for railway workers but also for all workers,” he said.
With a vote of 290 out of 137, the House of Representatives through the Railroad agreement is expected to prevent a rail strike. The vote was largely bipartisan, with 79 Republicans along with Democrats voting for the bill. Eight Democrats voted against the bill.
In a separate vote, the House of Representatives also voted 221 to 207 to add progressive-backed paid sick leave to the rail deal.
A freight rail strike could cost the US economy $1 billion in its first week alone, according to a new analysis from Anderson Economic Group.
As a result, Biden pushed Congress to “immediately” pass legislation to prevent the shutdown.
Calling himself a “proud pro-labor president,” Biden said in Monday’s statement, “I reluctantly ignore the ratification procedures and views of those who voted against the deal. But in this case – where the economic impact of the shutdown will hurt millions of other workers and families – I believe Congress must use its powers to pass this deal.”
Biden warned that closing the railroads would “destroy the economy”.
This story and title has been updated with additional developments.
