Biden looks to Congress to force deal on railroad workers

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House passes legislation to avert a rail shutdown

The House on Wednesday approved legislation to avert a rail shutdown following a grave warning from President Joe Biden about the economic danger posed by congressional inaction.

By a 290 to 137 vote, the House passed the tentative rail agreement that will prevent a rail strike. The vote was largely bipartisan, with 79 Republicans joining Democrats in voting for the bill. Eight Democrats voted against the bill.

The House used an arcane procedure to pass the bill so that it can include language to give railroad workers paid leave, in a separate subsequent vote that progressives had called for. But, because it’s a procedure, the Senate can vote on the original measure without considering the paid leave component and won’t have to send it back to the House.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/30/politics/congress-rail-vote-house/index.html

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Senate reaches deal to vote on legislation to avert rail shutdown

Democrats and Republicans have locked in a deal to vote on rail legislation to avert a damaging shutdown with votes starting “very soon,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced on the Senate floor Thursday.

Pressure has been mounting on Senate leaders to clear legislation for President Joe Biden’s signature to avert a rail shutdown amid concerns over the economic danger posed by a strike.

The House passed the tentative rail agreement on Wednesday. Leaders have been racing to see if they can reach a deal to pass the legislation Thursday – a tough task since they would need all 100 senators to agree to schedule that vote and any one senator can object and drag out the process.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/01/politics/senate-rail-vote/index.html

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Biden signs legislation to avert rail shutdown

President Joe Biden on Friday signed legislation to avert a rail shutdown after congressional lawmakers raced to pass the measure amid concerns over the economic danger posed by a possible strike.

The House passed the tentative rail agreement on Wednesday, and the Senate passed the legislation on Thursday as pressure mounted on lawmakers to act swiftly.

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Biden defended his administration’s efforts to avert a rail strike on Thursday, despite criticism from union leaders that a deal brokered by the White House did not meet workers’ demands for paid leave.

“I negotiated a contract no one else could negotiate – the only thing that was left out was whether or not there was a paid leave,” Biden told reporters in the White House East Room. “You know, I’ve been trying to get paid leave, not just rail workers, but for everybody.”

https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/02/politics/biden-signs-legislation-avert-rail-shutdown/index.html