Rail Deal Clears House, Moves on to Senate

With the deadline for a possible rail strike fast approaching, the House passed a bill Nov. 30 that would mandate an agreement between railroad workers and operators. 

The bill passed on a 290-137 vote with bipartisan support, congressional records show. The measure, which is based on a tentative accord struck in September between most of the parties, will now head to the Senate. 

Barring a last-minute resolution between the railroads and a number of employee unions, lawmakers have until Dec. 9 to get the measure signed into law to prevent a shutdown.  

In a Nov. 30 statement, the president expressed gratitude to the House for “taking urgent action” and asked the Senate to do the same.  

“Without the certainty of a final vote to avoid a shutdown this week, railroads will begin to halt the movement of critical materials ... as soon as this weekend,” Biden stated. 

It is currently unclear when the Senate will schedule a vote. 

During the same session, the House also backed a concurrent resolution granting rail workers seven additional days of paid sick leave each year. This measure, which would only take effect if the Senate passes both the agreement and the sick leave, passed by a vote of 221-207.