The House will soon vote to stop a rail strike that could happen as soon as next week after rail owners and unions failed to reach an agreement.
President Biden recently called on the lame-duck Congress to take action in order to avoid a costly rail strike, saying the economy is at risk. House Majority Leader, Steny Hoyer, says the House will vote today on the tentative deal landed back in September. The measure would add seven paid sick days, which has been a sticking point for workers. The bill will then go to the Senate.
The former Chief of USDA’s Farm Service Agency says a strike would not just be devastating to agriculture.
“I look at everything from an agriculture lens, but there are a bunch of other segments of the economy that would be affected, right? So I would be less inclined to think that Congress would act if were just one segment of the economy, but it stretches across all segments. I would think somebody’s gonna do something to get this averted.”
The American Railroad Association says it would take nearly 100 million additional trucks, and cost four times the amount of fuel, to move items without a rail system.
UPDATE: The votes are still being counted. Right now, the House is voting on the resolution to ratify the temporary rail labor agreement. Later, they will vote on another that could expand sick leave.
For a full breakdown of agriculture’s dependency on the rail system, click HERE.
