UPDATE: Following approval in both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House, President Biden signed into law legislation adopting the terms of a contract negotiated among freight railroads and most of their unions in September, ahead of the Dec. 9 deadline to reach an agreement before the labor union workers promised to strike.
PREVIOUS STORY: The Senate voted 80-15 on Thursday to pass a bill to avert a potential rail strike that would have dealt a serious blow to agriculture and the U.S. economy. The U.S. House approved the legislation Wednesday by a vote of 290-137.
The National Corn Growers Association applauded the bill passage.
“We are extremely relieved that Congress took action to head off a strike that would have had serious consequences for America’s farmers, who are grappling with an increase in input costs and barge rates due to severe drought conditions on the Mississippi River,” said NCGA President Tom Haag. “Today’s actions are an excellent example of Congress working together to get things done on behalf of the American people.”
Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, added, “We are very pleased both the House and the Senate responded quickly to President Biden’s call for Congress to act to prevent a potential railroad strike. Throughout the negotiation process, we did not take a side between railroads and railroad workers. However, we clearly are on the side of the American farmer, who would have been harmed if a shutdown would have been allowed to occur.”
The bill will now head to President Biden’s desk for his signature.