Senate passes legislation averting a rail shutdown

A look at the Senate's passage of a bill to avert what may have potentially been an economically crippling freight rail strike as lawmakers in both chambers responded quickly to President Joe Biden’s call for federal intervention in a contentious labor dispute.

Earlier in the week, President Biden said, “Without the certainty of a final vote to avoid a shutdown this week, railroads will begin to halt the movement of critical materials like chemicals to clean our drinking water as soon as this weekend. Let me say that again: without action this week, disruptions to our auto supply chains, our ability to move food to tables, and our ability to remove hazardous waste from gasoline refineries will begin.” close