As worries about the potential economic damage of a strike grow, pressure is building on Senate leaders to pass legislation for President Joe Biden’s signature.
The tentative train agreement was approved by the House on Wednesday, but it still needs to be approved by the Senate before it can become law. No votes have been secured as of yet, but leaders are attempting to find an agreement in order to approve the law today. This is a difficult assignment because they would need the support of all 100 senators in order to schedule that vote, and any one senator might protest and delay the process.
John Thune, the Senate GOP whip, expressed optimism that a solution will be achieved on Thursday and provided further information about the sticking points, including whether to set the threshold for amendment votes at a simple majority or 60. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ amendment to give rail workers paid sick leave and GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan’s amendment to give the unions and rail a 60-day extension to continue negotiations are the two amendments that are anticipated to be voted on.
Without congressional intervention, a rail strike may occur as early as December 9, which would result in shortages, price increases, and a halt to manufacturing. According to a number of industry groups, it might potentially affect commuter rail services for up to seven million passengers daily and the daily transfer of 6,300 carloads of food and farm products, among other things.
Progressives’ demand to include a clause to expand paid sick leave in the accord could complicate efforts to approve a law.
The House approved the addition of the clause to the rail on Wednesday, bringing the amount of paid sick days from one to seven.
Progressive House lawmakers who threatened to kill the rail accord bill if sick leave wasn’t included insisted on adding the additional sick leave provision. But it was introduced in a mysterious way that will allow the Senate to approve the original train agreement without the sick leave clause.
The Senate “cannot leave until we get the job done,” according to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, on legislation to stop a rail shutdown on Thursday. He stated that holding a vote “to provide rail workers the paid sick leave many of them have sought for” is one of his “top objectives.” He expressed the expectation that some GOP senators will support it alongside Democrats. In fact, a few conservative Republican senators, including Florida’s Marco Rubio and Missouri’s Josh Hawley, have said they are open to the sick leave provision. However, it’s unclear if it would garner the 60 votes necessary for it to pass.
Thune stated that he anticipates learning “very shortly” whether a rail agreement will be reached on Thursday.
He told AWN in the Capitol, “I think they are still working on final amendment text language and haggling back and forth on time agreements and vote thresholds and things like that.
When asked if he believed it would work today, he responded, “Well, it remains to be seen. We’ll likely learn that shortly, in my opinion.
When asked if he anticipates a rail agreement being reached today, Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell responded, “Hope so.”
There is a push to finish the bill by Thursday because senators typically leave for the weekend on Thursdays and because there are worries that the effects of a potential strike could be felt as early as this week. Many senators also think that a vote can happen within the allotted time.