Congress would act to avert a national rail strike, Hoyer says

Congress would act to avert a national freight railway strike which could have a devastating effect on the US economy in the weeks leading up to the midterm elections, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said. 

“There is a role for Congress if in fact they fail to reach an agreement,” the Maryland Democrat said on Bloomberg Television’s “Balance of Power with David Westin.” “We can pass legislation if needed.”

Industry groups have been pressing Congress to intervene in the dispute, using its power to bar railworkers from striking by extending the Friday deadline for a deal or to force both sides to accept a settlement. However unions, which are a key constituency for Democrats, have been urging lawmakers to stay out of it.

Hoyer said he is hopeful that railway worker unions and management can reach a collective bargaining agreement soon to avert an “extraordinarily detrimental” strike. 

Railroads have advised customers of potential service disruptions starting on Monday if talks don’t progress ahead of a potential walkout on Sept. 17 that could snarl supply chains, disrupt agricultural deliveries and cost the US economy more than $2 billion a day. 

“A railroad strike at this point in time would be extraordinarily detrimental to our economy and the American people, and we want to avoid that,” Hoyer said.

Hoyer, who sets the legislative calendar in the House, also announced on the program that Senate is planning to vote first on the stopgap spending bill that is needed to keep the government open after Oct. 1. 

He said that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told him he still intends to honor a deal he struck with West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin to attach a bill speeding fossil fuel project permits, even though progressive Democrats oppose that measure. 

“We will have to convince our members if it is included,” Hoyer said of the permitting bill. He said he is waiting to see the final text of the Manchin bill before drumming up votes for it. 

Seventy-two House Democrats last week issued a letter to Democratic leaders warning against attaching the Manchin permitting deal to the must-pass spending bill. The letter suggested that the progressive Democrats could allow a government shutdown on Oct. 1 if the measure is included. 

Schumer and the White House argue the bill will speed approvals for renewable energy projects as well as fossil fuel projects. 

The legislation, which is still being drafted, seeks to deliver speedier federal approval for energy infrastructure such as Equitrans Midstream Corp.’s stalled $6.6 billion Mountain Valley natural gas pipeline, which crosses Manchin’s home state of West Virginia.