Graves Statement on Tentative Freight Rail Agreement

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) released the following statement regarding the tentative agreement reached by representatives for the freight railroad and the freight rail labor unions:

“The announcement of a tentative agreement between the freight railroads and labor unions is welcome news. This averts a complete shutdown of our freight rail system, which would have compounded our supply chain issues and further damaged our struggling economy.

While a complete shutdown is avoided for now, unfortunately damage has already been done. Since the tentative agreement was reached only hours before the strike deadline, railroads were forced to delay or completely shut down transport of essential goods, including agriculture and food products, chemicals, and other hazardous materials critical to our national interests. Restarting the shipment of these goods will take time and impact those dependent upon them. This is just another example of this Administration and Congressional Democrats lurching from one crisis to the next while the American people continue to feel the economic pain from their failed leadership.”