Last week, the PA Chamber joined the U.S. Chamber and 448 organizations nationwide in sending a letter urging Congress to intervene and prevent a national rail strike involving America’s major freight railroads and 12 labor unions.
Economists and industry leaders were warning that a rail strike would have devastating financial consequences for the U.S. economy and families, costing an estimated $2 billion dollars per day, and disrupting supply chains at the peak of the holiday season. In fact, as recently as September the mere possibility of a rail strike sent shock waves throughout the national economy, causing disruptions in the delivery of fertilizers, chlorine, and other essential products necessary to clean our water, stock our food supply, and maintain our electricity generation.
We are grateful to the Biden administration and the members of Congress who worked to quickly pass legislation codifying a labor contract agreed to by freight carriers and a majority of the labor unions. Members representing Pennsylvania who supported the legislation include:
- Senator Robert Casey
- Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01)
- Congressman Brendan Boyle (PA-02)
- Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-03)
- Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (PA-04)
- Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05)
- Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06)
- Congresswoman Susan Wild (PA-07)
- Congressman Matt Cartwright (PA-08)
- Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-09)
- Congressman John Joyce (PA-13)
- Congressman Conor Lamb (PA-17)
- Congressman Mike Doyle (PA-18)