Washington, D.C. — Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr., Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials, helped write and introduce two bills that passed the U.S. House of Representatives today to protect the health and safety of America’s rail workers as well as avoid a nationwide rail shutdown.  The first bill, H.J. Res. 100, would settle the labor dispute between railroad unions and management to avoid a rail shutdown, which would cost the country more than $2 billion per day in lost economic activity.  The second, H. Con. Res. 119, would provide seven days of paid sick leave to more than 100,000 railroad workers.  Chairman Payne, Jr. has been a strong supporter of working Americans and unions throughout his time in Congress.  

“I am proud to secure the right to paid sick leave and other benefits for America’s courageous rail workers,” said Chairman Payne, Jr.  “They fought throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, at great personal risk, to keep food and other essentials on store shelves nationwide and deserve to have these protections.

In addition, I am proud of my House colleagues for this bipartisan effort to prevent the soaring food and fuel costs that would be caused by a rail shutdown.  President Biden’s economic policies are lowering fuel prices, decreasing inflation, and increasing jobs across the country.  All of these gains could have been reversed with a rail shutdown.

However, rail executives should be ashamed for their treatment of their employees.  For years, the industry cut workforce, closed rail yards, and fought measures to improve the health and safety of rail workers.  At the same time, the industry has experienced record profits and paid CEOs almost 144 times the salary of average workers.

Railroads can afford adequate medical benefits for their employees, such as paid sick leave, and simply refused to do it.  Instead, they would prefer them to work when sick, which endangers the health of their co-workers and increases the risk of potentially-fatal rail accidents.

That is why Congressional action was necessary.  More than 30 percent of the nation’s freight is transported by rail and a shutdown would have created an economic catastrophe.  Again, I am proud that my work to write, introduce and pass these bills to protect our critical railroad workers and prevent such a catastrophe.  Now, rail workers can take the time they need to protect their health and the health of their colleagues without any concerns.”