Today, Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-21) released the following statement after voting in support of H.J. Res. 100, legislation to adopt the Tentative Agreement between railroad unions and management to avert a national rail shutdown.

“A shutdown of our national railways would be a disaster for our local economy and national security,” said Congressman Valadao. “Agricultural producers here in the Valley are already facing supply chain challenges, and a rail shutdown would leave shipments of critical goods like fertilizer, feed for our livestock animals, and agricultural products stuck on the tracks. It’s unfortunate that Congress had to get involved in this dispute in the first place, but a crippling shutdown in the middle of the holiday season would bring our already fragile economy to a complete standstill.”

Background:

The Railway Labor Act (RLA) of 1926 governs disputes between railway carriers and labor unions. The Supreme Court ruled that under the Commerce clause of the Constitution, Congress has the right to intervene in railway labor disputes in order to prevent the disruption of interstate commerce. H.J.Res. 100 gives the most recent Tentative Agreement (TA) the full force of a binding agreement, without making any changes to the negotiated terms. This TA, supported by eight of the twelve labor unions, includes a 14.1% wage increase effective immediately, a 24% wage increase between 2020 through 2024, and one additional paid leave day, among other provisions. 

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