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Grassley says Congress is ready to step in to avoid rail strike

A U.S. Senator says Congress is ready to step in to avoid a railroad strike.

Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley tells Brownfield in late September there were enough votes to pass a bill that would keep freight moving if rail companies and labor unions could not come to terms voluntarily.

“And I think we’re in a position to do that again (and) it’s a ‘must be’ position to be in (because) we can’t let the railroads stop. It would affect not just agriculture, but it would enhance the price of food all over the country.”

He says lawmakers would need to act quickly once Congress returns to session following the midterm elections.

“Seems to me that either the President gets the unions to abide by it, or Congress has to take this action. And I would hope that Congress would take this action without any problem, in other words not take five days that it normally takes to pass a bill.”

The legislation Grassley is referring to would strengthen the authority of the Surface Transportation Board to address service emergencies and require contracts to have delivery standards.