WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (NH-01), a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, helped avert a shipping and supply chain crisis by voting to implement a bipartisan agreement to keep freight trains running and put in place strengthened benefits for rail workers. This agreement avoids a shutdown of America’s rail system that would have cost hundreds of thousands of jobs, increased prices, and disrupted supply chains for everything from heating oil to groceries.

“The last thing our economy needs as we enter these winter months is a rail shutdown that would exacerbate supply chain challenges and increase costs for New Hampshire families,” said Congressman Chris Pappas. “That is why I voted for bipartisan legislation to prevent a shutdown and strengthen benefits and pay that our nation’s rail workers deserve. These workers perform a vital function that keeps our economy moving, and this agreement honors that work with the first increase in pay and benefits in years. It also ensures that freight trains continue to run and that supplies of everything from home heating oil to groceries is not interrupted this winter.”

Pappas voted to pass H.J.Res. 100, which puts the September 15 agreement between freight railroad carriers and rail unions in place. He also voted to pass H. Con. Res. 119, which would require that the proposed September 15 rail labor agreement be modified to provide all covered rail workers seven days of paid sick leave each year.