The House on Wednesday approved legislation to bind railway companies and 12 railway unions to a deal the Biden administration tentatively approved in September. The bill passed 290-137.

Eight of the 12 railway unions have agreed to deals for pay raises and bonuses. Four more unions have rejected their deals. If all the unions do not agree to the same deals by Dec. 9, all 12 unions will go on strike just before the holiday season.

So Congress is trying to stop them from going on strike? Yes, lawmakers are hoping to avoid a shutdown of major infrastructure before the holiday season hits its full swing.

Pres. Joe Biden has also said the railways will quit transporting items with a short shelf life or that are easily perishable, such as food products or even chemicals for treating drinking water, if the strike seems imminent. The Senate has to approve the legislation next before it can head to Biden’s desk to be signed and become law.

This story originally appeared in WORLD. © 2022, reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.