[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 147 (Tuesday, September 13, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S4560]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                    Railway Labor Management Dispute

  Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, this afternoon, I come here with genuine 
concern about the possibility of the failure to resolve a railroad 
labor management dispute, and I express my support for that resolution.
  I represent a State, the State of Kansas, its people, America's 
largest supplier of wheat, and a top leader in agricultural markets of 
many other crops. I can tell you that a labor strike would disrupt the 
stability of our ag markets and could prove catastrophic to our global 
food supply.
  At a time in which hunger is rampant around the world, again one of 
the last things we need is more difficulties in getting agriculture, 
commodities, and food to people around the globe who are looking for a 
meal tonight. In my State, corn, soybeans, grain, sorghum--that harvest 
is underway, and farmers need to be able to ship their crops by train 
around the country and to our ports where the grain will be sent to 
feed that hungry world.
  In parts of Kansas facing severe drought, feed yards, places that we 
feed cattle, are shipping grain in from other areas of the country to 
feed their livestock.
  Rail service is critical to making sure these producers are able to 
get the feed they need and to keep their livestock fed and healthy. The 
U.S. rail network moves critical agricultural commodities across the 
Nation, and a complete shutdown of the rail system would result in 
devastating consequences across an already weak supply chain.
  The Association of American Railroads found that a nationwide rail 
shutdown could idle more than 7,000 trains and lose more than $2 
billion a day in missed economic output. As the deadline approaches, we 
are already seeing the impact of contingency planning by railways, 
showing that a full shutdown would be totally unacceptable.
  With the trucking industry and other transportation systems already 
at their maximum capacity, there is no alternative plan that could 
mitigate the losses in case of a rail transportation strike and that 
rail service coming to an end.
  I have been in regular contact with our rail leaders, including those 
at Union Pacific and the Kansas City Southern, Burlington Northern 
Santa Fe, and I continue to urge all parties to reach an agreement.
  Our constituents deserve certainty that will come from reaching that 
agreement. In the event that the conclusion is not reached, I will 
utilize my opportunities as a Member of the Senate, as a Member of 
Congress for congressional intervention and work to shield the impact 
of a rail shutdown across the Nation.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Tennessee.