Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2022

November 29, 2022

The President. Well, look, I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. And I asked the four top leaders in Congress whether they'd be willing to come in and talk about what we're going to do between now and Christmas, in terms of legislation.

And there's a lot to do, including resolving the train strike and the trainâtheâwhat we're doing now. And Congress, I think, has to act to prevent it. It's not an easy call, but I think we have to do it. The economy is at risk.

We're going to work together to fundâI hope we'll work together to fund the Government, COVID, and the war in Ukraineâall controversial and consequential issues. And we're going to find other areas of common ground, I hope, because the American people want us to work together.

And so I'm going to stop there and get started because I'm sure this is going to go very quickly, and everyone is going to agree on everything. [*Laughter*]

All kidding aside, we're here to get work done. And I want to thank you for taking the interest and time to be here. Thank you.

Potential Strike by Railroad Industry Workers

Q. Mr. President, are you confident you can avoid a rail strike? And what's your message to the workersâ[inaudible]?

The President. I'm confidentâ[inaudible].

[*At this point, several reporters spoke at once.*] *The President. *I'm confident.

NOTE: The President spoke at 10:40 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Kevin O. McCarthy, and Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and Minority Leader A. Mitchell McConnell. Also participating were Vice President Kamala D. Harris, White House Chief of Staff Ronald A. Klain, Counselor Steve Ricchetti, Legislative Affairs Director Louisa Terrell, and Director of Legislative Affairs for the Vice President Grisella Martinez.

Categories: Addresses and Remarks : Congressional leadership, meeting with President. Locations: Washington, DC.

Names: Klain, Ronald A. Klain; McCarthy, Kevin O.; McConnell, A. Mitchell; Pelosi, Nancy; Schumer, Charles E.

Subjects: Bipartisanship; COVIDâ19 pandemic; House minority leader; Members of Congress, meeting with President; Railway system, labor dispute; Russia, conflict in Ukraine; Senate majority leader; Senate minority leader; Speaker of the House of Representatives; Ukraine, Russian airstrikes and invasion.

DCPD Number: DCPD202201074.

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