WASHINGTON (November 29, 2022) — The American Chemistry Council (ACC) supports President Biden’s call for Congress to pass legislation to implement the Tentative Agreement between union leadership and railroads to avoid a crippling shutdown of the nation’s freight rail system.
“We understand this is a challenging situation and we commend President Biden for directly engaging with Congress to find a solution,” said Chris Jahn, ACC’s president and CEO.
Chemical manufacturers are less than a week away from being unable to transport chemicals critical to everyday life as railroads start to restrict service in advance of the strike deadline. Many of these chemical shipments are needed to protect public health and safety, including water treatment and to support every segment of the economy – from farms to factories.
U.S. chemical manufacturers are one of largest users of freight rail – shipping more than 33,000 carloads per week worth $2.8 billion. Many chemical facilities would be forced to curtail production or shut down within the first week of a rail service embargo.
“Time is running short, and the stakes are too high,” said Jahn. “We urge Congress to prevent a strike from triggering an economic catastrophe by quickly passing legislation based on the terms that labor leaders and railroads agreed to in September.”
