Senate votes to avert freight rail strike that Biden warned would have triggered recession

A nationwide freight rail strike that President Joe Biden warned would have decimated the U.S. economy has been averted after the Senate voted overwhelmingly Thursday to impose a tentatively approved labor deal.

The vote was 80-15.

The legislation, which the House passed Wednesday, marked the first time in 30 years that Congress intervened to stop a rail strike. But Biden and bipartisan congressional leaders – reluctantly – said it was imperative the potentially crippling rail strike be prevented.

Biden told reporters Thursday morning a strike, which would have begun Dec. 9, would have triggered "a recession."