Biden signs bill avoiding a rail strike during holidays

President Biden on Friday morning signed a measure that will impose a labor agreement for rail workers that his administration brokered in September, averting a nationwide disruption of rail service ahead of the holiday season. 

"The bill I'm about to sign ends a difficult rail dispute and helps our nation avoid what without a doubt would have been an economic catastrophe at a very bad time in the calendar," Mr. Biden said before signing the legislation. 

The bill passed the Senate Thursday with bipartisan support, 80 to 15, with GOP Sen. Rand Paul voting "present." The measure passed the House earlier this week, after the president urged Congress to intervene. 

An amendment that would have added seven days of paid sick leave to the rail contract failed in a 52 to 43 vote. The Senate also voted down a GOP amendment for a 60-day cooling off period for union and rail negotiations.