<p>The House passed a bill on Wednesday to avert a railway strike, taking the first major step in avoiding a walkout of workers that would have drastic effects on the U.S. economy as it heads into the holiday season.</p> <p>The chamber passed the resolution in a 290-137 vote, sending it to the Senate for consideration just over one week out from the Dec. 9 strike deadline. Seventy-nine Republicans supported the measure, and eight Democrats voted “no.”</p> <p>In a subsequent vote, lawmakers passed a separate measure that would give rail workers seven days of paid sick leave per year, addressing a chief concern unions and progressives had with the agreement. That vote was 221-207, with three Republicans joining all Democrats present in supporting the measure.</p> <p>President&nbsp;<a class="person-popover__link" href="https://thehill.com/people/biden/" _mce_href="https://thehill.com/people/biden/">Biden&nbsp;</a>on Monday&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/3753508-biden-calls-on-congress-to-intervene-to-avert-rail-shutdown/" _mce_href="https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/3753508-biden-calls-on-congress-to-intervene-to-avert-rail-shutdown/" target="_blank">called on Congress to intervene</a>&nbsp;in the impasse that had union leaders and rail workers at odds and brought the U.S. closer and closer to a rail strike, which threatened to cripple the economy and ravage supply chains.</p>