Here's how Missouri's U.S. House members voted to halt rail strike, grant sick leave for workers

A majority of Missouri's U.S. House delegation voted to support legislation to halt a nationwide rail strike Wednesday, but Republicans opted not to support an additional vote granting extra sick leave for rail workers.

The legislation would force labor unions and rail companies to come to an agreement brokered by the White House that had previously been rejected by several of those unions, and would prevent a potential strike that could inflict significant economic harm. It marks a key vote for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who were forced to weigh in on one of the most significant labor disputes in the U.S., with a Dec. 9 deadline looming.

Missouri's two Democratic representatives in the House, U.S. Reps. Cori Bush and Emanuel Cleaver, voted in favor of the legislation, and also supported adding seven additional days of sick leave per year for rail workers covered by the agreement.

More:House passes legislation to avert 'catastrophic' rail strike, provide rail workers paid sick leave

Three of Missouri's Republican delegates — U.S. Reps. Ann Wagner of St. Louis County, Vicky Hartzler and Sam Graves — joined almost all Democrats and 76 other Republicans in supporting the forced compromise. They did not, however, support the additional sick leave for workers, a measure added by Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi which earned 69 fewer votes total and only three Republican votes.

Graves, the ranking member on the House Transportation Committee, decried the sick leave vote as a "political stunt" in comments to reporters in Washington.

"Today my colleagues are truly acting recklessly and setting a terrible precedent," he told POLITICO.

Missouri's three other Republicans — U.S. Reps. Blaine Leutkemeyer, Billy Long and Jason Smith — voted against both measures.

The measure will now move to the Senate, where it faces more uncertain prospects in an evenly divided chamber.

Missouri's U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley indicated Wednesday he would not support the contract, writing on Twitter that "Mr. 'Pro-worker' Joe Biden wants to use the federal government to force railroad workers in Missouri & around the nation to accept contract terms they rejected. Not with my support."

Galen Bacharier covers Missouri politics & government for the News-Leader. Contact him at gbacharier@news-leader.com, (573) 219-7440 or on Twitter @galenbacharier.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: How Missouri's U.S. House members voted on rail strike, sick leave