Joint resolution to extend the provisions of the Railway Labor Act, and for other purposes.
Public Law 93-5 · S.J.Res. 59 · 93rd Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Richard Nixon (R) on Feb 9, 1973 · Transportation and Public Works
Sponsor: Sen. Harrison Williams (D-NJ)
Cosponsors (2): Sen. Jacob Javits, Sen. Robert Stafford
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Extends for an additional period of time commencing at the expiration of the 30-day period provided for in the provisions of the Railway Labor Act which provides for the creation of an emergency board to investigate labor desputes and ending at 12:01 a.m. May 9, 1973, so that during such period no change except by agreement shall be made by the Penn Central Transportation Company or its employees or by order of any court in the conditions out of which such dispute arose.
Requires the Secretary of Transportation to submit to the Congress a report not later than forty-five days from the enactment of this joint resolution which regardless of the settlement of the particular dispute between the Penn Central Transportation Company and its employees represented by the United Transportation Union, provides a full and comprehensive plan for the preservation of essential rail transportation services in the Northeast section of the Nation, including the President's proposals, if any regarding Federal financial expenditures necessary for restoration or preservation of rail transportation services imperiled by the financial failure of rail carriers, and for alternative means for providing essential transportation services now provided by such carriers.
Requires the Secretary of Labor not later than thirty days prior to the expiration date specified in the first section of his joint resolution to submit to the Congress a full and comprehensive report containing: (1) the progress, if any, of negotiations between the Penn Central Transportation Company and its employees represented by the United Transportation Union; and (2) any such recommendations for a proposed solution of the dispute described in this joint resolution as he deems appropriate.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 9 actions.
- Feb 9, 1973Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 93-5.
- Feb 8, 1973PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.