Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) introduced the “Protecting Orderly and Responsible Transit of Shipments Act,” which strengthens the Taft-Hartley Act in response to the recent West Coast ports crisis and the ongoing gridlock at the ports during the long contract negotiations.

The bill would authorize the president to intervene to halt labor slowdowns and strikes, and would allow state governors to initiate the process for federal back-to-work injunctions. The bill would enable governors to request a board of inquiry in instances when a labor dispute causes economic harm, thereby starting the process for a Taft-Hartley injunction.

The governor would be able to unilaterally appoint a board, if the president fails to act within 10 days of the request.