Government affairs

The Senate approved a series of nominations to the Postal Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors today. Ashley Poling and Ann C. Fisher have been confirmed to be Commissioners at the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), while Ron Bloom, Roman Martinez IV, and John Barger have been confirmed to the Postal Board of Governors (BOG).

As letter carriers are aware, the PRC is composed of five Commissioners, each of whom is appointed by the President and serves a term of six years. Poling and Fisher are set to take the seats of Commissioner Tony Hammond and PRC Vice Chair Nanci E. Langley immediately.

The BOG consists of up to nine governors appointed by the President and may serve terms up to seven years. Bloom, Martinez, and Barger join Robert Duncan and David Williams at the BOG, making it the first time since 2014 that the board has had enough members for a quorum. Four seats on the BOG remain vacant after these confirmations.

Earlier this year, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) advanced the nomination of Duncan to a second term at the BOG, where he currently waits for full Senate confirmation as well. As the Board is split 5-4 between the party of the President and the opposing party, nominees are advanced in pairs or groups.

NALC expects the White House to nominate more individuals to serve on the BOG in the future.