Government affairs

Legislative Updates

Senate appropriations committee releases full committee FSGG bill with 6-day language

On Nov. 20, the Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) released its Fiscal Year 2018 appropriations measure. 

Besides the U.S. Postal Service, FSGG has jurisdiction over agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service, the Treasury Department, the Office of Management and Budget, the General Services Administration, the Judiciary, the Small Businesses Administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the District of Columbia. This broad jurisdiction can often fuel partisan funding battles.

Of particular note for letter carriers is the committee’s decision to uphold the long-standing tradition of recognizing the importance of continuing six-day mail delivery by including language in the bill stating that “6-day and rural delivery of mail shall continue at not less than the 1983 level” and that “none of the funds provided in this Act shall be used to consolidate or close small rural and other small postal offices.”

Earlier this summer, the House Appropriations Committee passed its counterpart bill, and the full committee is expected to take up the measure in the coming weeks. Earlier this summer, the House Committee on Appropriations passed its companion bill, which preserved the NALC-supported long-standing six-day language. With both the House and Senate bills containing the six-day language, things are looking good. However, NALC remains on alert for any attempts to strip out the language as Congress completes its work.

“Preservation of this critical language over the years is a direct result of letter carriers’ successful lobbying efforts on H.Res. 15, which currently has 238 bipartisan co-sponsors,” NALC President Fredric Rolando said. “I encourage letter carriers to continue educating House members who have not co-sponsored this important resolution, and to thank those who have. Even with this overwhelming support in the House, letter carriers know we cannot take anything for granted, so please stay alert as action on Capitol Hill unfolds.”

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