Government affairs

The House returned to session this week following the winter break while the Senate swore in Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) to fill the seat of Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA), who retired at the end of 2019. The start of the legislative calendar is already better than 2019, as this time last year, the government was shut down for 35 days and many federal employees were either furloughed or forced to work without pay. Thankfully, Congress was able to finish FY2020 appropriations and we can start a presidential election year with a fully funded government.

House activity

On Tuesday, the House began its second session of the 116th Congress, which may prove to be a rocky one. Election years always make it difficult for legislation to advance, but especially presidential elections years. NALC’s priority bill, the USPS Fairness Act (H.R. 2382) now stands at 301 cosponsors and ready to advance when it comes to a vote. Letter carriers far and wide should be proud of their hard work to bring us to this moment!

In mid-December, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) appointed Freshman Reps. Katie Porter (D-CA) and Deb Haaland (D-NM) to the House Oversight and Reform Committee following the recommendation of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. Read more here.

Senate activity

On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee voted 25-3 to favorably report out implementing legislation (HR 5430) for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which would replace the much-maligned North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The bill will now proceed to the Senate floor where it is expected to be voted through next week. The bill passed the House in December in a 385-41 vote.

On Monday, Vice President Mike Pence (R) administered the oath of office to Senator-designate Kelly Loeffler (R-GA). Former Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) retired on December 31 and Sen. Loeffler will fill the seat until a special election is held in November and whoever wins that race will serve out the final two years of his term.

Other activity

On Monday, Postmaster General Megan Brennan, who previously announced her intent to retire effective January 31, has agreed to postpone her retirement date pending the selection of her successor. The USPS Board of Governors (BOG) is charged with conducting a search to find and select a successor to PG Brennan. NALC will be sure to keep letter carriers informed on any updates in the search for a new Postmaster General.

NALC Priority Bills/Resolutions

H.R. 2382/S. 2965 – USPS Fairness Act
Status: Introduced by Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT)
Co-sponsors: 301 House (232 Democrats – 69 Republicans) – 2 Senate (2 Democrats – 0 Republicans)

To repeal the requirement that the United States Postal Service prepay future retirement benefits.

House Resolution 23 (H. Res. 23) – Door Delivery
Status: Introduced by Reps. Susan Davis (D-CA) and Peter King (R-NY)
Co-sponsors: 257 (205 Democrats – 52 Republicans)

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Postal Service should take all appropriate measures to ensure the continuation of door delivery for all business and residential customers.

House Resolution 33 (H. Res. 33) – Anti-privatization
Status: Introduced by Reps. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) and Rodney Davis (R-IL)
Co-sponsors: 267 (225 Democrats – 42 Republicans)

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should take all appropriate measures to ensure that the United States Postal Service remains an independent establishment of the Federal Government and is not subject to privatization.

House Resolution 54 (H. Res. 54) – Six-day Delivery
Status: Introduced by Reps. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Sam Graves (R-MO)
Co-sponsors: 291 (217 Democrats – 74 Republicans)

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Postal Service should take all appropriate measures to ensure the continuation of its six-day mail delivery service.

House Resolution 60 (H. Res. 60) – Service Standards
Status: Introduced by Rep. David McKinley (R-WV) and Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)
Co-sponsors: 203 (177 Democrats – 26 Republicans)

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Postal Service should take all appropriate measures to restore service standards in effect as of July 1, 2012.

Senate Resolution 99 (S. Res. 99) – Anti-privatization
Status: Introduced by Sens. Gary Peters and Jerry Moran (R-KS)
Co-sponsors: 53 (43 Democrats – 8 Republicans – 2 Independents)

Expressing the sense of the Senate that Congress should take all appropriate measures to ensure that the United States Postal Service remains an independent establishment of the Federal Government and is not subject to privatization in whole or in part.

H.R. 2478 – Fed Retirement Fairness Act
Status: Introduced by Reps. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Tom Cole (R-OK)
Co-sponsors: 52 (39 Democrats – 13 Republicans)

To provide certain federal employees the opportunity to make catch-up retirement contributions for time spent as temporary employees after Dec. 31, 1988, thus making such time creditable service under the Federal Employees Retirement System. Now applies to temporary postal employees, such as letter carriers who spent time as casuals, TEs, and CCAs.