Government affairs

Lawmakers’ primary attention this week was on the coronavirus with a $8.3 billion emergency package prepared to address it. The House also took up legislation on expanding collective bargaining rights to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel.

House activity

On Friday, the House of Representatives voted to expand worker protections for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, which would grant them the rights and protections other federal employees hold such as full collective bargaining rights, due process and whistleblower protections, and would tie TSA worker pay to the General Schedule. TSA employees are among the lowest paid federal workers and currently lack the freedom to join together and negotiate over their pay and benefits. While the bill faces a difficult path in the Senate, passage of this legislation is an important statement of intent. Read more here.

Administration activity

Following House passage on Tuesday, and Senate passage on Thursday, the President has signed the $8.3 billion emergency coronavirus package (H.R. 6074) into law. This package will bolster vaccine development, research, equipment stockpiles and state and local health budgets in order to address the outbreak. Both the Senate and House Appropriations Chairs stated earlier in the week that they would be willing to provide more funding if necessary.

2020 Election

Former Vice President Joe Biden secured a commanding win in South Carolina last weekend, which prompted former Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) to drop out of the Democratic race for president ahead of the “Super Tuesday” primaries. The results from last Tuesday led former Mayor Mike Bloomberg to drop out as well, with all three candidates endorsing Joe Biden. This leaves Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) as the remaining viable candidates for the Democratic nomination.

NALC Priority Bills/Resolutions

H.R. 2382/S. 2965 – USPS Fairness Act
Status: Passed House of Representatives, introduced in Senate by Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT)
Co-sponsors: 5 Senate (3 Democrats – 2 Republicans)
House vote: 309 Yea (222 Democrats – 87 Republicans) – 106 Nays (105 Republicans – 1 Independent)

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: 261 (207 Democrats – 54 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 (226 Democrats – 41 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: 292 (217 Democrats – 75 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: 206 (180 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: 57 (44 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.

H.R. 2474/S. 1306 – PRO Act
Status: Passed House of Representatives, introduced in Senate by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
Co-sponsors: Senate 40 (39 Democrat, 1 Independent, 0 Republican)
House vote: 224 Yea (219 Democrats – 5 Republicans) – 194 Nays (186 Republicans – 1 Independent)

To increase protections for workers’ right to organize and bargain for higher wages, better benefits, and safer working conditions.