Government affairs

Legislative Updates

Week in review May 25-29

While the Senate is on a 10-day recess, the House was in session this week to restart work on fiscal year (FY) 2021 appropriations, to pass important changes to the Paycheck Protection Program among other legislation considered, and to introduce key bills including the new and bipartisan Postal Preservation Act.

On Friday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) laid out the House’s upcoming schedule for the chamber this summer, which includes preparing must-pass legislation such as the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA); an infrastructure package that includes reauthorization of expiring surface transportation provisions; a reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA); legislation to strengthen and expand the Affordable Care Act (ACA); and continued work on FY21 appropriations. He assumes June and July will be exceptionally busy given the lost time in the Spring due to the pandemic, but so long as all legislative business is completed by the end of the July, he anticipates no changes will be made to the scheduled August recess.

NALC Activity

NALC continues to call attention to the need for relief for the duration of the crisis—to fully cover the difference between postage revenues and total USPS expenses during this crisis as well as a mechanism to reimburse the Postal Service for the cost of Covid-19-related leave.

To support our continued efforts, letter carriers should continue contacting their members of Congress to urge support for funding in the next stimulus package. Let Congress know that the Postal Service doesn’t need more debt and that we now have overwhelming voter support for funding. Click here to take action.

In addition, letter carriers should encourage their friends and families to visit the newly launched website www.HeroesDelivering.com, which provides information and resources to the general public on the importance of USPS and the need to keep it strong and well-funded during this pandemic. It gives readers an easy means to contact their legislators and call on them to support funding for the Postal Service in the next legislative package.

House Activity

On Tuesday, House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Rep. Pete King (R-NY) and Subcommittee on Government Operations Chairman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) introduced the Postal Preservation Act (H.R. 7015), which would provide a $25 billion emergency appropriation to the agency and require appropriate oversight of that funding by the Postal Service Inspector General. Reps. Maloney, King, and Connolly are three of the four founding members of the newly-formed Postal Preservation Caucus. Read more on the bill here.

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives held its first votes by proxy in its history. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) made history as the first member to cast a proxy vote on behalf of his colleague Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). “Our Founding Fathers were some of the most forward-thinking people of their time,” said Rep. Boyle following the vote. “I have no doubt that if James Madison were here now, he would be embracing us for being able to use the technology of today so that we can carry out the will of the people.”

Rep Jamie Raskin (D-MD) who delivered the votes of six of his colleagues summed up the new experience up by saying, “I have zero discretion and I have zero judgment. I am like a letter carrier delivering a letter to the House of Representatives.”

On Thursday, the House voted 417-1 to pass the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (H.R. 7010), which would create more flexibility on how and when to spend forgivable loans provided to American small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program. The legislation, introduced by Reps. Chip Roy (R-TX) and Dean Phillips (D-MN), extends the eight-week period in which the loans must be spent to 24 weeks and would allow businesses up to five years to repay any money owed on a loan. Additionally, the bill would lower the current requirement that 75 percent of a loan be used on payroll to 60 percent. Read more on the bill here.

2020 election activity

2020 primaries are being delayed and in-person voting is being cancelled due to the Covid-19 crisis. Many states are opting to expand absentee and vote-at-home measures so voters and poll workers may remain safe during this election season.

To find the most accurate and up to date information specific to your state elections, you can visit your state’s secretary of state webpage (ex: Ohio) and look for “elections” or if your state does not have a secretary of state, search for the office of elections (example: Hawaii). You can also visit the National Conference of State Legislatures webpage on state primary dates, which is tracking all date changes.

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: 7 Senate (4 Democrats – 3 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: 54 (44 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: 58 (45 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.

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