Government affairs

Legislative Updates

Week in review May 11-15

Both chambers were back in Washington DC, but with nearly all attention on the House following the introduction and eventual passage of the fourth major response package to the Covid-19 pandemic. The $3 trillion package, introduced by House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) and cosponsored by the chairs of 10 major House committees, passed the House on Friday though it is important to note that this bill is subject to change during negotiations among congressional leaders.

Congressional activity

On Friday, the House passed the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions, or “HEROES” Act (H.R. 6800), the fourth major legislative package put forward in response to the pandemic. The $3 trillion package includes a $25 billion appropriation to the Postal Service to offset postal revenue losses resulting from the pandemic-induced economic shutdown. It also provides for hazard pay for letter carriers and other front-line essential workers in the amount of $13 per hour, subject to a $10,000 cap. And it effectively blocks the Treasury Department from imposing policy conditions on the Postal Service’s access to the $10 billion Covid-19 credit line enacted in the CARES Act. Read more on the bill here.

“These provisions are an improvement and a first step in keeping the Postal Service stable, given the huge loss of letter mail volume due to the pandemic,” NALC President Fredric Rolando said.

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.

Also on Friday, the House approved House Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern’s (D-MA) H. Res. 965, which would allow for remote voting by proxy in the House and for official remote committee proceedings during a public health emergency, such as the current crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The vote came down on party lines and you can read more about it here.

On Wednesday, Reps. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) and Donald McEachin (D-VA) led a bipartisan letter signed by 47 Members of Congress in support of preserving paper options for retirement documents. A draft final rule by the Department of Labor would change regulations to allow plan administrators to provide participants and beneficiaries certain mandatory disclosures through electronic means by default, as opposed to the current system of retirement plan participants and beneficiaries from opting into e-delivery of disclosures. NALC supports the current system and appreciates the letter opposing this rule from this bipartisan group of lawmakers. The full text of the letter may be found 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.

Return to Legislative Updates

NALC MEMBER APPS

The free NALC apps for smartphones provide convenient access to tools and information about issues affecting active and retired letter carriers. Information on downloading and using the apps is in our apps section.

CLICK FOR NALC APPS