WASHINGTON - Letter Carriers union President Fredric V. Rolando today applauded the House of Representatives for passage of legislation (H.R. 22) that would ease prefunding requirements on the U.S. Postal Service for future retiree health benefits.

“The one-year version of H.R. 22 passed today is a good first step toward devising a more sensible and affordable schedule for prefunding our future retiree health benefits,” Rolando said. “The National Association of Letter Carriers urges the Senate to quickly pass H.R. 22 as passed by the House so that we can continue to work on long-term solutions.”

Rolando said the House action was “a huge step towards strengthening the United States Postal Service.” The measure was passed by a 388 to 32 vote.

“I want to thank the bipartisan leadership of the House Government Reform Committee, including Chairman Ed Towns (D-NY) and Ranking Member Darrell Issa (R-CA) as well as sub-committee Chairman Stephen Lynch (D-MA) and Ranking Member Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) for fighting so long and hard for H.R. 22,” Rolando said. He said letter carriers also owe a huge debt of gratitude to Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) and Rep. John McHugh (R-NY) for sponsoring the original legislation and building such an impressive bipartisan coalition in favor of postal financial relief.