Government affairs

Both the House and Senate were in session this week with the majority of legislative focus being paid to President Trump’s fiscal year 2021 budget request, which features many of the same cuts to pay and benefits for the federal workforce and the U.S. Postal Service as in past years. Congressional attention is also being paid to the coronavirus disease with Congress working to approve $6-8 billion to address it.

House activity

On February 13, House Oversight and Reform Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) along with 15 bipartisan colleagues introduced the Federal Employee Parental Leave Technical Correction Act (H.R. 5885), which would expand the 12 weeks of paid parental leave provided to federal employees under the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2500/S. 1790) to even more federal employees. Unfortunately, letter carriers and postal employees are not included in this legislation either. As the whole federal workforce, including postal employees, is subject to the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA), NALC believes that all federal employees should be granted the same level of paid leave and is working with lawmakers to cover postal employees in the legislation as well.

Appropriations activity

On February 10, the White House released its $4.8 trillion fiscal year 2021 (FY21) budget proposal, which would increase defense spending from $738 billion to $740.5 billion in FY21 while cutting non-defense spending from $635 billion to $590 billion. With regards to the U.S. Postal Service, just like in previous budget requests, the White House proposed over $90 billion in cuts specific to operations and workforce compensation, which you can read more about here.

This week, the Administration sent officials from federal department to both the House and Senate to defend the proposal during numerous committee hearings. While neither the House or Senate committees of jurisdiction (House Committee on Oversight and Reform – Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs) for the Postal Service featured a hearing on the White House’s FY21 proposal, it did give lawmakers the opportunity to speak directly with department and agency heads and principals on both the Administration’s priorities and that of Congress.

2020 Election

The tenth debate between Democratic candidates for President was held in South Carolina on Tuesday ahead of the state’s primary on Saturday, February 29 and ahead of the “Super Tuesday” primaries on March 3. Those states and territories include: Alabama, American Samoa, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia. If you are someone you know is not yet registered to vote, there may still be time ahead of the primary. Please follow this link to find out how to vote in your elections.

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: 4 Senate (2 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: 260 (206 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: 291 (218 Democrats – 73 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.