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    Updated October 9, 2009    
    
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NALC's Legislative and Political Action Department lobbies Congress to help letter carriers and the Postal Service. It also coordinates NALC's grass-roots political action program, which is run by member volunteers.
   
 

On this page:
   
  House passes bill to allow FERS carriers to apply unused sick leave toward retirement
 

On October 7, the House approved a conference committee's report for a provision which would allow government workers under the Federal Employees Retirement System—including letter carriers—to apply their unused sick leave toward retirement. The bill still needs Senate approval—where it might face some budgetary objections-before it can be sent to President Obama for his signature.

The provision is part of the 2010 Defense authorization bill, which a House-Senate conference committee has already agreed upon. The bill, if approved, would let FERS employees get half credit for unused sick leave through 2013. Full FERS sick leave credit would take effect in 2014.

The compromise bill also includes a provision to gradually move federal employees who live and work outside the continental United States away from COLA-based pay raises and into a system based instead on locality pay.

 
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  USPS receives financial relief from Congress
 

On Wednesday night, the Senate approved a continuing resolution that included the postal financial relief language from H.R. 22. With the passage, the Postal Service will be able to defer $4 billion in payments to a fund for its future retirees' health benefits, giving USPS some flexibility for dealing with the current recession.

"I want to thank all of the NALC activists who worked so hard for this passage," President Fred Rolando said at a legislative function Wednesday night. "Tonight we can celebrate, but tomorrow we must start all over to get a long-term solution."
 
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  H.R.22 approved in House
 

NALC 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. In September, the bill was amended to deal with just the 2009 prefunding payment, reducing it from $5.4 billion to $1.4 billion.

“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.

 
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  Leadership of the House Republican Conference escalates its attack on the Postal Service:

Spreads more misinformation about H.R. 22 -- A bill a majority of GOP members has co-sponsored
 

On September 11, 2009, in anticipation of floor action on H.R. 22, leaders of the House Republican Conference (HRC) issued a one page brief entitled “What Every Member Needs to Know About the Postal Service Relief Act (H.R. 22)” that is filled with the same kind of inaccurate and misleading information about the Postal Service featured in a similar ‘One Page’ brief issued in August.  The GOP organization that claims to speak for the GOP caucus in the House falsely characterized H.R. 22, a bill that a majority of Republicans (103) have co-sponsored, as a “taxpayer bailout” of the Postal Service.

“HRC Chairman Mike Pence should correct the misinformation issued in his name,” President Rolando said.  “Letter carriers across the country appreciate the support the GOP has given to H.R. 22,” he added.  “The tens of thousands of letter carriers who are Republicans and the GOP’s caucus in the Congress deserve better from their party than the misleading and distorted issue briefs being churned out by House Republican Conference.”

H.R. 22 does not require one dime of taxpayer money and simply allows the Postal Service to reduce (not eliminate) its prefunding of future retiree health benefits over the next three years in response to the worst recession in 80 years, a step that the virtually every private firm that prefunds such benefits is taking – although two-thirds of all large (Fortune 1000) companies don’t prefund at all and none are required by law or accounting rules to do so.  Indeed, the USPS is the only enterprise in America that is legally mandated to prefund retiree health benefits.

A minority within the House Republican caucus opposes H.R. 22 and has used the HRC to propose massive post office closures and the elimination of Saturday delivery -- moves that would damage countless businesses that rely on six-day delivery and throw tens of thousands of Americans out of work at a time of mass unemployment.   The out-of-step leadership of the HRC would rather risk these negative consequences than take the sensible step of reconsidering the onerous cost of a policy initiated by the Bush administration in 2006 to force the Postal Service to prefund most of its future retiree health liability, a 75-year liability, over just 10 years.  This policy, which in retrospect was unaffordable and unsustainable even in the absence of the Great Recession of 2007-2009, was included in the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA).  Its cost, $5.4 billion in 2009, is responsible for more than 75% of the $7 billion loss the USPS expects to record this year.  Reform of this policy is urgently needed, and H.R. 22 is a vitally needed first step to preserve America’s highly efficient and highly affordable universal postal service.

The HRC leadership’s latest assault on the Postal Service is filled with misleading information and mischaracterizations.  The response, “What Every Member Needs to Know About the House Republican Conference’s Misleading Attack on the Postal Service and H.R. 22,” sets the record straight. 
 
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  Mark-up of S. 1507 adds 'poison pill' amendment
 

In a contentious mark-up session of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on July 29, several senators offered amendments to S. 1507, a bill that will provide short-term financial relief to the Postal Service by restructuring its payments for future retiree health benefits. Thanks to the rapid response of e-Activists in 12 states to a message sent July 28, most of the 11 amendments offered were rejected, including one mandating the Postal Service go to five-day delivery. Unfortunately, one of the four amendments adopted was one NALC strongly opposes.

That amendment, which was supported by the Committee's Republican members as well as Sens.Tom Carper (D-DE) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) was sponsored by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK). If adopted into law, it would tamper with the long-established process of interest arbitration by requiring arbitration panels to "consider the financial condition of the Postal Service in making any decision."

The amendment is not necessary since arbitration boards already take postal finances into account. Worse, by not listing other factors that should be considered by boards, the new language has the effect of giving short-term financial conditions preeminence over other relevant factors.

"NALC cannot support S. 1507 with the arbitration amendment," President Fred Rolando said. "It is very disappointing that Committee members would interfere with postal collective bargaining and seek to put a thumb on the scale in favor of postal management in the next round of bargaining," he added.

NALC will seek to strike the amendment from the final bill and is committed to resisting its inclusion in any legislation that emerges from Congress.
 
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  Postal relief bill goes to Senate mark up
after White House meeting
 

Less than a week after President Fred Rolando and three other union presidents met with representatives of the Obama administration, including OMB officials and Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina, action on financial relief legislation designed to help the Postal Service overcome the deep economic recession is moving in Congress.

NALC is aggressively working to support passage of S. 1507, a bill introduced by Sen. Tom Carper earlier this week, that will provide short-term relief to the Postal Service by restructuring its payments for future retiree health benefits. The legislation was developed by the Obama administration’s Office of Management and Budget and is designed to achieve virtually the same level of relief provided by H.R. 22, a bill that has advanced to the floor of the House of Representatives. In addition to reducing pre-funding payments by some $6.4 billion over the next five years, the bill also makes it easier for the Postal Service to borrow money during the current economic crisis.

S. 1507 is being marked up in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on July 29. A few Republicans on the Committee, which is chaired by Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), have threatened to attach several negative amendments to the bill. In response, NALC mobilized its e-Activist network in 10 states to help fight off the amendments.

“NALC supports this legislation as a vital first step to securing the long-term viability of the Postal Service,” President Rolando said in the July 28th e-Activist message. “We are encouraged that we have allies in the Obama administration and in Congress who are committed to working with us to strengthen the Postal Service for decades to come,” he added.
 
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  H.R.22 necessary to ease financial burden on USPS
  The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006—better known to carriers as “postal reform”— requires the Postal Service to prefund 80 percent of its future retiree health benefit costs by the year 2016. This costs the USPS at least $5.5 billion a year—on top of the $2 billion to $3 billion it already pays annually for current retiree health benefits. The USPS built the cost into their rates in 2006, but that was before the economic meltdown hit and the volume of mail began to plummet. The punishing schedule for prefunding is simply no longer affordable and our employer needs relief, immediately. Otherwise, layoffs, service cuts and facility closings could become a reality.

In January, longtime friends of letter carriers Rep. John McHugh (R-NY) and Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) introduced H.R. 22, a bipartisan lifeline that would let USPS prefund its future health care obligations on a more realistic schedule by allowing the Service to pay its share of current retirees’ health insurance premiums out of the $32 billion it has already banked in the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund. This strategy would save USPS an average of $3.5 billion per year through 2016 while the Service continues to build up the retiree health fund on a much more reasonable and affordable schedule. Click here for a fact sheet on H.R. 22.

H.R. 22 does not require the allocation of any taxpayer funds—it is absolutely not a bailout. It also would in no way reduce current retiree health benefits or relieve the Postal Service of its future retiree health obligations. In fact, if Congress passes H.R. 22 and if President Obama signs it, the USPS would still be required to prefund its future retiree health costs at a far faster rate than any other American company.

The NALC fully supports funding future retiree health benefits—we are depending on those benefits when we retire. But given the current economic environment, prefunding on such an accelerated schedule is no longer feasible. H.R. 22 preserves the Postal Service’s obligation to prefund and protects our health benefits while helping to sustain the Postal Service through a very troubling time for our nation.

H.R. 22 won’t solve all the Postal Service’s problems—we all have a lot of work to do. But make no mistake about it: Without H.R. 22, the continued viability of the Postal Service is in serious trouble. So take a few minutes to make this important call—our jobs and our future depend on it.

UPDATE: President Young sent out this message to the e-Activist Network on June 24: "The subcommittee on the Federal Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia marked up H.R. 22 today and passed it by a unanimous vote. This legislation will allow the United States Postal Service to pay its share of contributions for annuitants' health benefits out of the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund."
Read more here.

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H.R.22 Co-Sponsors (339):

Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1] - 2/11/2009
Rep Ackerman, Gary L. [NY-5] - 3/16/2009
Rep Adler, John H. [NJ-3] - 3/4/2009
Rep Alexander, Rodney [LA-5] - 3/10/2009
Rep Altmire, Jason [PA-4] - 3/2/2009
Rep Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1] - 3/4/2009
Rep Arcuri, Michael A. [NY-24] - 3/9/2009
Rep Austria, Steve [OH-7] - 6/2/2009
Rep Baca, Joe [CA-43] - 2/23/2009
Rep Baird, Brian [WA-3] - 3/10/2009
Rep Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2] - 4/2/2009
Rep Barrow, John [GA-12] - 4/21/2009
Rep Bartlett, Roscoe G. [MD-6] - 2/11/2009
Rep Bean, Melissa L. [IL-8] - 6/3/2009
Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] - 3/10/2009
Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28] - 3/12/2009
Rep Berry, Marion [AR-1] - 2/25/2009
Rep Bilbray, Brian P. [CA-50] - 3/16/2009
Rep Bishop, Rob [UT-1] - 4/21/2009
Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] - 2/10/2009
Rep Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [GA-2] - 3/31/2009
Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] - 5/4/2009
Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] - 3/11/2009
Rep Blunt, Roy [MO-7] - 3/24/2009
Rep Boccieri, John A. [OH-16] - 3/26/2009
Rep Bonner, Jo [AL-1] - 5/18/2009
Rep Bono Mack, Mary [CA-45] - 3/25/2009
Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] - 2/13/2009
Rep Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [GU] - 5/13/2009
Rep Boren, Dan [OK-2] - 2/11/2009
Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] - 2/23/2009
Rep Boucher, Rick [VA-9] - 3/30/2009
Rep Boustany, Charles W., Jr. [LA-7] - 3/10/2009
Rep Brady, Kevin [TX-8] - 6/8/2009
Rep Brady, Robert A. [PA-1] - 3/16/2009
Rep Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] - 2/24/2009
Rep Brown, Corrine [FL-3] - 3/2/2009
Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] - 3/18/2009
Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-1] - 3/23/2009
Rep Burgess, Michael C. [TX-26] - 3/12/2009
Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] - 2/23/2009
Rep Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1] - 5/6/2009
Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] - 4/22/2009
Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] - 3/30/2009
Rep Camp, Dave [MI-4] - 6/8/2009
Rep Cao, Anh "Joseph" [LA-2] - 3/16/2009
Rep Capito, Shelley Moore [WV-2] - 3/26/2009
Rep Capps, Lois [CA-23] - 3/16/2009
Rep Capuano, Michael E. [MA-8] - 5/12/2009
Rep Cardoza, Dennis A. [CA-18] - 3/12/2009
Rep Carnahan, Russ [MO-3] - 2/26/2009
Rep Carney, Christopher P. [PA-10] - 2/23/2009
Rep Carson, Andre [IN-7] - 3/18/2009
Rep Carter, John R. [TX-31] - 5/20/2009
Rep Cassidy, Bill [LA-6] - 5/4/2009
Rep Castle, Michael N. [DE] - 4/21/2009
Rep Castor, Kathy [FL-11] - 5/21/2009
Rep Chaffetz, Jason [UT-3] - 3/30/2009
Rep Chandler, Ben [KY-6] - 2/23/2009
Rep Childers, Travis [MS-1] - 3/23/2009
Rep Clarke, Yvette D. [NY-11] - 4/2/2009
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] - 3/18/2009
Rep Cleaver, Emanuel [MO-5] - 2/26/2009
Rep Coble, Howard [NC-6] - 5/19/2009
Rep Coffman, Mike [CO-6] - 3/3/2009
Rep Cohen, Steve [TN-9] - 3/9/2009
Rep Connolly, Gerald E. "Gerry" [VA-11] - 3/9/2009
Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] - 2/23/2009
Rep Costello, Jerry F. [IL-12] - 3/17/2009
Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] - 2/25/2009
Rep Crowley, Joseph [NY-7] - 3/16/2009
Rep Cuellar, Henry [TX-28] - 6/4/2009
Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] - 3/24/2009
Rep Dahlkemper, Kathleen A. [PA-3] - 3/9/2009
Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] - 1/6/2009
Rep Davis, Lincoln [TN-4] - 3/11/2009
Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] - 2/25/2009
Rep Deal, Nathan [GA-9] - 3/17/2009
Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] - 5/20/2009
Rep DeGette, Diana [CO-1] - 5/4/2009
Rep Delahunt, William D. [MA-10] - 3/31/2009
Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3] - 3/3/2009
Rep Dent, Charles W. [PA-15] - 3/10/2009
Rep Diaz-Balart, Mario [FL-25] - 3/12/2009
Rep Diaz-Balart, Lincoln [FL-21] - 2/23/2009
Rep Dicks, Norman D. [WA-6] - 3/25/2009
Rep Doggett, Lloyd [TX-25] - 3/11/2009
Rep Donnelly, Joe [IN-2] - 3/24/2009
Rep Doyle, Michael F. [PA-14] - 4/23/2009
Rep Driehaus, Steve [OH-1] - 4/1/2009
Rep Edwards, Donna F. [MD-4] - 3/26/2009
Rep Edwards, Chet [TX-17] - 2/11/2009
Rep Ellison, Keith [MN-5] - 2/9/2009
Rep Ellsworth, Brad [IN-8] - 3/23/2009
Rep Emerson, Jo Ann [MO-8] - 3/3/2009
Rep Engel, Eliot L. [NY-17] - 3/30/2009
Rep Eshoo, Anna G. [CA-14] - 3/11/2009
Rep Etheridge, Bob [NC-2] - 4/23/2009
Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17] - 3/5/2009
Rep Fattah, Chaka [PA-2] - 3/25/2009
Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] - 2/24/2009
Rep Fleming, John [LA-4] - 3/12/2009
Rep Fortenberry, Jeff [NE-1] - 3/23/2009
Rep Foster, Bill [IL-14] - 2/26/2009
Rep Foxx, Virginia [NC-5] - 4/1/2009
Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] - 3/6/2009
Rep Frelinghuysen, Rodney P. [NJ-11] - 3/5/2009
Rep Fudge, Marcia L. [OH-11] - 4/30/2009
Rep Gallegly, Elton [CA-24] - 4/21/2009
Rep Garrett, Scott [NJ-5] - 3/30/2009
Rep Gerlach, Jim [PA-6] - 3/19/2009
Rep Giffords, Gabrielle [AZ-8] - 3/6/2009
Rep Gonzalez, Charles A. [TX-20] - 3/4/2009
Rep Gordon, Bart [TN-6] - 2/3/2009
Rep Granger, Kay [TX-12] - 3/30/2009
Rep Graves, Sam [MO-6] - 3/2/2009
Rep Grayson, Alan [FL-8] - 3/3/2009
Rep Green, Gene [TX-29] - 3/11/2009
Rep Green, Al [TX-9] - 4/23/2009
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 3/2/2009
Rep Guthrie, Brett [KY-2] - 5/12/2009
Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. [IL-4] - 3/9/2009
Rep Hall, John J. [NY-19] - 4/21/2009
Rep Hall, Ralph M. [TX-4] - 3/11/2009
Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] - 2/24/2009
Rep Hare, Phil [IL-17] - 2/23/2009
Rep Harman, Jane [CA-36] - 3/10/2009
Rep Hastings, Alcee L. [FL-23] - 2/25/2009
Rep Heinrich, Martin [NM-1] - 4/28/2009
Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] - 2/26/2009
Rep Higgins, Brian [NY-27] - 3/19/2009
Rep Hill, Baron P. [IN-9] - 3/3/2009
Rep Himes, James A. [CT-4] - 3/4/2009
Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] - 2/23/2009
Rep Hinojosa, Ruben [TX-15] - 3/11/2009
Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] - 3/9/2009
Rep Hodes, Paul W. [NH-2] - 3/16/2009
Rep Hoekstra, Peter [MI-2] - 3/26/2009
Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] - 2/11/2009
Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] - 3/5/2009
Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15] - 2/25/2009
Rep Inglis, Bob [SC-4] - 4/30/2009
Rep Inslee, Jay [WA-1] - 4/21/2009
Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] - 3/2/2009
Rep Issa, Darrell E. [CA-49] - 3/16/2009
Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] - 5/21/2009
Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila [TX-18] - 3/12/2009
Rep Jenkins, Lynn [KS-2] - 3/12/2009
Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30] - 3/3/2009
Rep Johnson, Timothy V. [IL-15] - 4/2/2009
Rep Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [GA-4] - 3/5/2009
Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] - 3/30/2009
Rep Kagen, Steve [WI-8] - 2/11/2009
Rep Kaptur, Marcy [OH-9] - 2/23/2009
Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] - 3/3/2009
Rep Kildee, Dale E. [MI-5] - 2/12/2009
Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. [MI-13] - 3/23/2009
Rep Kilroy, Mary Jo [OH-15] - 4/30/2009
Rep Kind, Ron [WI-3] - 3/16/2009
Rep King, Steve [IA-5] - 6/19/2009
Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] - 3/5/2009
Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] - 3/12/2009
Rep Kissell, Larry [NC-8] - 3/16/2009
Rep Klein, Ron [FL-22] - 3/17/2009
Rep Kline, John [MN-2] - 3/25/2009
Rep Kosmas, Suzanne M. [FL-24] - 3/19/2009
Rep Kratovil, Frank, Jr. [MD-1] - 6/8/2009
Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. [OH-10] - 2/11/2009
Rep Lance, Leonard [NJ-7] - 3/10/2009

Rep Langevin, James R. [RI-2] - 3/12/2009
Rep Larsen, Rick [WA-2] - 6/18/2009
Rep Larson, John B. [CT-1] - 3/3/2009
Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] - 2/11/2009
Rep LaTourette, Steven C. [OH-14] - 5/19/2009
Rep Latta, Robert E. [OH-5] - 5/20/2009
Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] - 3/16/2009
Rep Lee, Christopher J. [NY-26] - 4/23/2009
Rep Levin, Sander M. [MI-12] - 6/17/2009
Rep Lewis, John [GA-5] - 4/27/2009
Rep Lipinski, Daniel [IL-3] - 3/9/2009
Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] - 3/5/2009
Rep Loebsack, David [IA-2] - 3/5/2009
Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16] - 2/12/2009
Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18] - 4/1/2009
Rep Lucas, Frank D. [OK-3] - 3/26/2009
Rep Luetkemeyer, Blaine [MO-9] - 4/22/2009
Rep Lujan, Ben Ray [NM-3] - 5/20/2009
Rep Lummis, Cynthia M. [WY] - 3/19/2009
Rep Maffei, Daniel B. [NY-25] - 3/16/2009
Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] - 3/3/2009
Rep Manzullo, Donald A. [IL-16] - 3/2/2009
Rep Markey, Betsy [CO-4] - 3/17/2009
Rep Markey, Edward J. [MA-7] - 3/30/2009
Rep Massa, Eric J. J. [NY-29] - 2/11/2009
Rep Matheson, Jim [UT-2] - 3/11/2009
Rep Matsui, Doris O. [CA-5] - 4/23/2009
Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] - 3/9/2009
Rep McCaul, Michael T. [TX-10] - 6/16/2009
Rep McCollum, Betty [MN-4] - 3/2/2009
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] - 5/21/2009
Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] - 2/25/2009
Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] - 3/18/2009
Rep McMahon, Michael E. [NY-13] - 3/11/2009
Rep McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [WA-5] - 6/9/2009
Rep McNerney, Jerry [CA-11] - 3/2/2009
Rep Meek, Kendrick B. [FL-17] - 4/2/2009
Rep Meeks, Gregory W. [NY-6] - 3/17/2009
Rep Melancon, Charlie [LA-3] - 3/24/2009
Rep Mica, John L. [FL-7] - 4/27/2009
Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] - 2/23/2009
Rep Miller, Candice S. [MI-10] - 2/26/2009
Rep Miller, Jeff [FL-1] - 6/18/2009
Rep Miller, Brad [NC-13] - 4/27/2009
Rep Minnick, Walter [ID-1] - 3/3/2009
Rep Mitchell, Harry E. [AZ-5] - 3/11/2009
Rep Mollohan, Alan B. [WV-1] - 3/30/2009
Rep Moore, Gwen [WI-4] - 4/21/2009
Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] - 2/23/2009
Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] - 3/9/2009
Rep Moran, Jerry [KS-1] - 3/9/2009
Rep Murphy, Christopher S. [CT-5] - 2/25/2009
Rep Murphy, Tim [PA-18] - 3/10/2009
Rep Murphy, Patrick J. [PA-8] - 3/2/2009
Rep Murtha, John P. [PA-12] - 2/24/2009
Rep Myrick, Sue Wilkins [NC-9] - 5/4/2009
Rep Nadler, Jerrold [NY-8] - 4/21/2009
Rep Napolitano, Grace F. [CA-38] - 3/12/2009
Rep Neal, Richard E. [MA-2] - 5/18/2009
Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] - 3/23/2009
Rep Nye, Glenn C., III [VA-2] - 5/5/2009
Rep Oberstar, James L. [MN-8] - 2/24/2009
Rep Olver, John W. [MA-1] - 4/21/2009
Rep Ortiz, Solomon P. [TX-27] - 3/12/2009
Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. [NJ-6] - 3/3/2009
Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [NJ-8] - 3/3/2009
Rep Pastor, Ed [AZ-4] - 2/11/2009
Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] - 3/6/2009
Rep Paulsen, Erik [MN-3] - 6/9/2009
Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10] - 3/4/2009
Rep Perlmutter, Ed [CO-7] - 4/28/2009
Rep Peters, Gary C. [MI-9] - 4/2/2009
Rep Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7] - 4/1/2009
Rep Petri, Thomas E. [WI-6] - 5/20/2009
Rep Pierluisi, Pedro R. [PR] - 5/19/2009
Rep Pingree, Chellie [ME-1] - 2/24/2009
Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] - 2/23/2009
Rep Poe, Ted [TX-2] - 6/3/2009
Rep Polis, Jared [CO-2] - 3/30/2009
Rep Pomeroy, Earl [ND] - 5/5/2009
Rep Posey, Bill [FL-15] - 4/23/2009
Rep Price, David E. [NC-4] - 3/12/2009
Rep Putnam, Adam H. [FL-12] - 3/30/2009
Rep Quigley, Mike [IL-5] - 6/11/2009
Rep Rahall, Nick J., II [WV-3] - 3/17/2009
Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] - 4/21/2009
Rep Rehberg, Denny [MT] - 2/12/2009
Rep Reichert, David G. [WA-8] - 3/30/2009
Rep Reyes, Silvestre [TX-16] - 6/9/2009
Rep Richardson, Laura [CA-37] - 3/11/2009
Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] - 3/12/2009
Rep Roe, David P. [TN-1] - 2/23/2009
Rep Rooney, Thomas J. [FL-16] - 4/2/2009
Rep Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [FL-18] - 2/11/2009
Rep Ross, Mike [AR-4] - 3/9/2009
Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] - 3/3/2009
Rep Roybal-Allard, Lucille [CA-34] - 2/24/2009
Rep Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [MD-2] - 6/2/2009
Rep Rush, Bobby L. [IL-1] - 3/6/2009
Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] - 4/21/2009
Rep Salazar, John T. [CO-3] - 3/23/2009
Rep Sanchez, Loretta [CA-47] - 4/21/2009
Rep Sanchez, Linda T. [CA-39] - 3/11/2009
Rep Sarbanes, John P. [MD-3] - 3/30/2009
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] - 3/2/2009
Rep Schauer, Mark H. [MI-7] - 3/5/2009
Rep Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29] - 3/26/2009
Rep Schock, Aaron [IL-18] - 7/9/2009
Rep Schrader, Kurt [OR-5] - 4/21/2009
Rep Schwartz, Allyson Y. [PA-13] - 5/6/2009
Rep Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [VA-3] - 4/21/2009
Rep Scott, David [GA-13] - 3/30/2009
Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] - 3/23/2009
Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] - 7/17/2009
Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] - 2/11/2009
Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] - 3/2/2009
Rep Sherman, Brad [CA-27] - 3/25/2009
Rep Shimkus, John [IL-19] - 3/6/2009
Rep Shuler, Heath [NC-11] - 4/21/2009
Rep Shuster, Bill [PA-9] - 5/4/2009
Rep Simpson, Michael K. [ID-2] - 2/26/2009
Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13] - 3/2/2009
Rep Skelton, Ike [MO-4] - 4/21/2009
Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [NY-28] - 3/16/2009
Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9] - 3/25/2009
Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] - 3/4/2009
Rep Smith, Adrian [NE-3] - 3/30/2009
Rep Snyder, Vic [AR-2] - 3/12/2009
Rep Souder, Mark E. [IN-3] - 3/11/2009
Rep Space, Zachary T. [OH-18] - 2/12/2009
Rep Speier, Jackie [CA-12] - 3/9/2009
Rep Stark, Fortney Pete [CA-13] - 4/21/2009
Rep Stupak, Bart [MI-1] - 3/3/2009
Rep Sutton, Betty [OH-13] - 3/6/2009
Rep Tanner, John S. [TN-8] - 5/19/2009
Rep Tauscher, Ellen O. [CA-10] - 3/30/2009
Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] - 4/21/2009
Rep Terry, Lee [NE-2] - 2/4/2009
Rep Thompson, Glenn [PA-5] - 3/5/2009
Rep Thompson, Mike [CA-1] - 2/26/2009
Rep Thompson, Bennie G. [MS-2] - 2/11/2009
Rep Thornberry, Mac [TX-13] - 3/18/2009
Rep Tiahrt, Todd [KS-4] - 4/1/2009
Rep Tiberi, Patrick J. [OH-12] - 6/11/2009
Rep Tierney, John F. [MA-6] - 3/5/2009
Rep Titus, Dina [NV-3] - 3/10/2009
Rep Tonko, Paul D. [NY-21] - 3/4/2009
Rep Tsongas, Niki [MA-5] - 5/4/2009
Rep Turner, Michael R. [OH-3] - 3/16/2009
Rep Upton, Fred [MI-6] - 2/24/2009
Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] - 6/18/2009
Rep Velazquez, Nydia M. [NY-12] - 3/10/2009
Rep Visclosky, Peter J. [IN-1] - 2/12/2009
Rep Walden, Greg [OR-2] - 3/25/2009
Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] - 2/11/2009
Rep Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [FL-20] - 3/16/2009
Rep Waters, Maxine [CA-35] - 5/18/2009
Rep Watson, Diane E. [CA-33] - 4/30/2009
Rep Waxman, Henry A. [CA-30] - 4/21/2009
Rep Weiner, Anthony D. [NY-9] - 4/21/2009
Rep Welch, Peter [VT] - 3/26/2009
Rep Wexler, Robert [FL-19] - 2/23/2009
Rep Wilson, Charles A. [OH-6] - 3/17/2009
Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] - 3/5/2009
Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10] - 6/10/2009
Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] - 2/13/2009
Rep Wu, David [OR-1] - 3/30/2009
Rep Yarmuth, John A. [KY-3] - 3/12/2009
Rep Young, C.W. Bill [FL-10] - 2/24/2009
Rep Young, Don [AK] - 3/24/2009

 
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  FERS sick-leave credit bill passes House
  The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a bill to allow government employees within the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) to credit unused sick leave toward time-in-service pension calculations.

The sick-leave language was added to the Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act of 2009, which the House approved June 25 by a unanimous, 404-0 vote.

The measure calls for bringing some FERS benefits in line with those already enjoyed by workers covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), and it contains a number of other components geared toward boosting benefits for both FERS and CSRS employees.

The Act also fixes the Postal Service’s T-COLA levels in effect December 31 as the minimum T-COLA level for Alaska, Hawaii and U.S. territories as well. If the bill passes, those levels could rise if the federal locality rates rise in specific locations, but they could not be reduced.

Unfortunately, the outlook for including the FERS sick leave and T-COLA provisions in the Senate version remains cloudy. Earlier this month, South Carolina’s Jim DeMint forcedthe removal of the provision from another bill, and there are no signs that his position has changed.
 
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  NALC-Backed Legislation to Improve
FERS, TSP Benefits Passed by House
 

The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation (H.R. 1804) on April 1 that addressed two long-standing disparities in treatment between workers in the Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS) and those in the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). The bill provides service credit to employees covered by FERS for unused sick leave when determining their retirement benefits – as under CSRS. It also gives FERS employees who leave federal service and withdraw their retirement contributions the same right CSRS employees have to “buy-back” their service credit by re-depositing their contributions when they return to federal service. Both changes are strongly supported by NALC.

H.R. 1804 also includes a number of measures affecting the Thrift Savings Plan that are backed by NALC. Among these is a provision that makes enrollment of new employees in the TSP automatic with immediate matching contributions. Under this provision, agencies will automatically deduct 2 – 5 percent of pay from new workers paychecks and direct the funds into the TSP’s G Fund unless otherwise directed by the employees. This provision will ensure that no new employee misses out on the benefits of tax savings and matching contributions offered by the TSP – while retaining the worker’s right to opt out of the program and/or to invest their savings in any of the TSP investment funds. The current op-in enrollment would be replaced by an opt-out system, and the specific amount of the initial automatic contribution would be set by the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board.

The new legislation also gives the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, the agency that runs the TSP, guidance on two new TSP options:

  • One mandates the creation of a Roth option for TSP contributions – allowing federal workers to make post-tax contributions to the TSP instead of pre-tax contributions, which may make sense in some circumstances (though probably not for most letter carriers).
  • The other provides the Board the authority to create a “mutual fund window,” if it determines that it’s in the best interests of the TSP’s participants to do so. If created, the option would give TSP participants the chance to invest in a wide range of mutual funds while bearing all the costs of doing so. Specific rules and regulations governing this “window” would be set by the Thrift Board -- after consultations with the Employee Thrift Advisory Council, on which the NALC sits.

H.R. 1804 may be rolled into other legislation before it advances. The Senate is expected to take up consideration of legislation similar to H.R. 1804 in the near future. NALC will monitor its progress.

 
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  Employee Free Choice Act moves forward in Senate
 

The battle for the Employee Free Choice Act is heating up. The legislation to make it easier for workers to form unions was introduced March 10 in both the U.S. House and Senate. NALC believes the legislation is vital to pulling the nation out of the economic crisis and rebuilding the middle class. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other corporate special interests are spending millions on propaganda to defeat the bill. They are betting on a Republican-led Senate filibuster to block the act again. We need 60 Senate votes to win. When introduced, the bill had 40 Senate co-sponsors. Check the list below to see whether your senators are backing the bill. If not, contact them by phone or e-mail and urge them to give workers a free choice to form unions and bargain for better wages and benefits. For more information, see this fact sheet.

EFCA (S.560) Co-Sponsors (40):

Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] - 3/10/2009
Sen Begich, Mark [AK] - 3/10/2009
Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] - 3/10/2009
Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] - 3/10/2009
Sen Burris, Roland [IL] - 3/10/2009
Sen Byrd, Robert C. [WV] - 3/10/2009
Sen Cantwell, Maria [WA] - 3/10/2009
Sen Cardin, Benjamin L. [MD] - 3/10/2009
Sen Carper, Thomas R. [DE] - 3/10/2009
Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. [PA] - 3/10/2009
Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] - 3/10/2009
Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] - 3/10/2009
Sen Feingold, Russell D. [WI] - 3/10/2009
Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] - 3/10/2009
Sen Harkin, Tom [IA] - 3/10/2009
Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] - 3/10/2009
Sen Johnson, Tim [SD] - 3/10/2009
Sen Kaufman, Edward E. [DE] - 3/10/2009
Sen Kennedy, Edward [MA] - 3/10/2009
Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] - 3/10/2009 		Sen Klobuchar, Amy [MN] - 3/10/2009
Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ] - 3/10/2009
Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [VT] - 3/10/2009
Sen Levin, Carl [MI] - 3/10/2009
Sen Lieberman, Joseph I. [CT] - 3/10/2009
Sen Menendez, Robert [NJ] - 3/10/2009
Sen Merkley, Jeff [OR] - 3/10/2009
Sen Mikulski, Barbara A. [MD] - 3/10/2009
Sen Murray, Patty [WA] - 3/10/2009
Sen Nelson, Bill [FL] - 3/10/2009
Sen Reed, Jack [RI] - 3/10/2009
Sen Reid, Harry [NV] - 3/10/2009
Sen Rockefeller, John D., IV [WV] - 3/10/2009
Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] - 3/10/2009
Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] - 3/10/2009
Sen Shaheen, Jeanne [NH] - 3/10/2009
Sen Stabenow, Debbie [MI] - 3/10/2009
Sen Udall, Tom [NM] - 3/10/2009
Sen Whitehouse, Sheldon [RI] - 3/10/2009
Sen Wyden, Ron [OR] - 3/10/2009
 
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  President Young testifies to the Postal Regulatory Commission on universal service
  On July 10, President Young testified to the Postal Regulatory Commission on the importance of maintaining universal service. NALC stressed the view that the definition of universal service should be broad and flexible and that a regulated monopoly is essential to the preservation of universal service. More
 
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Find Your Elected Officials
Enter a 5 or 9 digit zip code below
   
 
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Contribute to COLCPE
NALC's political action fund helps elect friends of letter carriers (For NALC members only)
Active and retired members can contribute automatically from their bank account via Electronic Fund Transfer Instructions

Active members can contribute directly from their paychecks via PostalEASE Phone Instructions - Online Instructions

Retired members can contribute directly from their OPM annuities Instructions

Branches giving group contributions should use this COLCPE contribution form

   
 
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JOIN the NALC e-Activist Network
and become a legislative activist

Already signed up? Click here to UPDATE your e-mail address and other NALC e-Activist information
How to sign up for NALC's e-Activist Network on-line
Mail-in form to become a legislative activist
   
 
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NALC e-Activist Sign-up Kiosks
available by clicking on the arrow at right

Link to NALC e-Activist Signup kiosks

Branches can now sign up large numbers of members to the NALC e-Activist Network at Branch meetings, training sessions or events by using NALC e-Activist Network Signup Kiosks.

Set up an NALC e-Activist Kiosk at a branch meeting, training session or event and make the process even easier for members by asking a branch "techie" to stand by, answer questions and help members go through the online process.

All you need is:
a computer (one or more)
a telephone line for each computer;
a live Internet connection for each computer; and
the special NALC Sign Up Kiosk World Wide Web location (url) which is http://www.unionvoice.org/nalc/home.html.
 

With a minimum of effort, your branch will be signing up legions of new NALC e-Activists and swelling the ranks of NALC's cyber-activist strike force. President Young and the NALC Executive Council thank you for your efforts to create this network of NALC Activists. More information and tips
 
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LEGISLATION  AND  POLITICAL  ACTION  TOPICS
Issue Fact Sheets - Essential info on retirement issues, postal reform and more
Contact Us - For the latest information, training and more: phone numbers for national staff, state chair contacts
Training Material - These grassroots guides can help you to maximize your legislative potential
Hatch Act and Federal Election Law - You can do more than you think! What letter carriers can do in politics and legislation under the Hatch Act and Federal Election Campaign Act.
Testimony - NALC's Testimony Before Congress
Useful Links - Links to Legislative and Political Sites
 
 
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