Government affairs

August POSTAL RECORD: Budget deadline. ‘Better’ care? Why you should call your legislators. Activism on parade. Overtime rule update. In the news media. Also: Utah law allows state to provide services through post offices.

House adjourns for August recess, Senate remains in session for now; FY2018 budget update; Senate fails to advance ACA repeal-and-replace measures; Fed-related bills

The Senate voted early Friday morning to reject the latest attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

The House of Representatives voted on Thursday to pass a nearly $790 billion “minibus” appropriations package in a 235-192, mostly party-line vote.

Congress' traditional August recess starts on Monday, July 31.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-SC) received a letter from 10 House Republicans, urging him to not take action on federal employee retirement programs.

The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee held a business meeting to advance a series of bills, including two of particular note to federal employees.

Here’s how the budget process is supposed to work.

The House Budget Committee released its adopted FY2018 budget resolution, setting its sights on postal and federal employee benefits and targeting the U.S. Postal Service for massive cuts.

Here is NALC’s statement regarding the July 19 Senate hearing on action during the 2016 campaign season and implications for the Hatch Act.

Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD) has introduced the Federal Employee Pension Fairness Act (H.R. 3269).

Rep. Todd Rokita (R-IN) has introduced the Promote Accountability and Government Efficiency (PAGE) Act (H.R. 3257) to define future federal employees as “at-will employees,” as a means to remove or suspend individuals without due process.

Appropriations bill preserves 6-day mail language; Senate delays vote on flawed health care bill; FY2018 budget process continues without road map; Recess action center; TSP bill; 3 anti-labor bills; 6-day mail resolution reaches milestone

The appropriations process in Congress continues with subcommittees slowly advancing markups while deprived of a guiding budget resolution.

The House Education and Workforce Committee held a markup on three anti-labor bills to amend the National Labor Relations Act, voting along party lines to advance all three.

The House and Senate are on recess through July 9. Here's how you can use this opportunity to stay active and engaged by sharing our concerns with your representatives while they're back home and away from Washington, DC.

Thanks to the overwhelming opposition voiced by letter carriers, working people and the general public, the Senate has delayed action on the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 until after Congress' Fourth of July recess.

The Thrift Savings Plan Modernization Act was introduced by a House subcommittee as a companion to a similar bill introduced in the Senate in April.

Thanks largely to the work that letter carriers put in educating their House representatives, H.Res. 15, expressing the sense that six-day mail delivery should continue, has reached an important milestone.

Gowdy in as Oversight Committee chair; Budget process underway; Congress passes VA accountability and whistleblower bills; Senate committee hearing on STOP Act; Senate committee approves nomination of Vought for OMB; Activists from Pennsylvania in DC

With the Trump administration’s first full budget request for Fiscal Year 2018 out, Congress now turns to its onerous task of pulling together its own budget principles and will decide whether it includes some, all or none of the White House's priorities.

The Senate Budget Committee voted on June 14 to advance Russell Vought’s nomination to the position of deputy director at the Office of Management and Budget.

On June 13, the House of Representatives passed the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, a bill that weakens longstanding civil service protections for VA employees.

On June 13, Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) took over as chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, replacing Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), who announced he would leave Congress on June 30.

More than 100 letter carrier activists from Pennsylvania traveled to Washington, DC, June 6 and 7 to educate their members of Congress on issues of importance to letter carriers, including NALC’s priority resolutions.

Trump’s FY2018 budget; Vote-by-mail measures; Utah USPS bill; NALC members from New York on the Hill; House bill aims to restrict official time at the VA; House passes official time reporting bill; Resolutions update; Congressional schedule

A Senate committee held a hearing on a bill to require merchandise mailed to the U.S. to be subject to Customs review and to require advanced electronic tracking of all packages and large envelopes mailed to the United States.

The Vote By Mail Act aims to amend the Help America Vote Act to require states to mail ballots to all eligible voters at least two weeks in advance of a federal election.

The Trump administration’s budget plan for Fiscal Year 2018 proposes cuts for the Postal Service and for active and retired federal employees.

The Housed has passed a bill that would require that the Office of Personnel Management to submit an annual report to Congress outlining the use of official time by federal employees.

More than 100 letter carrier activists from New York traveled to Washington, DC, to educate their members of Congress on issues of importance to the New York State Association of Letter Carriers.

The House Veterans Affairs Committee approved a bill that contains a number of anti-union provisions.

House passes American Healthcare Act; House, Senate clear funding for FY 2017;  Acosta confirmed as Labor secretary; TSP bill introduced in House; Overtime rules bill passes House; Resolutions update; Congressional schedule

In a vote largely along party lines, the House of Representatives passed the Working Families Flexibility Act (H.R. 1180).

This week, the House and Senate passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (H.R. 244), which funds government operations through Sept. 30.

Public Service Recognition Week honors the men and women who serve the nation as federal, state, county and local government employees.

Of the many provisions within the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2017, one of note allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to increase H-2B visas for temporary labor through the end of September.

On May 4, the House of Representatives passed the American Healthcare Act, H.R. 1628, almost exclusively along party lines.

On April 28, Congress temporarily averted a shutdown of the federal government when it passed a short-term continuing resolution (CR), H.J. Res. 99, that funded the government for another week.

On April 27, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Alexander Acosta as the new Secretary of Labor.

More than 100 letter carrier activists from New Jersey traveled to Washington on April 27 to educate their members of Congress on issues of importance to the New Jersey state association, including NALC’s priority resolutions on six-day mail delivery (H.Res. 15), door delivery (H.Res. 28) and service standards (H.Res. 31).

OMB Director Mulvaney released a “Comprehensive Plan for Reforming the Federal Government and Reducing the Federal Civilian Workforce,” a memorandum for the heads of executive departments and agencies.

Thanks in large part to the efforts of NALC members, House Resolution 28, urging the House of Representatives to take all appropriate measures to ensure the continuation of door delivery for business and residential customers, now has a bipartisan majority of 218 co-sponsors.

On April 6, the Thrift Savings Plan Modernization Act of 2017 (S. 873) was introduced.

On March 21, Utah Governor Gary Herbert (R) signed into law S.B. 65, a postal facilities and government services bill that authorizes state agencies to provide select services through rural post offices.

House committee advances 2 postal bills; White House releases FY2018 budget; House considers repeal, replacement of ACA; Bills introduced: Social Security Fairness Act, ‘official time,’ paid parental leave; Resolutions update; Get the NALC Member App

This week, the White House released its Fiscal Year 2018 “Budget Blueprint to Make America Great Again.”

On March 16, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform approved the Postal Reform Act of 2017 (H.R. 756) and the Postal Service Financial Improvement Act of 2017 (H.R. 760).

Two pieces of legislation regarding the use of official time were introduced and passed by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Last week, the House of Representatives introduced the American Health Care Reform Act of 2017.

The Federal Employee Paid Parental Leave Act (H.R. 1022 and S. 362) has been reintroduced in the House and Senate to provide federal employees up to six weeks of paid leave following the birth, adoption and fostering of a new child.

This week the White House withdrew Andrew Puzder, who was nominated to serve as Secretary of the Department of Labor, and announced a new nominee, Alexander Acosta.

Act now to preserve paper-based options to keep shareholder reports available to the 1/3 of all Americans who lack access to broadband internet service while putting more mail in a letter carrier’s satchel.

NALC President Fredric Rolando testifies about postal legislation before House committee; Bipartisan postal reform bills introduced by Reps. Chaffetz and Lynch; Postal reform update: A changed political landscape requires a new strategy; House Oversight Committee holds hearing to discuss plan for 115th Congress; Rep. Loudermilk’s MERIT Act would remove workplace due process rights; Bill tracker (H.Res. 15, H.Res. 28 and H.Res. 31)

Postal reform has strong bipartisan support and our goals have not changed. Our strategy, of course, will have to change to reflect the new political landscape in Washington, DC.

Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) recently introduced the Modern Employment Reform and Transformation Act, a bill to make it easier for agencies to fire federal employees.

On Feb. 7, NALC President Fredric Rolando testified before a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on the Postal Service Reform Act of 2017 (H.R. 756).

Reps. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Stephen Lynch (D-MA) have reintroduced postal bills similar to ones introduced in the 114th Congress. NALC President Fredric Rolando has been invited to a Feb. 7 House committee hearing on both bills.

The House Oversight Committee held a hearing to review a proposed document that lays out priorities for 2017, including sections on the U.S. Postal Service and the federal workforce.

Pres. Rolando’s statement to NALC members on Trump’s federal hiring freeze; 100+ lawmakers urge Trump to reconsider hiring freeze; Action needed: Tell your representative to oppose the PAGE Act; Anti-fed bill introduced; mark-up scheduled; Anti-labor proposals advance in four states; State action on anti-labor state proposals; Congress approves budget resolution, paving way for Obamacare repeal; Obama signs Veterans Tax Fairness Act into law; Numerous bills affecting veterans already introduced in 115th Congress; Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act reintroduced; Bill tracker.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) has introduced the Tax Accountability Act of 2017, which would prevent individuals with federal tax liability ineligible for federal employment. Chaffetz’ committee has scheduled the measure for mark-up on Jan. 31.

Rep. Todd Rokita (R-IN) is preparing to introduce the Promote Accountability and Government Efficiency (PAGE) Act, a proposal that calls for taking away newly hired federal employees’ union representation and grant political appointees overseeing federal agencies the power to terminate, demote and discipline workers’ for “good reason, bad reason, or no reason.”

Numerous measures have been introduced and advanced in several state legislatures that attempt to attack or undermine workers’ rights, voting rights and more.

The 115th Congress is already seeing a flurry of activity, with many lawmakers introducing and reintroducing measures affecting veterans.

On Jan. 13, Congress passed a Fiscal Year 2017 budget resolution that sets budgetary spending levels for Fiscal Year 2017 through Fiscal Year 2026. The resolution also set the stage for repeal of the Affordable Care Ac.

In recent weeks, several states have already experienced significant efforts to undermine the labor movement.

On Jan. 9, more than 100 Democratic lawmakers, led by Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA), sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump, requesting that he reconsider his plan to implement a hiring freeze across the federal government.

On Jan. 9, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) reintroduced the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act (S. 63), a bill designed to prevent the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) from regulating many American Indian gaming casinos, a move that would strip the collective-bargaining rights of more than 628,000 tribal casino workers.

On Dec. 16, President Obama signed into law the Combat-Injured Veterans Tax Fairness Act. It directs the Department of Defense to restore nearly $78 million in improper tax withholdings from individuals separated from service due to combat-related injuries.

115th Congress convenes; Your guide to activism in the 115th Congress; Five immediate threats to federal employees in 2017; State legislatures prepare to begin sessions; Three postal resolutions reintroduced

Reps. David McKinley (R-WV), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Don Young (R-AK) Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Richard Nolan (D-MN), David Joyce (R-OH) and Linda Sanchez (D-CA) have reintroduced their resolution to maintain service standards, H.Res. 31.

With the new year underway, state legislatures and general assemblies across the country are preparing to kick off their legislative sessions, or already have done so.

On Jan. 3, the House of Representatives and the Senate both convened for the first session of the 115th Congress, and the 535 lawmakers from both chambers were sworn-in.

We’re bracing for a lot of activity on Capitol Hill in the 115th Congress, which means it’s important for us to begin the new year with strong relationships on both sides of the aisle.

With Congress and the White House in Republican control, the GOP is preparing to pursue an aggressive agenda against federal employees during the 115th Congress. Fortunately, NALC will be playing a larger role in the Federal-Postal Coalition.

Reps. Susan Davis (D-CA), David Joyce (R-OH) and Peter King (R-NY) have reintroduced their resolution to preserve door delivery of the mail.

Reps. Sam Graves (R-MO) and Gerry Connolly (D-VA) have reintroduced their resolution to preserve six-day mail delivery.

114th Congress ‘unofficially’ adjourns; Postal reform in the 115th Congress; Congress passes short-term funding thru April; Legislative and political department updates; Secure mail initiative; Medicare ‘hold harmless’ bill

Although the 114th Congress did not take up postal reform before the end of the year, the NALC Legislative & Political Affairs Department is preparing to hit the ground running when lawmakers return to Washington on Jan. 3 to begin the 115th Congress.

While the House and Senate have concluded the 114th Congress’ business, both chambers remain in “pro-forma” session until Jan. 3 to prevent any lame-duck appointments.

Late on Dec. 9, Congress approved a short-term continuing resolution (CR), H.R. 2028, to fund the government through April 28. The measure extends current 2016 funding levels and includes an across-the-board 0.5 percent spending reduction to stay within limits for discretionary spending (a $1.067 trillion limit).

On Dec. 2, Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) introduced legislation “to amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to limit Medicare Part B premium increases for 2017.”

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) introduced a bill to allow individuals to require USPS to receive a signature on certain packages sent by United States Citizenship and Immigration Service.

Under the NALC Constitution, new Executive Vice President Renfroe's responsibilities include oversight of NALC's Dept. of Legislative and Political Affairs. Also, Corey Miller joins the department as legislative and political assistant.

While there will be more shuffling up until the 115th convenes on Jan. 3, here is an outline of Senate and House committee assignments and leaders for the 115th Congress.

The House recently passed H.R. 6303, designating 10 USPS facilities and establishing five new ZIP Codes. The bill was introduced by Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which has jurisdiction over USPS.

Congressional leaders recently released tentative calendars for the first session of the 115th Congress.

Congress returns for ‘lame duck’ session; PRC nominees advance in Senate; Make-up of the 115th Congress; Leadership of 115th Congress begins to take shape; Senators up for re-election in 2018; Get the NALC Member App; Action Alert; Resolution Tracker

Every two years, one-third of the U.S. Senate is up for re-election. Here is a list of those who will be running in the 2018 elections.

As the 114th Congress comes to a close following an intense election cycle, we can now glean what the next Congress will look like.

On Nov. 14, Congress returned to Capitol Hill for the remaining “lame duck” session. Here’s an overview of members’ agenda.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has approved the re-appointment of the Robert Taub and Mark Acton as commissioners of the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC).

With just three states in the 2016 general election using vote-by-mail (Colorado, Oregon and Washington), Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) shared in a recent op-ed published by CNN the urgent need for a nationwide system to be implemented.

If we’re going to help pro-letter carrier and pro-working family candidates get elected to office, we need letter carriers, their family members and their neighbors to get involved now.

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump recently answered questions from undecided voters at Washington University in St. Louis during the second presidential debate.

On Oct. 4, the only debate between vice presidential candidates Tim Kaine and Mike Pence was held at Longwood University. Here are several of the highlights about working families that were discussed.

Door delivery resolution gains House majority—don’t let up; Rolando urges letter carriers: Verify voter registration, vote early; Prepare for Election Day; Congress departs DC until after elections; Help elect pro-labor candidates

Congress adjourned after avoiding a government shutdown and passing a short-term spending bill. Both chambers will remain in recess for six weeks and return after Election Day.

On Sept. 26, the first debate between presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump took place. While the candidates had much to say about the middle class, here are some of the highlights.

With this important election coming up soon and with early voting beginning in many places, NALC President Fredric Rolando urges letter carriers to make sure they’re registered to vote and to turn out to vote as soon as possible.

This week, House Resolution 28, a bill supporting the preservation of door delivery service, reached a milestone: a bipartisan majority of representatives in the House have added their names as a co-sponsors of the legislation.

In addition to electing our next president, soon we will be voting for members of Congress, and for state and local leaders. These will have a direct impact on your life and determine the future for our families, for USPS and for every American.

On Sept. 22, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) introduced a continuing resolution (CR), H.R. 3525, to prevent a government shutdown from occurring on Sept. 30.

On Sept. 21, the Senate Finance Committee unanimously passed the Miners Protection Act, which calls for ensuring that the federal government and coal operators honor their obligation of lifetime pension and health benefits to more than 22,000 retired mine workers and their families,

House and Senate leaders are hammering out details on a short-term continuing resolution that would extend current funding levels to prevent a government shutdown from happening after Sept. 30.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has marked up and approved several bills of interest to federal employees.

On Sept. 8, dozens of NALC members from several states joined thousands of other union members in Washington in solidarity with the United Mine Workers Association, calling on Congress to pass crucial pension and health legislation.

NALC has been educating members about the only postal reform bills before the House and Senate: H.R. 5714 and S. 2051. Here is a side-by-side comparison, highlighting language that reflects our priority areas within each piece of legislation.

Congress is back on Capitol Hill and has a long “to do” list before their next recess begins on Oct. 3. Here is an overview of what we can expect to be put before the House and Senate over the next month.

The Securities and Exchanges Commission reportedly has withdrawn the proposed “Investment Company Reporting Modernizing Rule” that, if implemented, would have allowed mutual funds to discontinue the mailing of shareholder reports and other important investment information to investors.

During the 70th biennial convention in Los Angeles today, delegates from across the country attended a panel discussion on NALC postal reform efforts in the 114th Congress.

On July 12, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (OGR) advanced two postal reform measures: the Postal Service Reform Act of 2016 (H.R. 5714) and the Postal Service Financial Improvement Act (H.R. 5707).

On July 15, President Barack Obama signed into law H.R. 4960, naming an Aurora, IL, post office after the late Ken Christy, the Illinois State Association of Letter Carriers president who died unexpectedly in March.

Congress has wrapped up its work on Capitol Hill and has hit the campaign trail for the next seven weeks. In addition to postal reform legislation being introduced in the House this week, both chambers saw a flurry of activity before leaving Washington.

This week, the House Ways and Means Committee was scheduled to consider the Equal Treatment for Public Servants Act (H.R. 711), which calls for reducing the penalty to 50 percent for Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)-affected federal employees.

Consistent communication with a district office is the best way to build relationships and keep staff engaged. Here are some simple steps you can take to get started.

Lawmakers in the House and Senate have introduced the Vote By Mail Act, legislation amending the Help America Vote Act to require states to mail ballots to all eligible voters in federal elections at least two weeks before the election.

The House has voted 239-185 to approve a $21.7 billion Fiscal Year 2017 Financial Services and General Government spending package. In another major victory for the NALC, the measure preserved longstanding language continuing six-day mail delivery.

President Obama has signed into law the Female Veteran Suicide Prevention Act (H.R. 2915 and S. 2487).

On July 7, the U.S. House of Representatives approved Rep. Gary Palmer’s (R-AL) “Government Reform and Improvement Act” (H.R. 4361), a package of several bills granting agency heads increased authority to undermine the rights and due process of federal employees.

On June 15, following release of a discussion draft of the Postal Service Reform Act of 2016, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform asked postal stakeholders to submit comments to gauge support for the measure.

The Senate has approved the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA). The package rescues the U.S. territory from a $72 billion debt crisis, just two days before it was set to default on a $2 billion debt payment.

On June 23, the House approved the Fiscal Year 2017 Military Construction-VA appropriations package, providing $82.5 billion in discretionary funding.

The Senate-passed FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act includes a provision to scale back veterans’ reference in federal hiring.

With the remaining legislative days that Congress has left in Washington—before members return to their districts to focus on re-election campaigns—there are several “must do” items to accomplish before anyone boards a plane home.

Every year, NALC lobbies Congress to ensure resolutions that support our issues are included as spending packages move forward. This year’s appropriations process, however, is significantly more different than ever before.

The Senate Committee on Appropriations has voted to approve Fiscal Year 2017 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) appropriations measure, which includes the long-standing six day mail delivery language.

The House Committee on Appropriations has approved the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government’s fiscal year 2017 bill, which—among other things—preserves long-standing six day mail delivery language.

Following a tremendously hard-fought primary process, NALC is proud to endorse former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to serve as the next president of the United States. 

Members of Congress are back in their home districts throughout next week for the Memorial Day district work period. They will return to Washington, DC,  on Monday, June 6.

All 435 House members and one-third of senators are up for re-election this year. Is your member one of the few who have other plans than re-election this fall?

The House has passed the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer (FAST) Act, which calls for selling and consolidating nearly 254,000 federal properties—including postal properties—deemed to be underutilized.

The House Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government has passed an appropriations measure for FY 2017 preserving six-day mail delivery for the millions of businesses and households that depend on it.

A Senate committee has unanimously approved legislation to name an Aurora, IL post office after the late Ken Christy.

NALC’s research department has compiled a resource guide to help activists find information about the U.S. Postal Service and the types of data and reports available on different agency websites.

Activists from the Pennsylvania state association headed to Capitol Hill today to talk about the issues most important to letter carriers with their members of Congress.

Illinois’s senators have introduced a bill to name a post office after the late Ken Christy, the Illinois State Association president who died unexpectedly in March.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) has launched a new campaign to expand the Oregon-style vote-by-mail program nationwide, as a way of tearing down barriers to voting.

On May 11, NALC President Fredric Rolando testified before a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing titled, “Reforming the Postal Service: Finding a Viable Solution.”

A recently introduced bill calls for naming an Illinois post office after former state association president Ken Christy, who died on March 26.

Two bills that, if passed, would be harmful to federal employees recently were approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on a voice vote.

Nearly 150 letter carriers from the New Jersey state association made the trip to Washington, DC, this week to lobby their members of Congress.

A Senate committee has held a hearing on the nomination of Jeffrey Rosen to the U.S. Postal Service’s Board of Governors.

NALC has signed onto a letter from nearly 300 other national organizations, urging Congress to oppose any balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The House has passed a resolution urging the IRS to provide printed copies of tax resources to taxpayers who request them, free of charge.

On the floor of the House of Representatives, Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) commended the NALC’s annual “Stamp Out Hunger®”  Food Drive—the largest one-day food drive in the country.

Nearly 160 letter carrier activists from the New York, Maryland/DC, and Virginia state associations recently visited Washington, DC, to lobby their members of Congress.

As the House and Senate prepare to return to Washington after their March recess, members will return to a busy legislative agenda amidst appropriations season.

A bill recently introduced into the California legislature seeks to understand how USPS may be able to assist the state in its emergency response. A similar study was approved by Utah’s state senate in February.

While members of Congress attend events and meet with constituents in their districts, recess is the perfect time to reach out to your representatives and remind them about important postal resolutions.

Letter carrier activists from the Florida State Association spent a day on Capitol Hill visiting their members of Congress.

The House Ways and Means Committee’s Social Security subcommittee held a hearing on the Windfall Elimination Provision and on H.R. 711, the Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act.

Congress is marking up bills to pass the federal budget for the fiscal year 2016-2017. NALC activists are working hard to educate representatives why 3 postal resolutions continue to be important to customers and businesses across the country.

The increase was promoted as a way to help USPS recover from the effects of the Great Recession. Its expiration is expected to cost the agency $2 billion in lost revenue annually.

The White House has nominated Jeffrey A. Rosen to become a member of the Postal Service Board of Governors.

Since Fiscal Year 2011, the federal-postal community has lost more than $150 billion in the form of cuts to pay, benefits and salaries. New bills introduced in the House and Senate aim to rectify that.

Two budget documents were released this week, and they could have implications for letter carriers and the U.S. Postal Service.

The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held a hearing this week on three pending bills.

Hawaii and Maryland are looking to pass vote-by-mail legislation this year.

An experimental Obama administration plan could affect letter carriers because of its potential impact on the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

The Stop Postal Closures Act would halt any closure and consolidation of postal facilities until the PRC certifies that USPS has met certain national service standards.

On March 1, the House Oversight and Government Reform (OGR) Committee advanced by unanimous consent several of what it calls “good government” bills.

Edward Morgan, a letter carrier activist from Philadelphia Branch 157, has joined the NALC’s Government Affairs team as the first legislative and political organizer (LPO).

The AFL-CIO’s executive council met recently and approved four statements designed to set a blueprint for how organized labor should move forward when working with legislators on crafting public policy.

The bill calls for a study of how the U.S. Postal Service could play a part in emergency assistance during a declared disaster in The Beehive State.

Florida’s State House and Senate have approved legislation providing Sunshine State voters the ability to cast ballots however they choose to do so.

Two House members have introduced a bill to increase the maximum criminal penalty for anyone convicted of mail theft from five years to 10 years.

The House has passed H.R. 677, which would require annual COLAs to be made automatically whenever there is an increase in benefits under the Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) of the Social Security Act.

We take a first look at President Obama’s Fiscal year 2017 budget request, especially as it relates to USPS, workers’ comp, federal employees and cybersecurity—with a look at the next steps to expect.

On Feb. 4, House Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-GA) unleashed a major attack on all federal employees and their fundamental labor rights with H.R. 4461, the so-called “Federal Employees Rights Act.”

Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA) has reintroduced a bill that calls for allowing the U.S. Postal Service to offer basic financial services.

Today, the Senate’s Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee (HSGAC) conducted a hearing to discuss the “Reality of the Postal Service.” The hearing consisted of two panels of witnesses; NALC President Fredric Rolando was on the second panel.

Town halls present NALC members with the opportunity to update representatives—and the public—on the value that letter carriers and the U.S. Postal Service bring to communities.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee met Tuesday to mark up several pieces of legislation that attack federal employees.

Three pieces of legislation have been introduced to provide relief to Social Security and other beneficiaries who are not scheduled to get a 2016 cost-of-living adjustment.

The members of state legislatures and general assemblies are heading back to their state capitals to kick off their legislative sessions.

Looking ahead to 2016, members of Congress are expected to spend a fair amount of time in their home states.

Following weeks of negotiations, both the House and Senate finally passed a $1.1 trillion omnibus spending measure to fund the government through Sep. 30, 2016. It now awaits the president’s signature.

The terms of two USPS Board of Governors members officially expired on Dec. 8, leaving a board that is supposed to have nine Senate-confirmed members with just one.

The Veterans Identification Card Act, which takes effect in 2017, directs the VA to issue an identification card to a requesting veteran who is neither entitled to military retired pay nor enrolled in the VA system of patient enrollment.

One month into his new leadership post, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) has only days to contend with how to fund the federal government beyond Dec. 11.

On Thursday, the Senate passed the Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act (H.R. 3762), a budget reconciliation bill aimed at repealing significant portions of the 2010 Affordable Care Act.

This week, Congress successfully negotiated—and paid for—a five-year, $305 billion surface transportation reauthorization bill.

A national poll conducted has again shown that the U.S. Postal Service is the most favored among all federal agencies.

Congress is working on a lot of non-postal business lately, but it still needs to know the NALC’s priorities when it comes to promoting legislation that supports a strong Postal Service and its universal network of affordable service.

House lawmakers introduce resolution regarding rural post offices.

President Obama has signed into law the Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act, providing federal employees who are also disabled military veterans leave time that will allow them to seek medical treatment for service-related disabilities, separate from traditional sick and annual leave.

Budget deal temporarily addresses budget caps, debt ceiling and Medicare premiums.

It’s been a very busy week on Capitol Hill as Congress tackles its fall agenda. Check out the latest hot topics on the Hill to see what is happening.

A measure has been introduced that aims to prevent a potential 52 percent increase in Medicare Part B premiums in 2016 for nearly 7.5 million Americans.

Breaking up USPS, as suggested by a Brookings Institution study, would make no economic sense.

Trade negotiators, meeting in Atlanta last week to conclude a deal on the 12-nation Trans-Pacific-Partnership (TPP), have announced an agreement.

Last month, NALC Network Activists in California were among those who successfully lobbied the California State Assembly to pass Senate Joint Resolution No. 11.

Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) has introduced S. 2051, the iPost Act. It’s a starting point for a conversation and for potential changes to the bill. One question that NALC members may have is: Where do we go from here?

H. Res. 12, which seeks to preserve six-day mail delivery service, now has the majority of the House signed on.

Congress averted an anticipated shutdown of the federal government, but with so much acrimony on Capitol Hill, it is expected to be an interesting fall.

The House of Representatives unanimously passed the Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act of 2015, H.R. 313.

Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) has introduced the iPost Act. NALC President Fredric Rolando released a statement regarding the bill. Include NALC’s summary and analysis.

Sens. Dean Heller (R-NV) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) have introduced the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act, to repeal the excise tax on high-cost health insurance plans scheduled to take effect in 2018.

On Sept. 16, Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced the Workplace Action for a Growing Economy (WAGE) Act, a bill that aims to strengthen the protections for workers who band together and to ensure that corporations that violate workers’ rights face real-life consequences.

Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) has introduced a bill that aims to prevent USPS from closing any post office or postal facility that serves a high-growth ZIP code.

On Wednesday, the Senate adjourned for its August recess. In the House, lawmakers broke for recess a week before.

When Congress returns to DC in September, we may see the introduction of postal reform legislation in both chambers. This means we must continue to educate and engage members of Congress on what is important to NALC members.

Legislation has been introduced in the House and Senate aimed at enhancing environmental and safety standards in U.S. Postal Service vehicles.

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) has introduced the Shipping Equity Act of 2015, which is designed to provide the Postal Service with the authority to ship beer, wine and alcoholic beverages.

The SEC has announced a proposed new regulation governing mutual funds (Rule 30e-3) that would make electronic delivery of information distribution the default delivery option instead of mail delivery.

Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced its Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) legislation. The committee included “provisions in the bill to ensure that mail for overseas voting and mail for the blind continues to be free; that 6-day delivery and rural delivery of mail shall continue without reduction; and that none of the funds provided be used to consolidate or close small rural and other small post offices in fiscal year 2016.”

Today, the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee passed a series of bipartisan bills designed to increase government accountability and efficiency.

A coalition of postal and federal employees scored a major victory when the Senate rejected a proposal that sought to cut the interest rate paid to investors inside the Thrift Savings Plan’s G Fund as a potential payfor on the Highway Trust Fund.

The Federal Employee Anti-Discrimination Act of 2015, H.R. 1557, passed the House of Representatives today, unanimously. H.R. 1557 seeks to require that agencies be more transparent while investigating discrimination complaints.

During the National Rap Session in Houston this past weekend, NALC President Fredric V. Rolando formally announced the new name of NALC’s political action committee (PAC).

Senators have introduced legislation to address the declining quality of mail service in the rural United States.

NALC President Fredric Rolando released a statement following the Obama administration's signing into law a package of trade provisions:

In the House’s quest to advance this doomed trade package, it is neglecting serious priorities. NALC remains committed to working with Congress to advance a trade package that promotes and protects a strong and vibrant USPS.

Unfortunately, the battle against Fast Track is far from over.

On June 17, a House committee advanced an FY 2016 appropriations bill that preserves longstanding budget language that mandates USPS to maintain six-day mail delivery.

A House committee held a hearing to examine the Universal Postal Union (UPU) terminal dues rate setting structure and process.

On June 10, the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee (HSGAC) held a hearing on U.S. Postal Service Board of Governor nominee David Shapira.

The presidents of NALC, APWU and NPMHU have written a letter to members of the House of Representatives registering their concerns over pending Fast Track legislation.

Postal bills are being drafted in Congress right now, so we could be mere weeks away from seeing officially introduced legislation starting to move.

Prior to adjourning for the Memorial Day recess, the Senate passed “fast track” authority legislation, bringing it one step closer to President Obama’s desk.

More than 100 letter carrier activists from New Jersey arrived in DC this week to advocate on behalf of letter carriers in preparation for upcoming postal reform legislation in the House and Senate.

The hearing, “21st Century Ideas for a 21st Century Workforce,” focused on maintaining and recruiting employees, dismissal, probationary periods and compensation.

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s Subcommittee on Government Operations held a hearing to discuss issues facing civilian and Postal Service vehicle fleets.

NALC Dir. of Retired Members Ron Watson testified today before a hearing on reforming workers’ compensation for federal employees, held by the House Education and Workforce Committee’s Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.

Emphasis was placed on the need for Congress to enact consensus reforms that include addressing pre-funding at the Postal Service.

More than 200 letter carrier activists from Pennsylvania descended on Washington, DC, this week to advocate on behalf of their fellow letter carriers.

The Illinois State House of Representatives voted unanimously to reject Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposal to create local “right-to-work” zones in the state as a part of his so-called “Turnaround Agenda.”

Following lots of twists and turns in the debate over how to consider Fast Track and related bills, it seems that the Senate is off and running in how it will consider Trade Promotion Authority—and what it will take to get it across the finish line in the Senate.

Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee Ranking Member Tom Carper (D-DE) hosted a roundtable discussion today with key postal stakeholders about challenges and opportunities in a digital age.

For the first time in five years, the House and Senate agreed to a joint budget resolution, a blueprint for House and Senate Committees working on individual appropriations measures.

Following a House and Senate conference to work out differences each chamber’s FY2016 budget measures, the House on Thursday approved S. Con. Res. 11 by a vote of 226-197.

More than 100 letter carriers activists from the state of New York came to Washington on Thursday to advocate for support for letter carrier concerns.

Last week, House and Senate committees both passed their respective trade promotion authority bills, calling for granting the executive branch authority to “fast track” trade deals.

On April 22, Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) introduced H.R.1963, the Federal Leadership in Energy & Efficient Transportation (FLEET) Act. The bill seeks to modernize the Postal Service’s fleet of aging Long Life Vehicles (LLVs).

The Coalition to Stop Fast Track, of which NALC is a member, has created its first advertisement opposing giving President Obama Fast Track authority, and plans to air the spot in Washington, DC and in targeted districts through the next week.

You can see the spot below.

"Fast Track" trade promotion was introduced Thursday on Capitol Hill. NALC strongly opposes the measure—it would take away much of Congress’ role in trade negotiations, and it could threaten the U.S. Postal Service and letter carrier jobs.

Rep. Darrell Issa has introduced a bill to require USPS to eliminate door delivery for 15 million addresses by forcing 1.5 million households and businesses to convert from door delivery to curbside or cluster boxes every year over the next 10 years.

When Congress comes back to Washington this week after its spring recess, it’s expected to begin consideration of Fast Track legislation. Two rallies this week hope to influence the outcome.

Rep. Steve King (R-IA) recently got a behind-the-scenes look at a day in the life of a letter carrier.

There are 26 House committees and 20 Senate committees, but just eight committees and subcommittees oversee issues relevant to the NALC.

Another bill before the House wants to use public-sector workers’ pensions as a “piggy bank” to solve the country’s financial problems.

Several House members from Ohio have introduced a resolution recognizing America’s largest one-day food drive on Saturday, May 9.

The federal spending plan for Fiscal Year 2016 released by the House of Representatives on Tuesday once again aims to cut letter carriers’ pay.

In the House, 150 members stand with us on a resolution to preserve six-day mail delivery. However, we have done some digging and found that some of NALC’s old friends are missing from the list of co-sponsors.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown this week signed into law the state’s new “motor voter” bill, designed to use the secure Postal Service delivery network to remove barriers to voter registration and to make it as easy as possible for eligible Oregonians to receive a ballot.

Working families continue to face attacks on numerous fronts. Some of the biggest struggles these families encounter take place in state capitals, where legislators and governors set the agendas.

Last month, Reps. Rodney Davis (R-IL) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 973), a bill that calls for repealing provisions in current law that reduce Social Security benefits of annuitants who have paid their fair share through their years of public service.

Letter carriers have a direct stake in the outcome of trade talks. That’s why NALC joined 59 AFL-CIO–affiliated unions in sending a letter to congressional lawmakers, opposing the use of “fast track” authority.

In February, more than 150 letter carriers came to Washington, DC, to participate in NALC’s advocacy efforts as the 114th Congress was getting down to business.

Sens. James Lankford (R-OK) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) have been named chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management.

With the announcement of the administration’s FY 2016 budget request earlier this month, lawmakers will now set their sights on consideration of 12 annual appropriations bills to fund each agency beginning Oct. 1, 2015.

Earlier this month, Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD) reintroduced The Federal Employee Pension Fairness Act (H.R. 785) to eliminate increased pension contributions of federal and postal employees.

TTD continues its support for a strong, financially sound Postal Service. Reforms to ensure the agency’s long-term financial solvency should not come at the expense of employees or customers.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) has introduced a bill aimed at reversing the effects of the Postal Service’s “Network Rationalization Plan.”

The Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act would alter the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) to treat letter carriers and other federal employees who paid into Social Security the same as other American workers.

Although NALC is encouraged that the new budget again mandates continuation of six-day mail delivery, we’re deeply disappointed that the budget embraces a doomed business strategy devised in the midst of the Great Recession.

Service standards resolution; Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act; Paid parental leave bill; House OGR committee/subcommittee updates; Boozeman named Senate FSGG chairman; Build early support for resolutions; Fact sheets; Coming up

President Obama has signed the Clay Hunt Act Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, a measured aimed at helping military veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress and depression.

On Jan. 27, H.R. 567, the Revolving Door Pension Prevention Act, was introduced by Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY).

Reps. David McKinley (R-WV) and Paul Tonko (R-NY) have introduced H.Res. 54, a resolution expressing the sense of Congress that USPS should take all appropriate measures to restore 2012 service standards.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran (R-MS) has announced that Sen. John Boozeman (R-AR) will take over the helm of the Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (FSGG).

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held its first organization meeting to iron out committee business and determine order and operations for the committee during the 114th Congress. The first order of business for the committee was officially announcing new committee members.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) has introduced the Federal Employee Paid Parental Leave Act (H. R. 532), legislation that would give both male and female federal workers six weeks of paid leave after the birth, adoption or foster placement of a child.

Both the House and Senate have reintroduced the Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act, which would provide first-year federal workers with service-related disabilities sick leave to use for medical visits.

Last Tuesday, the 114th Congress convened and all 535 members of the House and Senate were sworn in.

A look at the House and Senate committees with jurisdiction over the Postal Service.

Once the 114th Congress was sworn in, in the House of Representatives Reps. Sam Graves (R-MO) and Gerry Connolly (D-VA) wasted no time in renewing their commitment to preserving six-day mail delivery by quickly introducing H.Res. 12.

Reps. Susan Davis (D-CA), David Joyce (R-OH) and Peter King (R-NY) are reintroducing their door-delivery resolution for the 114th Congress.

House and Senate dates

Following passage of the Fiscal Year 2015 funding bill (H.R. 83) and a $41.6 billion temporary tax extenders package, and ending with Senate consideration of some pending nominations, both the House and Senate adjourned this week.

Following weeks of post-election debate regarding the funding of the government beyond Dec. 12, House and Senate lawmakers approved the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015 (H.R. 83).

When the House and Senate convene on Jan. 6, both bodies will be under Republican-majority leadership.

On Dec. 11, Sens. Jon Tester (D-MT) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) introduced S. 3001, the Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act, which seeks to provide first-year federal workers with service-related disabilities 104 hours of sick leave to use for medical visits.

Last Friday, the House subcommittee with USPS oversight held a hearing to follow up on the backlog in the federal employee retirement process.

One of the first orders of business for lawmakers returning after the mid-term elections was voting on committee leadership posts for the 114th Congress. Those elections were held on Tuesday.

On Thursday, Congress recessed for the Thanksgiving holiday and will return on Dec. 1 to tackle outstanding legislative business, primarily funding the government beyond Dec. 12.

On Wednesday, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee's Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service and the Census Subcommittee held a hearing to discuss the Postal Service data breach that occurred in September.

For some lawmakers, the solution to the manufactured financial crisis caused by the pre-funding mandate remains eliminating six-day and door delivery and implementing another round of closures and consolidations.

This week, both the House of Representatives and the Senate returned to Washington from their August recess with a laser-like focus on funding the government beyond Sept. 30.

The proposal to close and consolidate 82 mail-processing facilities in 37 states continues to attract the ire of Congress.

As a reminder, please continue to urge your House member to sign on as a co-sponsor to H. Res. 711, if he or she has not already signed on.

On Wednesday, the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee (HSGAC) addressed several issues in its final business meeting before Congress’ August recess.

On July 15, Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA) introduced the Providing Opportunities for Savings, Transactions and Lending Act (POSTAL) Act, H.R. 5179, to allow USPS to offer basic financial services.

If passed, this bill would give newly hired postal and federal employees who are also disabled veterans 104 hours of leave time to seek medical treatment for their service-related disabilities during their first year in the workforce.

Today, the Senate approved H.R. 2291, the bill to rename Manhattan’s Grand Central Station Post Office after former NALC President Vincent R. Sombrotto.

Today, the House and Senate will head home until after Labor Day, returning on Sept. 8.

On Monday, the House will begin consideration of the Fiscal Year 2015 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) appropriations bill, H.R. 5016, with a vote expected by Wednesday.

The House is scheduled to vote on a number of post office namings next week, including H.R. 2291, to designate a Manhattan post office in honor of former NALC President Vincent R. Sombrotto.

On Wednesday, the language mandating six-day mail delivery—intentionally left out of the draft version of the House Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government’s Fiscal Year 2015 spending bill—was successfully reinserted into the measure.

The bipartisan majority of House members who support H. Res. 30 grew to 224 on Tuesday.

Over the past few weeks, the House of Representatives and the Senate have been discussing ideas to inject resources into the Highway Trust Fund, which is expected to run out of money in August.

This week, the House Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) subcommittee released its Fiscal Year 2015 FSGG Appropriations bill, which would provide a total $21.3 billion in discretionary funding to a diverse group of agencies and activities.

On Thursday, House Republicans elected Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to become the new House majority leader, replacing Eric Cantor (R-VA), who unexpectedly lost his House seat in the Virginia GOP primary.

While the House was in recess this week, the noise surrounding temporarily financing the Highway Trust Fund through the elimination of six-day mail delivery hit a fever pitch.

Unfortunately, the attack on six-day delivery is not limited to the Highway Trust Fund or pending postal reform legislation. A House committee is working behind the scenes to draft an appropriations bill.

On Wednesday, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee introduced and approved the “Secure Delivery for America Act of 2014” (H.R. 4670) along a party-line vote.

On Thursday, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service and the Census held a hearing titled “Examining Innovative Postal Products for the 21st Century.”

On Wednesday, the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee approved legislation (S. 1045) that would allow for the termination of federal employees and postal employees who are seriously delinquent on their tax debt.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee was scheduled to take up a package of postal designation bills on Wednesday, including H.R. 2291, the "Vincent R. Sombrotto Post Office.”

Committee chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) announced his intention to mark-up another postal bill, dubbed the “the Administration’s Postal Proposal Act of 2015.”

As you may know, H.R. 2291 was introduced by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) last year to designate the New York City Post Office located at 450 Lexington Avenue in New York City as the "Vincent R. Sombrotto Post Office.”

This week, the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Subcommittee on Efficiency and Effectiveness of Federal Programs and the Federal Workforce held a hearing on “A More Efficient and Effective Government: Cultivating the Federal Workforce.”

Next week, the House will recess for an in-district work period and return to D.C. on May 19. The Senate will remain in session and break for the Memorial Day recess from May 26 through May 31.

This week, there was a fair amount of independent activity surrounding various Fiscal Year 2015 budgets proposals—from the House Republicans’ budget to an in-depth hearing on the Obama administration’s budget, it’s been a busy week on Capitol Hill.

On April 8, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held a hearing to discuss the White House’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget request.

Over the last two weeks, two “Dear Colleague” letters circulated throughout congressional offices, asking House members to show solidarity in their support for maintaining six-day delivery services for residents and businesses throughout the country.

The congressional recess is an ideal time for NALC members to remind our representatives not to support any legislation that reduces mail delivery service, damages USPS’ networks, and does not fix the requirement to pre-fund retiree health benefits.