Today, Rep. Tom Reed announced he recently introduced bipartisan legislation, the USPS Fairness Act, to end the unfair pre-funding mandate for the United States Postal Service (USPS) and solve the most pressing financial problem facing the Postal Service with Reps. Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and Xochitl Torres Small (NM-02). Continue reading Today, Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Tom Cole (R-OK), introduced the Federal Retirement Fairness Act of 2019 (H.R. 2478). The bill would provide certain federal employees the opportunity to make catch-up retirement contributions for time spent as temporary employees after Dec. 31, 1988, thus making such time creditable service under the Federal Employees Retirement System, and for other purposes. Continue reading On April 28, Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Tom Reed (R-NY), Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the USPS Fairness Act (H.R. 2382) which would repeal the mandate that USPS “pre-fund” decades’ worth of health benefits for its future retirees, enacted through the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) of 2006. Continue reading In April 2018, President Trump issued an executive order creating a task force to evaluate the operations and finances of the U.S. Postal Service and to make recommendations for policy changes to ensure a sustainable future for the agency. The White House Task Force, comprised of the Secretary of Treasury and the Directors of the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management, reported its findings to the President on August 10 after just 120 days — and then issued a public report in December 2018. Continue reading NAPS Director of Legislative and Political Affairs Director Bob Levi talks to Former Rep. John McHugh (R-NY), currently chairman of the “Package Coalition” about the interdependence of the Postal Service and the growing parcel market, and the importance of the USPS to rural America Continue reading 04/12/2019 – The APWU continues our offensive against the White House proposals to sell the Postal Service to private corporations. The lighthearted video below makes a crucial point – of all the many things the Postal Service will accept from the public, tax dollars are not one of them. The video advertisement release is in coordination with Tax Day actions all over the country on Monday, April 15. Continue reading 03/29/2019 – The White House released its plans for the fiscal year 2020 budget this month. It once again attacks workers, calling for deep cuts to salaries, retirement and health benefits. It also echoes parts of the Postal Task Force December 2018 report that calls for the elimination of union negotiated collective bargaining rights over pay, creating a postal employee pay system similar to what is seen in the federal workforce. Continue reading Washington, DC – The Postal Regulatory Commission today announced that Michael M. Kubayanda has been sworn into office as a Commissioner. Donald Trump nominated Michael Kubayanda to the Commission on June 6, 2018, and his nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on January 2, 2019. His appointment fills the fifth seat at the Commission giving the Postal Service regulator a full complement of members. He will serve out the remainder of a six-year term that expires November 22, 2020. Mr. Kubayada holds degrees from Georgetown University, Northwestern University, and the Ohio State University. He also studied at the Graduate Institute in Geneva, Switzerland. Earlier this week, Representatives Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Sam Graves (R-MO) introduced a bipartisan House Resolution to preserve six-day mail delivery, including Saturday delivery, by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). H.Res. 54 expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the USPS should take all appropriate measures to preserve a vital component of our Nation’s long-standing Universal Service Standard, Saturday Mail Delivery. A similar Graves-Connolly resolution introduced in the 115th Congress had broad bipartisan support with 258 cosponsors. Continue reading
Politics
Congressman Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Shore Up Postal Service Funding
Federal Retirement Fairness Act reintroduced with notable changes
Bipartisan legislation introduced to repeal USPS pre-funding mandate
Testimony from yesterday’s Oversight Committee Hearing on The Financial Condition of the Postal Service
Misdiagnosis: A Review of the Report of the White House Task Force on the Postal Service
NAPS Chat: Former Congressman John McHugh on the growing parcel market, and the importance of the USPS to rural America
APWU Launches New Ad – “We Deliver Almost Anything”
APWU: Postal Employees and Retirees See Threats to Pay and Benefits in White House Budget
Michael M. Kubayanda Sworn In As PRC Commissioner
Prior to joining the Commission, Michael Kubayanda served as a board member and privacy officer for a digital health startup offering cloud solutions for medical practices in the United States and emerging markets. He previously worked with the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Postal Service, ending as Director, Government Relations, a role in which he worked with OIG officials to support the work of inspectors general in data analytics. In the OIG’s research group, he oversaw research on technical issues and wrote reports addressing postal economics and price regulation, intellectual property, and public-private partnerships, while serving as an advisor to colleagues on issues such as privacy, knowledge management, and innovation. Prior to his work with the OIG, he served on the staff of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.Connolly-Graves Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Preserve 6-Day Postal Delivery
