Category: Content

H.R. 2382, the USPS Fairness Act, Comes to the House Floor Next Week

H.R. 2382, the USPS Fairness Act, Comes to the House Floor Next Week

 

 

 

January 31, 2020

It is likely that H.R. 2382, legislation to repeal the onerous requirement that the U.S. Postal Service prepay future retirement health benefits, will receive a House floor vote on Wednesday, February 5. The bill, if enacted into law, would relieve the Postal Service of the unfair and unique burden imposed on it by the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act. Past USPS prefunding has contributed to the agency’s operational problems and its inability to invest in its employees and infrastructure. NAPS supports H.R. 2382. However, it is important to note that passage of H.R. 2382 will not solve all the Postal Service’s financial and operational problems. Comprehensive, constructive and meaningful legislation is the path to long-term viability.

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) introduced H.R. 2382 in April 2019, and the measure was placed on the “Consensus Calendar” in early December. The use of the Consensus Calendar provides the bill with an expedited path to a vote by the full House of Representatives. Presently, H.R. 2382 commands the cosponsorship of 302 members of Congress, approximately 70 percent of the House. NAPS members are to be commended for their efforts to solicit for bill cosponsors. At this time, NAPS members should contact their Representatives to vote “Yes” on passage of H.R. 2382.

S. 2965, the Senate Version of H.R. 2382

Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) introduced S. 2965, the Senate companion to H.R. 2382. S. 2965 presently has only 2 cosponsors: Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Ben Cardin (D-MD). NAPS members should contact their Senators to cosponsor the bill.  For contact information for Senate offices, click here. 

NAPS Legislative Training Seminar Only Weeks Away (March 8-11)

The theme of the 2020 LTS is: “Engaged Minds Producing Legislative Partners.” In effect, NAPS’ legislative effectiveness, whether in our Nation’s Capital or in our home communities, relies on NAPS member engagement in the legislative and political realm.  This year’s LTS will equip NAPS members with the tools to be successful in working with members of Congress as legislative partners. 

We will engage our elected leaders by educating them about the need to reform the EAS pay consultation process, the need for meaningful and constructive postal legislation, the importance of preserving a government-run postal system, and the necessity to protect postal employee health and retirement benefits from the budget ax. LTS will connect 600 NAPS LTS delegates with their House members and Senators. This year’s LTS takes place in an election year when all 435 House of Representative seats and 35 Senate seats will be decided. So, congressional accountability is front-and-center.

If you have not registered for LTS, it’s still not too late. Please link here to register.

NAPS Submits Comments to PRC on New Rate-Setting Proposal  

Today, NAPS submitted comments to the Postal Regulatory Commission concerning the Commission’s proposal to modify postage rates for market domain products. Generally, the PRC proposal would continue to use the consumer price index for urban consumers (CPI-U) as the basis for future rate adjustments. However, it would modify that adjustment by taking into account the reduction of mail per delivery point and the USPS obligation to prefund retiree health benefits. In addition, the USPS could earn enhance modest additional rate flexibility if it meets specified performance targets.

NAPS’  comments urged the PRC to replace the suffocating CPI-U index with a more appropriate index used to measure inflation within the delivery services industry. Over the past 13 years, the CPI-U increased by 3.9%, while the CPI for Delivery Services increased by 11.4%.

Join NAPS Members in Tuning into NAPS Chat  

NAPS Chat, the weekly NAPS-produced podcast, recently posted its 62nd episode. Hosted by NAPS Director of Legislative and Political Affairs Bob Levi, guests appearing on the podcast have included NAPS’ resident officers, members of Congress, members of the Postal Regulatory Commission and USPS Board of Governors. You can subscribe to NAPS Chat on iTunes, Spotify, or Google Podcast; or you can go to the NAPS Website.   

Brian Michaelson, A Man for All Seasons

I first met Brian in the early 1970’s. I was a recovering letter carrier who fell on the ice while delivering my route, breaking my ankle, and needing surgery. When I was well enough to come back to work in a light duty status, I reported to Injury Compensation at the G.P.O. Brooklyn Division of the U.S.P.S. Brian was an Injury Compensation clerk assigned to my case. We hit it off right away because we shared a lot in common. We both liked sports, rock-n-roll music, wrestling, boxing, collecting old baseball cards, signatures of sports idols, and mostly, old-time movies. After returning to work, I used to run into him occasionally.

I was promoted to Supervisor of Mails EAS 15 Tour 1 in 1976. I was also the President of the Columbia Association in Brooklyn N.Y. As luck would have it, Stanley Michaelson, Brian’s father, was the timekeeper on Tour 1. Stanley told me straight out, if you want to get paid properly, please take care of Brian. When I transferred from Tour 1 to Customer Service Rep, I made sure Brian got a detail and a job in Customer Service. The rest was history, the Brooklyn Division led the country in sales, first class presort, Express mail/custom design, and naturally, The Ben Franklin Stamp Club. We were both natural salesmen.

In 1981, I decided to go back to my first love, the Stations in Brooklyn, serving the public. Brian eventually went to Staten Island in a support role in retail sales. He was also doing the Master of Ceremony duties for the Staten Island Postmaster, a job he loved. We were both officers in our local Naps branches in Brooklyn and Staten Island N.Y. We both eventually became Presidents of Branch 68 Brooklyn N.Y. and Naps Branch 110 in Staten Island N.Y. We took our branches to new all time highs in membership and revenue, Brian’s branch was at 100% membership.

Vince Palladino who was a friend and mentor to both of us asked me to run for New York Area V.P. in Naps, and Brian volunteered to be my campaign manager along with another legend, Frank Spatola. I am now entering my 20th year as a National Officer, keeping the legacy of Vince Palladino alive.

Brian has always reminded me the Naps building, which Vinny broke his back to buy, should be named in his honor. I am happy to report that in March of 2020 the ceremony renaming the building will take place. Brian also served the State for many years as President of N.Y.S. Branch 935. He was always doing something to raise money to keep the State solvent, another job well done.

At his funeral services on January 23, 2020 in Ephrata PA, the real Brian Michaelson came to light. We in New York always knew that Brian would help anyone , that he would go out of his way to do some good, like volunteering for programs in Hospice, Feed the Children, Meals on Wheels, ASPA, fostering animals, among others. There was a segment which the funeral home called sharing, where anyone who wanted to say something about Brian could go to the podium and share. It was astonishing to see and hear the local people from Brian’s new church saying how helpful he was, even when not asked he would volunteer. I was so proud of him that day. Rest easy my friend, your work here is done, I am sure Stanley, Kris, Vinny, Ruby, and Evelyn welcomed you home.

Tommy Roma N.E.R.V.P.