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and Political ArticlesPostal Reform Back on Agenda
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Departments & Divisions Legislative
and Political ArticlesPostal Reform Back on Agenda 
Departments & Divisions Legislative
and Political ArticlesPostal Reform Back on Agenda Legislative & Political Dept. |
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Postal Reform Back
On Congressional Agenda
(This article by Legislative & Political Department officers Myke Reid and Steve Albanese was first published in the March/April 2005 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine)
Rep. John McHugh (R-NY) did not waste any time introducing postal reform legislation when the 109th Congress got under way: On Jan. 4 he introduced H.R. 22, a postal reform bill that is very similar to legislation approved last year by the House Government Reform Committee.
We also expect a postal reform bill to be introduced soon in the Senate, where legislation very similar to the House measure was approved last year by the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee.
Last year the House and Senate committees unanimously approved their respective bills, but neither was put up for a floor vote because of the Bush administration’s opposition to two key provisions.
One provision would allow the Postal Service to net billions of dollars by allowing it to spend the results of years of overpayments to the Civil Service Retirement Fund – money being held in an escrow savings account until Congress decides how it should be spent. A second provision would return to the Treasury Department the responsibility for paying for the military service-related portion of USPS workers’ retirement benefits.
Supporters of the new legislation are pushing for enactment before April, which is when the USPS must file for permission to raise postage rates in 2006. The mailing industry is concerned that if the administration’s position does not change, a substantial rate increase is likely.
Senate Democrats Lose Committee Assignments
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) and Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) have announced the new Congress’ committee assignments and, as expected, Republicans have gained a two-seat edge. This change in the distribution of power is a result of the GOP’s fourseat gain in the Senate, where they now hold 55 of 100 seats.
An important committee to watch is the recently renamed Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, chaired by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). This committee will be responsible for postal reform legislation, and its roster has changed significantly since the last session. Republicans Arlen Specter (PA), John Sununu (NH), Richard Shelby (AL), and retiring Sen. Peter Fitzgerald (IL) are no longer assigned to the panel, replaced by Republicans Pete Domenici (NM), John Warner (VA), Lincoln Chafee (RI), and freshman Tom Coburn (OK). On the Democratic side, Dick Durbin (IL) has left the panel and will not be replaced.
The committee’s lineup includes returning Republicans Ted Stevens (AK), George Voinovich (OH),Norm Coleman (MN), and Robert Bennett (UT). The Democrats are Joseph Lieberman (CT), Carl Levin (MI), Daniel Akaka (HI), Thomas Carper (DE), Mark Dayton (MN), Frank Lautenberg (NJ), and Mark Pryor (AR).
On the House Side
Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA) is slated to continue as Chairman of the Government Reform Committee, which oversees postal policy.The committee’s new members include Darrell Issa (R-CA), Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL), Jon Porter (RNV), and freshmen House members Kenny Marchant (RTX), Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA), Patrick T. McHenry (RNC), Charles W. Dent (R-PA), Virginia Foxx (R-NC), and Brian Higgins (D-NY).
Changes in the Senate and House committee rosters could be a problem if controversial issues fall victim to party-line voting. We are hopeful, however, that the bipartisan progress made on postal reform legislation during the last session will continue. We worked closely with the House and Senate committees when postal reform legislation was drafted last year, and we expect to do the same this year. We have already reached out to several committee members seeking their support and cooperation.
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Sorting Out the Social Security Debate
(Separate Legislative Department Article from the March/April 2005 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine)
