NAPUS: 7-17-2013
Today, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held a hearing to consider to two different draft proposals about how to provide relief to the U.S. Postal Service. One proposal was offered by Chairman Darrell Issa and the other was introduced by Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD). Although NAPUS was not a witness at the hearing, the Committee entered into the official record testimony submitted by President Rapoza. Link to NAPUS testimony. The NAPUS testimony highlighted core priorities: revenue generation through innovation, fiscal relief from over-funding postal pensions and unfair retiree health contributions, realistic postage adjustment,s and protection of universal service. 
Very little new ground was covered by the three invited outside witnesses: PMG Pat Donahue, APWU President Cliff Guffey and Quad Graphics President Joel Quadacci. Congressional Rural Caucus Chair Adrian Smith (R-NE) testified in support of H.R. 2651, his legislation that seeks to limit the number of rural post office closures. All witness testimony can be viewed on the Committee Website.
During the hearing, the Postal Service maintained its strong advocacy for a postal-only health plan, 5-day delivery, and pension relief. Also, the PMG responded positively to a provision in the Issa proposal to move door delivery to curbside and centralized delivery. A couple of interesting side notes to the hearing were the musings of Representatives John Mica (R-FL) and John Duncan (R-TN) to force postal employees into ObamaCare, and Chairman Issa’s view that all Federal Employees Health Benfits Program (FEHBP) retirees — not just postal retirees — should be required to participate in Medicare Part A and Part B. According to the USPS, only 90% of eligible postal retirees are enrolled in Medicare Part A, a benefit to which they are entitled, and about 75% participate in Part B. Issa indicated that such a Medicare proposal and the USPS health benefits should be addressed in a comprehensive FEHBP bill, not in a postal bill. In addition, the PMG stated that, at this point, a postage increase above the consumer price index is not planned. PostPlan was alluded to during the hearing, as an alternative to post office closures, as well as the Postal Service’s aim to increase the number of so-called Village Post Offices. There was also discussion about how plant consolidations impact service standards.
At the outset of the hearing, Chairman Issa stated that he has asked the legislative counsel to add to his proposal a number of provisions that are contained in legislation introduced by Rep. Cummings, H.R. 2690 — the appointment of a chief innovation officer, requiring the postal officials to report on official travel, and use postal workforce specific assumptions in calculating pension liabilities. Issa also stated that he intended to include the text of H.R. 2651 in his legislation.
The Committee has set aside next Wednesday morning, July 24, to consider postal legislation. NAPUS is working to ensure that Postmaster views are taken into account as the legislation moves forward. Within this in mind, NAPUS will be conducting telecons with Chapter Legislative Chairs.