Update on August Actions

As Congress begins its August recess, President Guffey is reminding APWU state and local presidents to meet with their legislators to urge them to co-sponsor the Postal Service Protection Act (H.R. 630 in the House / S. 316 in the Senate), the Protect Overnight Delivery Act (H.R. 2459), and the United States Postal Service Stabilization Act (H.R. 961).

In a July 31, 2013 letter, Guffey updated local presidents on developments in Congress since plans for the August Actions were announced.

On July 24, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform approved Rep. Darrell Issa’s (R-CA) Postal Reform Act of 2013 (H.R. 2748) by a vote of 22 to 17. The vote was along party lines, with all Republicans voting in favor of the measure and all Democrats voting against it. Every attempt by Democrats on the committee to amend the bill was defeated along party lines.

“If this bill is enacted, it will lead to the demise of the Postal Service,” Guffey wrote. “It would punish postal workers and deprive the American people of vital services. It would subvert the Postal Service’s mission by privatizing major portions of USPS operations,” he said.

“H.R. 2748 would weaken the USPS and jeopardize postal jobs and retirement benefits for current and future retirees. And it wouldn’t do nearly enough to fix the financial crisis Congress created. It must be defeated,” Guffey stressed.

Also, on Aug. 2, 2013, Senator Carper (D-DE), chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, introduced his own Postal Reform Act of 2013. The union is still reviewing the text of the 194-page bill. Last year, the Senate passed a bi-partisan postal reform bill that the APWU supported with certain amendments. The House passed a bill in committee, but it was never brought to the floor by the House Republican leadership.

Included in President Guffey’s letter were updated Talking Points and an updated Fact Sheet, as well as Tips for Meeting with Members of Congress and Other Elected Officials and an August 2013 Legislative Contact Report Form. Locals are asked to complete the contact report form after each visit with a senator or representative (or their staff) and return it to the APWU Legislative & Political Department as soon as possible.

If you require any assistance or have any questions about the above, contact APWU Legislative Director Gary Kloepfer at 202-842-4211, or Vice President Greg Bell’s office at 202-842-4250.