Looking Ahead: Legislative Activity to Come on Capitol Hill and the Need to Bolster Our COPA Program

Remaining Congressional Activity

With the 117th Congress drawing to a close, Congress has a packed agenda it must complete before the end of the term, and the start of the new Congress, on Jan. 3, 2023.

Congress was scheduled to return on Nov. 14. The first order of business will likely be to fund the government past Dec. 16, when current government funding is set to expire. If Congress fails to pass either a full appropriations package or a continuing resolution, the government will be forced to shut down.

Another important discussion that many of our lawmakers are having, on both sides of the aisle, is how to reform the process for Congress to certify presidential election results. There is currently bipartisan support for clarifying that the vice president’s role in counting electoral college votes is strictly ceremonial, and for preventing state legislators from overturning the election results of their state if they disagree with the outcome. The proposed legislation would make it harder to interfere with the lawful vote count, as was attempted on January 6, 2021.

Congress will also have the opportunity to pass H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act; a bill that would finally repeal the unfair Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), and Government Pension Offset (GPO). The Act has amassed overwhelming support (305 cosponsors as of Oct. 12), and has passed the Ways and Means Committee. While the bill is popular in the House, congressional leadership still needs to schedule it for a floor vote. Please call our legislative hotline at (844) 402-1001 and ask your member of Congress to pass H.R. 82!

Supporting Our COPA Program

As the end of the 117th Congress draws near, it is important to highlight the importance of APWU’s nonpartisan Committee on Political Action (COPA), which allows the union to keep up the fight for the public Postal Service, the labor movement, and the working class. Contributions to COPA are used to make political campaign donations to those who champion our issues, regardless of party affiliation.

COPA allows us to amplify our voice on Capitol Hill to fight for the following:

• A vibrant public Postal Service
• Collective bargaining and workers’ rights
• Raising the minimum wage and increasing benefits
• Retirement security for active and retired members
• Affordable healthcare for all
• Protecting democracy through automatic voter registration and vote-by-mail

Federal law impacts us all and it is important that we have a seat at the table when decisions are made. We need your help, both to protect the rights we have fought for years to earn, and to make progress on the issues that matter most.

We encourage active, retired, and auxiliary members to donate whatever you can to COPA. The fund is fully financed through voluntary contributions; it does not use a cent of union dues. You can donate through a payroll deduction, electronic fund transfer, OPM annuity disbursement, or personal check.

All contribution methods, excluding one-time donations by check, are recurring. These COPAmatic contributions allow the APWU COPA Committee to estimate future donations, enabling us to properly budget COPA expenditures effectively. Payroll and bank account withdrawals are taken out every two weeks, while retiree OPM annuity deductions are completed monthly, which takes the hassle out of sending checks.

To get started today, please scan the QR code to sign up via the members' only section.