e-Team Report, Sept. 23, 2011
Congressman Issa’s H.R. 2309 Moves Through House Subcommittee
This week saw the House Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service, and Labor Policy vote to report his H.R. 2309 legislation to the full Committee on Oversight & Government Reform. This piece of legislation moved through the subcommittee with a party line vote of 8-5. All eight republicans voted for the legislation while all five democrats held together in voting against H.R. 2309.
The currently amended H.R. 2309 has a provision that grants power to a non-elected “solvency authority” to carry out layoffs of USPS employees regardless of currently negotiated contracts. This section would also give the “authority” the ability to eradicate current negotiated benefits along with slashing wages. Several other negative changes were made through amendments to H.R. 2309 in the subcommittee’s markup.
This week the Federal Times wrote about the hearing. To read the article please click here.To read more details about the amended H.R. 2309 on the APWU’s website please click here.
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Barletta, Lou (PA-11)-R |
What can you do to help? Contact your member of Congress today! Ask them to please cosponsor and support H.R. 1351 and oppose H.R. 2309. You can reach your member of Congress by calling the Capitol Hill switchboard today at (202) 224-3121 or to find your member of congress click here. After you call your member of congress make sure to also send them a quick message asking them to oppose H.R. 2309 by clicking here! To send your member of congress a quick message asking them to cosponsor and support H.R. 1351 please click here.
Below you will find a list of those members of congress who have signed on in support of H.R. 1351 since 09/19/2011. If you see your member of Congress below please thank them for supporting H.R. 1351. There are currently 215 members signed on as a cosponsor.
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Adams, Sandy (FL-24)-R |
Kline, John (MN-02)-R |
Joint “Save America’s Postal Service” Rallies Set Nationwide for Tuesday, Sept., 2011
All across the county in every congressional district rallies will be taking place aimed at bringing together those wanting to “Save America’s Postal Service”. These rallies are looking to build support for H.R. 1351. Rallies will be both thanking members of Congress that are already co-sponsors for their current support of H.R. 1351 or asking those members of Congress that have yet to sign on as a cosponsor of H.R. 1351 to please cosponsor and support this legislation.
To look up the nearest rally and for more information please click here.
Deficit-Reduction Package Put Forward to Special Joint Committee
This week President Obama gave the special joint committee of Congress his proposed deficit-reduction package. Although the proposal does look to significantly help the Postal Service in the short term, a long term fix is still necessary. The Hill newspaper laid out the details of President Obama’s proposal. To read this story please click here. Click here to read what the APWU said about the proposed package.
APWU, NALC and NPMHU Launch Second T.V. Ad Campaign
The new ad aims to explain the true cause of the Postal Service’s financial crisis in a mere 30 seconds. This ad is also targeted at garnering more support for H.R. 1351. To read about the new ad campaign and to watch the video please click here.
Update- Thomas Search Rankings for H.R. 1351
Update- Last week’s E-team showed that H.R. 1351 was garnering attention on Capitol Hill by being the third most searched for piece of legislation on Capitol Hill according to the Thomas website. This week H.R. 1351 moved up a spot to grab the #2 slot. Click here to go to Thomas and see where H.R. 1351 is listed today! Just look on the right hand side of the website.