URGENT: We’ve Reached the House, Now Let’s Take the Senate!

This week, Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Bryan Schatz (D-HI) introduced Senate Bill 2965. This legislation reads identical to its companion bill in the House (H.R. 2382), which will repeal the pre-funding mandate put into place with the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA). The PAEA required the Postal Service to prefund retiree health care benefits 75 years in advance over a 10-year period, at approximately $5.5 billion a year, and is responsible for 100% of the Postal Service’s net losses since 2013.

Supporting legislation that will repeal the disastrous prefunding mandate is critical. We must continue to educate members of Congress that no other federal agency or private sector company is required to prefund retiree benefits.  “Our campaign to achieve bipartisan support for H.R. 2382 far exceeded our goal,” said Legislative & Political Director Judy Beard.  “61 Republicans and 234 Democrats joining together to strike the prefunding mandate from the PAEA is a step forward in preserving the peoples’ Postal Service.  No one can deny the overwhelming public support for this essential institution.” 

APWU Members Instrumental

APWU members were instrumental in this legislation achieving more than 2/3 support in the House.  The phone calls, office visits, op-eds, letters to the editor, and social media outreach by our members played a significant role in achieving cosponsors and demonstrated that when we work together, we win. We now await the vote on the House floor on H.R. 2382. 

As we await a floor vote in the House of Representatives, our focus now turns to the Senate and working towards a majority of co-sponsors on S. 2965.  In order for a bill to become law, the House and Senate must pass the legislation within their respective chambers before it can go to the President’s desk. 

Collective Action Gets In Done

“Brothers and Sisters, our unified voice and collective action continue to propel us in this fight,” said President Mark Dimondstein.  “We need to take our message to our Senators, co-workers, family, and friends if we are going to achieve justice for the Postal Service, its dedicated workforce, and the communities it serves.”

Start by calling the APWU legislative hotline today (844-402-1001) to be connected with your Senators to ask them to cosponsor S. 2965.   

The Senate is tentatively planning to break for their winter recess on December 13^th and will be in their home states.  We encourage you to schedule an appointment with your Senators to educate them and their staff on this new legislation and thank those who have been supportive of our issues in the past.  The Legislative & Political Department will be rolling out our comprehensive campaign on S. 2965 in the very near future and are we are asking our APWU members to make this a success.