H.R. 22 Included in Stopgap Spending Bill

A House-Senate panel included the provisions of H.R. 22, which would provide temporary financial relief to the Postal Service, in a stopgap funding bill that would keep the federal government afloat for a month after the new fiscal year starts next week.

The House, which approved H.R. 22 as an independent measure on Sept. 15, voted in favor of the combined spending legislation (H. Con. Res. 191) on Sept. 25 by a vote of 217 to 190. The Senate is expected to take action on the bill early next week.

The provisions of H.R. 22 permit the Postal Service to reduce its payment to the retiree healthcare fund by $4 billion for Fiscal Year 2009.

“APWU members can be proud of the role they played in helping to advance this important legislation,” APWU President William Burrus said. “I commend our union activists for their hard work.”