BOTH HOUSES NOW CONTROLLED BY REPUBLICANS

The 114th Congress has started to reorganize, with several key issues of concern to mail handlers likely to remain on the agenda during the next two years.  Of most importance will be (1) the continuing debate over postal reform legislation and (2) attempts to reduce the costs associated with various benefit programs applicable to federal and postal employees.

The November 2014 mid-term elections confirmed and expanded the Republican Party’s majority in the House (at the increased level of 247-188), and also gave the Republican Party control of the U.S. Senate (by a margin of 54-46).  Approximately 65 of the representatives installed into office this month are new to the Congress, and so significant changes are expected, including modifications on the major committees with jurisdiction over legislation relevant to the Postal Service and postal employees.

Most notably, the new Republican majority in the Senate has caused serious disruption in its Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.  Former Chairman Tom Carper (D-DE) will move over to the minority side, where he will become ranking member, and Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) will take over as the new Chairman.  Other appointments to the committee include:

Republicans                           Democrats

John McCain (AZ)                    Claire McCaskill (MO)

Rob Portman (OH)                   Jon Tester (MT)

Rand Paul (KY)                        Tammy Baldwin (WI)                                  

James Lankford (OK)                Heidi Heitkamp (ND)

Kelly Ayotte (NH)                       Cory Booker (NJ

Mike Enzi (WY)                          Gary Peters (MI)

Joni Ernst (IA)                                  

Ben Sasse (NE)              

Last year, Senator Carper and now-retired Republican Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) had jointly introduced postal reform legislation (S. 1486), but that bill in its prior form is unlikely to see any more success in the new Congress.

The larger Republican majority in the House also is leading to some upheaval.  Of most significance, the House Committee has a new Chairman, Jason Chaffetz (R-UT).  Representative Chaffetz takes over from much-maligned Darryl Issa (R-CA), who has reached the six-year term limit for this position previously set by Republican rules.  The NPMHU is hopeful that Chaffetz will be more willing than his predecessor to work with postal stakeholders on issues of common concern.  One thing is certain:  Chaffetz definitely is going to change the committee’s approach:  Said Chaffetz recently:  “I’m a different person, would take a different approach.  I think everybody’s different and has their own style.”

The new and larger Republican majorities claim that their aim is to reduce the size of government, and certainly postal and federal employees will be the target of numerous proposals to cut the budget, including cuts in federal retirement, workers’ compensation, and health insurance programs.  In addition, possible amendment of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 will continue to be front and center.

With little good news likely to emanate from Capitol Hill, the NPMHU will have to redouble its legislative efforts to protect the future of the Postal Service and the various federal benefit programs that are applicable to mail handlers.  Another Legislative Conference already has been scheduled for May 2015, and the National Office is hopeful that many mail handlers will be able to travel to Washington, DC and participate in lobbying their elected representatives.

If you have not done so already, please sign up as a legislative activist on the NPMHU website, and please watch your NPMHU publications and alerts for the latest information.