Earlier today, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee began its markup of S. 1486 – but recessed after about 2-and-a-half hours. The committee markup can be reconvened at the “call of the chair”.
At the outset, the committee adopted the “Carper-Coburn Managers’ Amendment” in place of the original bill. Subsequently, the committee considered 10 amendments, most were adopted by voice vote, including a NAPUS-promoted Begich Amendment relating to Postmaster consultations rights. In addition, the committee accepted, by voice vote, an amendment offered by Sen. McCaskill (D-MO) to further protect rural post offices by imposing a 1-year moratorium on closings, and establish a series of new criteria that must be considered prior to closing a post office. Sen. McCain (R—AZ) offered an amendment that would permit the USPS to move to 5-day delivery immediately, which failed by voice vote. Sen. Paul (R-KY) offered an amendment to permit the USPS to declare bankruptcy, invalidate current labor contracts, and eliminate collective-bargaining; it failed on a 4-11 vote. And, Senator Tester (D-MT) offered an amendment to strike the workers’ compensation reform provisions in the bill; it failed on a 6-7 vote.
One of the major speed-bumps in the markup was an amendment offered by Sen. Baldwin (D-WI) that would maintain the present inflexible rate-cap regime, rather than provide the USPS more rate flexibility. The mailing community strongly supports the Baldwin Amendment. At the markup, Senators Carper and Coburn offered a compromise that, in part, would adopt the recent exigent rate increase as the new baseline, index future rate increases to the CPI (as is current law) and maintain Postal Regulatory Commission authority over rate adjustments. Baldwin was noncommittal and wanted to see the written text of the amendment. The committee staff was tasked with drafting such an amendment. Another, bump-in-the road was an amendment offered by Sen. Paul that would permit the carriage of firearms on postal property. Sen Paul was asked to revise the amendment. That’s where the committee is right now, and there are still about 25 amendments to be considered.
The committee may reconvene next Wednesday. NAPUS Legislative Chairs will continue to communicate with the Committee members and their staff relating to amendments that are of concern to Postmasters.