2022: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted Against The Postal Service Reform
Act Of 2022. In February 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted against the "adoption of the rule (H Res 912) that
would provide for House floor consideration of the Postal Service Reform
Act (HR 3076)." The vote was on the adoption of the rule. The House
adopted the rule by a vote of 221-211. [House Vote 36,
2/8/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 2/8/22; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
3076;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
912]
2022: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted Against The Postal Service Reform
Act Of 2022. In February 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted against the "motion to order the previous question
(thus ending debate and possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res
912) that would provide for House floor consideration of the Postal
Service Reform Act (HR 3076)." The vote was on a motion to order the
previous question. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 221-205.
[House Vote 35, 2/8/22;
Congressional Quarterly, 2/8/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
3076;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
912]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Require The Postal Service To Establish A
Plan To Address Inefficiencies In The Processing Of Flat Mailings. In
February 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted
for the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022, which in part would "require
the USPS to evaluate and develop a plan to address inefficiencies in the
processing of flat mailings, which include large envelopes and
magazines." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote
of 342-92. The bill was passed in the Senate and sent to the President,
and ultimately became law. [House Vote 38,
2/8/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 2/8/22; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
3076]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Establish A Health Benefits Program For
U.S.P.S. Employees And Their Families. In February 2022, according to
Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the Postal Service Reform
Act of 2022, which in part would "require the Office of Personnel
Management to establish a health benefits program for USPS employees and
their families, separate from the existing program for federal
employees." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote
of 342-92. The bill was passed in the Senate and sent to the President,
and ultimately became law. [House Vote 38,
2/8/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 2/8/22; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
3076]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Require The New Health Benefits Program
Plans To Provide Medicare Part D Coverage And Enroll Future Postal
Service Retirees In Medicare Part B. In February 2022, according to
Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the Postal Service Reform
Act of 2022, which in part would "require plans under the new program to
provide Medicare Part D coverage and require future USPS retirees to
enroll in Medicare Part B." The vote was on passage. The House passed
the bill by a vote of 342-92. The bill was passed in the Senate and sent
to the President, and ultimately became law. [House Vote 38,
2/8/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 2/8/22; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
3076]
The Bill Restructured The Postal Service's Retired Employee Health
Plans And Added Medicare Requirements, Which Would Save The Postal
Service Over $50 Million Over 10 Years, According To Bill
Supporters. According to Forbes, "The bill will restructure the
investment USPS makes in retired employee health plans and add
Medicare requirements, which combined are projected to save USPS
more than $50 billion over 10 years, according to lawmakers behind
the bill." [Forbes,
3/8/22]
The Bill Required Retired Postal Service Employees To Enroll In
Medicare Once They Become Eligible. According to The New York
Times, "To address the financial strain on the agency, the bill
requires retired employees to enroll in Medicare when they are
eligible and removes a mandate, first imposed by a 2006 law, that
the agency cover its future health care costs decades in advance."
[New York Times,
2/8/22]
The Postal Service Estimated That By Enrolling Employees In
Medicare Along With Removing The Pre-Fund Mandate Would Save The
Agency Approximately $50 Billion Over A Decade. According to The
New York Times, "The Postal Service estimates that those two changes
will save the agency about $50 billion over a decade, according to
a fact sheet provided by the House Committee on Oversight and
Reform, whose leaders led efforts to draft the legislation. The
committee said it would be the most significant overhaul of the
agency in nearly two decades." [New York Times,
2/8/22]
The Bill Required The Postal Service To Enroll Future Retirees In
Medicare And Pay Current Retiree's Healthcare Costs That Were Not
Covered By Medicare. According to NPR, "Instead, the Postal
Service would require future retirees to enroll in Medicare and
would pay current retirees' actual health care costs that aren't
covered by the federal health insurance program for older people."
[NPR,
3/8/22]
The Bill Required The Postal Service To Enroll Future Retirees In
Medicare, Which Would Add Minor Costs To Medicare But Save Taxpayers
$1.5 Billion Over The Next Ten Years. According to The Washington
Post, "It requires future postal retirees to enroll in Medicare, a
move that would add minuscule costs to the public health-care system
but would save taxpayers $1.5 billion over the next decade." [The
Washington Post,
3/8/22]
The Congressional Budget Office Projected The Bill Would "Save
Taxpayers Money By Buffeting Medicare's Prescription Drug
Discounts." According to The Washington Post, "In fact, the
Congressional Budget Office, Congress's nonpartisan bookkeeper,
found the bill would save taxpayers money by buffeting Medicare's
prescription drug discounts." [The Washington Post,
3/8/22]
The Bill's Opponents Claimed The Bill Would Shift The Costs To
Medicare Without Improving Services Of The Postal Service Or
Changing The Cost Structure. According to The Wall Street Journal,
"Critics of the bill said that it would simply shift costs to
Medicare while not significantly improving the post office's service
or cost structure." [Wall Street Journal,
3/8/22]
Senator Rick Scott: The Bill Would Continue To Jeopardize Medicare
Since The Costs Were Already Increasing. According to The Wall
Street Journal, "While Republican supporters of the bill said that
Postal Service employees had paid into Medicare and should be
covered, Sen. Rick Scott (R., Fla.) said that 'Medicare costs are
already skyrocketing. Passing this bill would further jeopardize
Medicare.'" [Wall Street Journal,
3/8/22]
According To The Congressional Budget Office, The Bill Would Raise
Medicare Spending By Approximately $5.5 Billion Over The Next Ten
Years. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The measure would
increase Medicare spending by about $5.5 billion over the next
decade, the Congressional Budget Office estimated." [Congressional
Quarterly, 3/9/22]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Provide $94 Million For FY 2022 To The
Office Of Personnel Management, Social Security Administration And
Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services To Enact The Transition Of
The Health Benefits Plan, For Which U.S.P.S. Would Have To Repay. In
February 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted
for the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022, which in part would "provide
$94 million for fiscal 2022 for the Office of Personnel Management,
Social Security Administration, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services to carry out the transition, but require the Postal Service to
repay the amount in the same fiscal year." The vote was on passage. The
House passed the bill by a vote of 342-92. The bill was passed in the
Senate and sent to the President, and ultimately became law. [House
Vote 38, 2/8/22;
Congressional Quarterly, 2/8/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
3076]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Codify A Requirement That Mail Be Delivered
At Least Six Days A Week. In February 2022, according to Congressional
Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022,
which in part would "codify a requirement that mail be delivered at
least six days a week." The vote was on passage. The House passed the
bill by a vote of 342-92. The bill was passed in the Senate and sent to
the President, and ultimately became law. [House Vote 38,
2/8/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 2/8/22; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
3076]
The Bill Mandated The Postal Service To Deliver Mail At Least Six
Days A Week, So The Postal Service Would Not Be Able To Cut Service
In The Future. According to Forbes, "The legislation mandates that
USPS deliver mail six days a week, meaning it can't cut service in
the future." [Forbes,
3/8/22]
By Mandating At Least Six Days Of Delivery Per Week, The Bill
Strived To Protect Against A Conservative Tactic To Cut Services.
According to The Wall Street Journal, "It also would permanently
mandate six-day-a-week delivery, a policy that Congress has put into
annual appropriations bills to protect against a conservative drive
to force service cuts." [Wall Street Journal,
3/8/22]
The Bill Mandated The Postal Service To Deliver Packages And Mail
"Across An Integrated Network," Which Big Shippers Warned Would Put
Financial Pressure On The Postal Service And Lead To More Government
Investment. According to The Wall Street Journal, "The bill
requires the Postal Service to deliver packages as well as mail
across an integrated network---a mandate that big shippers like
FedEx Corp. warn will put financial pressure on the Postal Service
and trigger a new round of government investment." [Wall Street
Journal,
3/8/22]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Permit The Postal Service To Enter Into
Agreements With Federal Agencies And State And Local Governments To
Provide Non-Postal Services, Without Disrupting Regular Services, And
Provide A Net Revenue. In February 2022, according to Congressional
Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022,
which in part would "allow the USPS to enter into agreements with
federal agencies and state and local governments to provide non-postal
services that would improve those the services, not interfere with
postal services, and provide a net revenue." The vote was on passage.
The House passed the bill by a vote of 342-92. The bill was passed in
the Senate and sent to the President, and ultimately became law. [House
Vote 38, 2/8/22;
Congressional Quarterly, 2/8/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
3076]
The Bill Permitted The Postal Service To Partner With State And
Local Governments To Provide Non-Postal Services, Which Could
Include Hunting, Fishing And Drivers Licenses And Would Support
Rural Newspapers. According to Forbes, "The bill also lets the
USPS work with state and local governments to provide nonpostal
services to Americans, which Maloney suggested could include things
like obtaining hunting, fishing and drivers licenses. It would also
help rural newspapers through reduced mailing fees." [Forbes,
3/8/22]
Provisions To Permit The Postal Service To Partner With Localities
To Provide Non-Postal Services Did Not Include Progressive Measures
Like Offering Banking Services Or Shifting To All-Electric
Vehicles. According to The Wall Street Journal, "Under the
legislation, the Postal Service would be able to strike agreements
with local governments to provide services like offering fishing,
hunting and drivers' licenses. It excludes measures long favored by
progressives, like requiring the Postal Service to offer banking
services or to shift to all-electric delivery vehicles from
gas-powered vehicles." [Wall Street Journal,
3/8/22]
The Bill Promoted Local News By Requiring Special Mailing Rates
For Local Newspapers. According to The Wall Street Journal, "And
it mandates special mailing rates for local newspapers in order to
promote local news." [Wall Street Journal,
3/8/22]
Supporters Of The Bill Hoped The Legislation Would Permit The
Postal Service To Reform Its Package-Sorting Equipment Due To The
Decline Of First-Class Mail And The Rise Of Package Delivery.
According to The Wall Street Journal, "Its supporters anticipate
that the bill will also allow the Postal Service to invest in
package-sorting equipment to speed mail delivery and to restructure
it for a world in which first-class mail will decline further while
package delivery rises." [Wall Street Journal,
3/8/22]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Require The Postal Service To Establish
Annual Performance Targets, Maintain A Public And Interactive Web-Tool
With Performance Information, And Provide The Postal Regulatory
Commission With Yearly Information On Performance And Biennial Reports
On Operations And Finances. In February 2022, according to
Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the Postal Service Reform
Act of 2022, which in part would "also require the Postal Service to
establish annual performance targets; maintain a public, interactive
web-tool including performance information broken down by
market-dominant products, geographic areas and time periods; and provide
the Postal Regulatory Commission with annual information on performance
targets and biannual reports on USPS operations and financial
performance." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a
vote of 342-92. The bill was passed in the Senate and sent to the
President, and ultimately became law. [House Vote 38,
2/8/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 2/8/22; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
3076]
The Bill Instructed The Postal Service To Establish An Online
Platform With Weekly Updates On The Nationwide On-Time Delivery
Rate, Which Would Increase Transparency And Allow Individuals To See
How Delayed The Mail Is In Their Area. According to Forbes,
"establishes an online dashboard with weekly updates on the on-time
delivery rate for everywhere in the U.S., increasing transparency so
that people can easily see if mail is delayed in their area and by
how much." [Forbes,
3/8/22]
The Postal Reform Bill Moved In Congress After Five Months Since
Postmaster General's 10-Year Plan For The Postal Service Was
Enacted, Which Was Criticized By Democrats For Including Provisions
That Slowed Some Mail. According to Forbes, "The USPS bill is
moving forward five months after DeJoy's 10-year business plan for
the agency went into effect, which includes measures that slows the
delivery of some mail and have been heavily criticized by
Democrats." [Forbes,
3/8/22]
The Bill Included A Provision That Supported Postmaster General
DeJoy's Decision To Stop Transporting Mail By Airplane. According
to Forbes, "This bill actually includes language that supports
DeJoy's decision to stop transporting mail by airplane, which has
made some mail delivery slower." [Forbes,
3/8/22]
The Bill Needed To Be In Par With Postmaster General DeJoy's Plan
For Republicans To Support The Reform Bill. According to Forbes,
"Passing the bill in concert with DeJoy's plan was necessary for
Republicans to back it, Comer said during a House Rules Committee
hearing Monday." [Forbes,
3/8/22]
The Bill Required The Postal Service To Publish Delivery Data So
Customers Could Search Delivery Information With Their Location.
According to The New York Times, "The measure also would require the
agency to publish delivery data that customers could search using a
street address, ZIP code or post office box, as well as mandating
the agency maintain a delivery standard of at least six days a
week." [New York Times,
2/8/22]
The Bill Expanded Special Rates For The Distribution Of Local
Newspapers And Required Regular Congressional Reports Over The
Postal Service's Finances. According to The New York Times, "The
bill passed on Tuesday also would expand special rates for local
newspaper distribution, and would also require regular reports to
Congress about the agency's financial state." [New York Times,
2/8/22]
The Proposed Online Dashboard Would Be Searchable By ZIP Code And
Would Show The Time Of Delivery For Letters And Packages In Order To
Measure The Progress Of The Postal Service. According to NPR, "To
measure the Postal Service's progress at improving its service, the
bill would also require it to set up an online 'dashboard' that
would be searchable by ZIP code to show how long it takes to deliver
letters and packages." [NPR,
3/8/22]
The Bill Required The Postal Service To Create Annual Performance
Targets And Enact Other Measures To Improve Efficiency. According
to Congressional Quarterly, "The bill would also require the Postal
Service to establish annual performance targets and take other steps
to improve its efficiency." [Congressional Quarterly,
3/9/22]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Repeal The Postal Service Requirement To
Make Annual Payments To The Treasury Department, Which Were Used To
Prefund Future Retirement Health Benefits For Current Employees. In
February 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted
for the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022, which in part would "repeal a
current requirement that the U.S. Postal Service make annual payments to
a Treasury Department fund to prefund future retirement health benefits
for its current employees." The vote was on passage. The House passed
the bill by a vote of 342-92. The bill was passed in the Senate and sent
to the President, and ultimately became law. [House Vote 38,
2/8/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 2/8/22; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
3076]
Since Its Establishment In 2006, The Requirement For The Postal
Service To Prefund Retiree Health Benefits Has Been A Major Factor
In The Agency's Revenue Losses. According to Forbes, "Congress has
been trying for years to get rid of a regulation requiring USPS to
pre-fund retiree health benefits, which it first established in 2006
but has been a major contributor to the agency's years of financial
issues." [Forbes,
3/8/22]
The Postal Service Lost $9.2 Billion In 2020 And $3.9 Billion In
2021, And The Agency's Losses Were Attributed To Various Factors,
Including The Structure Of The Retirement Health Benefits For Postal
Service Workers. According to Forbes, "$4.9 billion. That's how
much money the USPS lost in 2021, the agency reported in November,
though that's down from a net loss of $9.2 billion in 2020. The
agency's financial issues are blamed on a variety of factors beyond
how much mail is actually delivered---its present structure for
retirement health benefits being chief among them." [Forbes,
3/8/22]
The Bill Removed A Mandate That Required The Postal Service To
Cover The Future Healthcare Costs In Advance. According to The New
York Times, "To address the financial strain on the agency, the bill
requires retired employees to enroll in Medicare when they are
eligible and removes a mandate, first imposed by a 2006 law, that
the agency cover its future health care costs decades in advance."
[New York Times,
2/8/22]
The Bill Removed The Mandate For The Postal Service To Invest Into
Their Worker's Healthcare Benefits In Advance For 75 Years, Which
Was An Obligation No Other Private Company Or Governmental Agency
Had To Fulfill. According to NPR, "The bill would end a
requirement that the Postal Service finance workers' health care
benefits ahead of time for the next 75 years, an obligation that
private companies and federal agencies do not face." [NPR,
3/8/22]
Due To A Decline In Revenue, The Postal Services Defaulted On The
Pre-Fund Healthcare Payments Since 2011. According to The
Washington Post, "The Postal Service has endured years of losses
triggered by slumping mail volumes and a 2006 bill that required it
to annually pre-fund retirees' health-care costs. Declines in mail
revenue have forced the agency to default on those health-care
payments since 2011." [The Washington Post,
3/8/22]
The Bill Removed $57 Billion In Overdue Postal Liabilities And
Eliminated $50 Billion In Postal Service Payments Over The Next
Decade. According to The Washington Post, "Tuesday's bill gives
the agency a significant reprieve, removing $57 billion in past-due
postal liabilities and eliminating $50 billion in payments over the
next 10 years." [The Washington Post,
3/8/22]
Postmaster General DeJoy Requested The End Of The Pre-Fund Mandate
And To Merge Retiree Health Plans With Medicare Within His 10-Year
Plan To Reform The Postal Service And Circumvent Over $100 Billion
In Losses. According to The Wall Street Journal, "The Postal
Service had long asked Congress to integrate its retiree health
plans with Medicare and rescind the requirement to prefund its
employee retirement benefits decades out into the future. The moves
are a key part of a 10-year plan by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy
to overhaul the agency's operations and avoid more than $100
billion in projected losses." [Wall Street Journal,
3/8/22]