CCAGW Annual Ratings

USPS Health Benefits and Operations – Passage

Description: 

Passage of the bill that 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. It 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. It would require plans under the new program to provide Medicare Part D coverage and require future USPS retirees to enroll in Medicare Part B. It 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 bill 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. Among other provisions, it would codify a requirement that mail be delivered at least six days a week; 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; and require the USPS to evaluate and develop a plan to address inefficiencies in the processing of flat mailings, which include large envelopes and magazines.

Vote Number: 
Senate Vote 71
Bill Number: 
HR 3076
CCAGW Position: 
Yea
Vote Results: 
Passed, (thus cleared for the president), 79-19 : D 48-0; R 29-19; I 2-0