{"id":734,"date":"2017-02-10T01:00:46","date_gmt":"2017-02-10T08:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/apwu73.com\/?p=734"},"modified":"2021-02-21T17:01:38","modified_gmt":"2021-02-22T00:01:38","slug":"the-postal-service-reform-act-of-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/apwu73.com\/?p=734","title":{"rendered":"The Postal Service Reform Act of 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Positive Step Forward<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
Web News Article #:\u00a014-2017<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

02\/07\/2017<\/span> – <\/span>On Feb. 7, a hearing was held before the full House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on the Postal Service Reform Act of 2017<\/em> (H.R. 756). The legislation, introduced on Jan. 31, is sponsored by the Oversight Committee\u2019s Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-MD) as well as Representatives Mark Meadows (R-NC), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Dennis Ross (R-FL) and Stephen Lynch (D-MA). H.R.756 is very similar, but an improved version, to the postal reform legislation passed out of the committee in May 2016.<\/p>\n

The bill addresses two serious key issues of concern: the pre-funding mandate and increasing postage revenue. Judging by the criteria that this bill will move the Postal Service towards solid financial footing, and should\u00a0not place any undue burden on active members and retirees, the APWU joins its sister postal unions in encouraging the adoption of H.R. 756.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis legislation is a necessary step to solving the disastrous pre-funding mandate that is dragging down the Postal Service,\u201d said APWU President Mark Dimondstein. \u201cPostal reform has been a great concern to postal workers, the four postal unions, the USPS, commercial mailers and the American people for a long time. We are encouraged by the bipartisan effort to fix the financial problems currently facing the USPS while preserving good union jobs and public postal services.\u201d<\/p>\n

‘Medicare Integration’<\/strong><\/h3>\n

H.R. 756 addresses the pre-funding mandate through \u201cMedicare integration\u201d within the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHB). It would place Medicare-eligible postal workers in Medicare Parts A, B and D. At this time, approximately 80 percent of Medicare-eligible postal workers and retirees are voluntarily enrolled into Medicare A and B. Many APWU members say that having a FEHB plan and Medicare saves them money in the long run. In addition to expanding Medicare\u2019s role as a primary payer, FEHB plans would be given access to discounted prescription drugs through an Employer Group Waiver Plan with Medicare Part D.<\/p>\n

The bill achieves the following goals of the union:<\/p>\n