Government affairs

On June 24, the House Committee on Appropriations voted 31-22 to advance the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) appropriations bill. This bill is one of the many appropriations bills currently moving through Congress that reflect the objectives included in President Biden’s budget proposal.

Related to the Postal Service, the bill includes $100 million for zero-emission electric vehicles and charging infrastructure for the federal vehicle fleet, including the Postal Service. The bill also includes $56 million for the Postal Service to cover free voting mail from overseas and mail services for the blind. Additionally, the bill includes funding for a pilot postal banking program in select areas. Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR) introduced an amendment that would strike this pilot program, but it did not pass.

As it relates to six-day delivery language, which has been included in every FSGG appropriations bill since 1983 and required the Postal Service to ensure delivery six days a week, the legislation did not include this provision. With the enactment of the Postal Service Reform Act (PSRA) of 2022 (Public Law 117-108), a provision requiring six-day delivery typically included in this appropriations bill was unnecessary.

“It is worth celebrating that for the first time nearly 40 years, NALC did not have to ask appropriators to include language on six-day delivery,” NALC President Fredric Rolando said. “Our successful fight for the PSRA removes the need for Congress to act on this issue any further for this self-sustaining agency.”

More broadly, the bill includes $29.8 billion in funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 23, an increase of $4.3 billion from FY 22. It aims to assist small businesses through increased funding to the Small Business Administration and Community Development Financial Institutions. It also funds Election Security Grants to ensure safe and secure elections. The bill provides funds to rebuild the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to provide better customer service for working families and to enforce collections on corporations and the wealthiest individuals.

The House Appropriations Committee has approved all 12 appropriations bills and a vote in the House is expected as early as this month. NALC will continue monitoring the budget and appropriations process and will update letter carriers on any future action.