Government affairs

The Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill advanced out of the House Committee on Appropriations today with a vote of 33-24 after a committee markup.

Related to the Postal Service, the draft bill would continue six-day delivery, increase funding for the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) and the USPS Office of Inspector General, and budget for a pilot postal banking program in select areas. It also includes a total of $2.4 billion, $800 million for 2022, 2024, and 2025, for zero-emission electric vehicles for the USPS fleet. In response to recent concerns regarding rates and service, the bill also calls on the PRC to study the potential impact of increased rates and analyze ways to restore service. 

Overall, the bill includes $29.1 billion in funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 22, an increase of $4.8 billion from FY 21. It increases funding to the Small Business Administration and Community Development Financial Institutions and provides funds to rebuild the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to enforce collections on corporations and the wealthiest individuals and provide better customer service for Americans navigating the tax system. It also increases funding to the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Federal Trade Commission and aims to combat climate change with funding to fully electrify the federal vehicle fleet, including the Postal Service fleet.

“The investments in the Financial Services and General Government bill start putting the government on the side of small business, the middle class, and the vulnerable, not the wealthy and big corporations,” said Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). 

During the markup, Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR) introduced an amendment that would strike the pilot postal banking program that is included in the bill. Several members spoke in opposition of the amendment, and it did not pass.

This bill is one of many appropriations bills that are currently moving through Congress that reflect objectives included in President Biden’s budget proposal. NALC will continue to monitor the budget and appropriations process.