Summaries of past & current legislation affecting the federal workforce, letter carriers, and veterans. Select and click on any bill to display more information.
H.R. 1, the Republican-backed “reconciliation bill”, includes massive cuts to government programs, including cuts to FERS which will adversely affect government employees.
This bill also seeks to end the FERS Annuity Supplement by January 1, 2028. This provision directly affects our brothers and sisters who plan on retiring between the ages of 57-62 and otherwise meet the years-of-service requirements.
Thanks to pressure of federal workers, labor unions, and other allies, two provisions have already been removed from the bill: the provision to increase the FERS employee contribution rate to 4.4% for active employees was removed, as was the provision seeking to replace the “High-3” annuity calculation with a “High-5” calculation.
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should take all appropriate measures to ensure that the United States Postal Service remains an independent establishment of the Federal Government and is not subject to privatization.
Sponsors: Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) & 180 co-sponsors
H.R. 491 applies a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for annuities paid under the Federal Employees Retirement System that is equal to the increase in inflation, regardless of the amount of the increase.
H.R. 965 would permanently exclude veterans’ disability compensation from being counted as income when determining eligibility for housing assistance under the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program.
Sponsors: Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX) & 46 co-sponsors
H.R. 1065 requires the Department of Justice to appoint an assistant U.S. attorney in each judicial district to coordinate and supervise the investigation and prosecution of various crimes related to postal services (for example, assault on a postal service employee, breaking into a post office, or obstruction of mails). The bill also requires the U.S. Sentencing Commission to amend sentencing guidelines to provide that the assault or robbery of a postal employee shall be treated the same as the assault of a law enforcement officer. Additionally, the bill authorizes appropriations for the USPS to install high security collection boxes and replace older versions of the universal mailbox key with electronic versions.
Sponsors: Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) & 170 co-sponsors
H.R. 1344 expands eligibility for a memorial headstone or marker for the spouse, surviving spouse, child, or dependent of a veteran or member of the Armed Forces. Currently, for individuals whose remains are unavailable, such benefit is only available for individuals who died on or after November 11, 1998. The bill makes such individuals eligible regardless of the date they died.
Sponsors: Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) & 8 co-sponsors
H.R. 1522 aims to allow federal employees to credit temporary service towards their retirement benefits, enhancing fairness for those who have worked in non-career positions.
H.R. 1637 provides reinstatement eligibility to veterans who were involuntarily removed or otherwise dismissed without cause from civil service positions from January 20, 2025, through the date of enactment of this bill. Such veterans must be eligible for reinstatement to their former positions or any other civil service positions for which they are qualified.
H.R. 1733 expands and makes permanent the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) grant program that provides transportation options to veterans for medical purposes. The bill expands the program to cover transportation for veterans in rural areas, in addition to veterans in highly rural areas (who are already eligible under the program). The bill also authorizes the VA to award such grants to county veterans service organizations and tribal organizations to assist veterans with transportation for medical care.
Sponsors: Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) & 18 co-sponsors
H.R. 1987 builds on a previous version from the 118th Congress. It would authorize the VA to implemet a program providing free firearm lockboxes to vets. Research has shown that limiting access to firearms for at-risk individuals can reduce suicide deaths.
Sponsors: Rep. Christopher Deluzio (D-PA) & 22 co-sponsors
H.R. 2550 seeks to nullify an executive order that excluded certain federal employees from collective bargaining rights. This order impacted approximately 67% of the federal workforce, particularly targeting employees in various departments, including Defense, State, and Veterans Affairs.
Sponsors: Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) & 226 co-sponsors
H.R. 3011 would provide the Postal Service with the authority to ship beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages from licensed producers and retailers direct to legal consumers.
Sponsors: Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) & 9 co-sponsors
H.R. 3170 would expand access to providers by amending the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act to allow federal workers injured on the job to receive treatment from physician assistants & nurse practitioners.
Sponsors: Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) & 17 co-sponsors
H.R 82 deals with the repeal of Windfall Elimination Provisions & Government Pension Offset from the Social Security Act. This would prevent reductions in or elimination of Social Security benefits for affected employees and spouses. Supported by NALC.
H.R 5995 modifies the federal civilian service that is creditable service under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Specifically, it expands the nondeduction service that may be creditable under FERS. Nondeduction service is federal service where an employee’s pay is not subject to retirement deductions (e.g., service under a temporary appointment). Currently, nondeduction service performed before January 1, 1989 is creditable under FERS so long as a deposit is made into the retirement fund to cover the period of nondeduction service. This bill allows nondeduction service performed on or after January 1, 1989 to be creditable under FERS so long as a deposit is made into the retirement fund.
H.R 7629 requires the Department of Justice to appoint an assistant U.S. attorney in each judicial district to coordinate and supervise the investigation and prosecution of various crimes related to postal services (i.e. assaulting a postal service employee, breaking into a post office and theft or obstruction of mails). H.R. 7629 also requires the U.S. Sentencing Commission to amend sentencing guidelines to provide that the assault or robbery of a postal employee shall be treated the same as the assault of a law enforcement officer. H.R. 7629 also authorizes appropriations for the USPS to install high security collection boxes and replace older versions of the universal mailbox key with electronic versions.
Sponsors: Rep. Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA) & 138 co-sponsors
H.R. 7868 is a bipartisan bill introduced to crack down on improper payments in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program by auditing and verifying dependent eligibility. It requires agencies to ensure only authorized individuals (such as spouses and children under 26) receive coverage, aiming to reduce waste.
Sponsors: Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL) & 1 co-sponsors
Legislation seeking to reform voting rights, campaign finance issues, lobbying and governmental ethics. Of importance to letter carriers is language expanding “vote-by-mail” to the whole country.
Sponsors: Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD) & 222 co-sponsors
It calls on Congress to take all appropriate measures to ensure that the U.S.P.S. remain an independent agency of the Federal Government and not be subject to privatization.
Sponsors: Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) & 129 co-sponsors
House Resolution 109 expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the USPS should take all appropriate measures to ensure the continuation of door delivery for all business and residential customers. Supported by NALC.
House Resolution 114 expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the USPS should take all appropriate measures to ensure the continuation of its 6-day mail delivery service. Supported by NALC.
House Resolution 119 expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the USPS should take all appropriate measures to restore service standards in effect as of July 1, 2012. Supported by NALC.
Sponsors: Rep. David McKinley (R-WV) & 139 co-sponsors
H.R. 597 would extend federal employee protections against adverse personnel actions (and ensure the right to appeal such actions to the Merit Systems Protection Board) to any employee of the USPS not represented by a bargaining representative.
House Bill 840 would expand the VA Child Care Pilot Program, allowing military veterans to have access to cost-free child care during their VA medical appointments. Nearly one quarter of letter carriers are veterans.
Sponsors: Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA) & 22 co-sponsors
H.R. 1254 would bring equality to the way COLA's are made under the CSRS and the FERS. This bill ensures that all retirees would receive the same annual cost of living adjustment.
House Bill 1384 would create a universal, single-payer health program that would replace most current forms of health insurance. NALC is currently reviewing the impact it would have on letter carriers.
H.R. 2517 would provide the Postal Service with the authority to ship beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages from licensed producers and retailers direct to legal consumers.
H.R. 1057 would apply private-shipper customs rules and regulations to the USPS. This would effectively impose costs and penalties on the Postal Service that could not recovered by levying surcharges (as prohibited by the Universal Postal Union treaty). As is, NALC is urging Congress to fix the flaws in the STOP (Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Prevention) Act before considering it.
Sponsors: Rep. Patrick Tiberi (R-OH) & 272 co-sponsors
H.R. 3257, the Promote Accountability and Government Efficiency (or PAGE) Act, would define future federal employees as “at-will” employees. Such employees would be subject to the whims of political appointees overseeing federal agencies and could be fired (without notice or right to appeal) for good cause, bad cause, or no cause at all. This measure would subject pay raises to an arbitrary new formula, deny retirement benefits to anyone under investigation for a felony (including retirees), allow agency heads to demote career executives and reduce their pay without cause, and prevent union representation on the worksite. NALC strongly opposes this legislation and urges letter carriers to contact their representatives regarding this matter.
H.R. 3269 deals with the repeal of the 2012 FERS annuity calculation increases (Public Law 112-96), restoring it to 0.8% instead of the 3.1% paid by employees hired after 2012 and the 4.4% for those hired after 2013.
Sponsors: Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD) & 30 co-sponsors
S.Res.147 expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress should take all appropriate measures to ensure that the United States Postal Service remains an independent establishment of the Federal Government and is not subject to privatization.
S.463 requires the Department of Justice to appoint an assistant U.S. attorney in each judicial district to coordinate and supervise the investigation and prosecution of various crimes related to postal services (for example, assault on a postal service employee, breaking into a post office, or obstruction of mails). The bill also requires the U.S. Sentencing Commission to amend sentencing guidelines to provide that the assault or robbery of a postal employee shall be treated the same as the assault of a law enforcement officer. Additionally, the bill authorizes appropriations for the USPS to install high security collection boxes and replace older versions of the universal mailbox key with electronic versions.
Sponsors: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NM) & 11 co-sponsors
S.624 applies a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for annuities paid under the Federal Employees Retirement System that is equal to the increase in inflation, regardless of the amount of the increase.
Sponsors: Rep. Alex Padilla (D-CA) & 15 co-sponsors
S.784 expands and makes permanent the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) grant program that provides transportation options to veterans for medical purposes. The bill expands the program to cover transportation for veterans in rural areas, in addition to veterans in highly rural areas (who are already eligible under the program). The bill also authorizes the VA to award such grants to county veterans service organizations and tribal organizations to assist veterans with transportation for medical care.
S.787 establishes the Veterans Health Administration Policy Advisory Commission for purposes of reviewing operations at the Veterans Health Administration and preparing reports with recommendations for Congress based on such review.
Sponsors: Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) & 2 co-sponsors
S.914 provides reinstatement eligibility to veterans who were involuntarily removed or otherwise dismissed without cause from civil service positions from January 20, 2025, through the date of enactment of this bill. Such veterans must be eligible for reinstatement to their former positions or any other civil service positions for which they are qualified.
Sponsors: Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) & 10 co-sponsors
S.926 builds on a previous version from the 118th Congress. It would authorize the VA to implemet a program providing free firearm lockboxes to vets. Research has shown that limiting access to firearms for at-risk individuals can reduce suicide deaths.
S.1127 expands eligibility for a memorial headstone or marker for the spouse, surviving spouse, child, or dependent of a veteran or member of the Armed Forces. Currently, for individuals whose remains are unavailable, such benefit is only available for individuals who died on or after November 11, 1998. The bill makes such individuals eligible regardless of the date they died.
Sponsors: Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) & 3 co-sponsors
S.1415 would permanently exclude veterans’ disability compensation from being counted as income when determining eligibility for housing assistance under the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program.
Sponsors: Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) & 7 co-sponsors
S.3296 would expand access to providers by amending the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act to allow federal workers injured on the job to receive treatment from physician assistants & nurse practitioners.
Sponsors: Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) & 2 co-sponsors
S.597 deals with the repeal of Windfall Elimination Provisions & Government Pension Offset from the Social Security Act. This would prevent reductions in or elimination of Social Security benefits for affected employees and spouses. Supported by NALC.
Sponsors: Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) & 62 co-sponsors
S.4356 requires the Department of Justice to appoint an assistant U.S. attorney in each judicial district to coordinate and supervise the investigation and prosecution of various crimes related to postal services (i.e. assaulting a postal service employee, breaking into a post office and theft or obstruction of mails). H.R. 7629 also requires the U.S. Sentencing Commission to amend sentencing guidelines to provide that the assault or robbery of a postal employee shall be treated the same as the assault of a law enforcement officer. H.R. 7629 also authorizes appropriations for the USPS to install high security collection boxes and replace older versions of the universal mailbox key with electronic versions.
S.1720 will provide stability to and enhance the services of the United States Postal Service. The bill requires the Office of Personnel Management to establish (within the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program) the Postal Service Health Benefits Program for USPS employees and retirees and provides for coordinated enrollment of retirees under this program and Medicare. The bill also repeals the requirement that the USPS annually prepay future retirement health benefits. Additionally, the USPS may establish a program to enter into agreements with an agency of any state government, local government, or tribal government, and with other government agencies, to provide certain nonpostal products and services that reasonably contribute to the costs of the USPS and meet other specified criteria.
Sponsors: Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) & 27 co-sponsors
S.4574 would increase penalties for crimes against election workers and enact the Postal Service Election Improvement Act, which will require the USPS to take certain actions related to federal election mail.
Sponsors: Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) & 11 co-sponsors
S.26 would expand “vote-by-mail” to every state without additional conditions or requirements, except a deadline for returning the ballots. States must mail ballots to individuals registered to vote in a federal election not later than two weeks before the election. The USPS must carry ballots mailed by a state expeditiously and free of postage.
S.Res. 99 called on Congress to take all appropriate measures to ensure that the USPS remain an independent agency of the Federal Government and not be subject to privatization. This represented the second time a bipartisan majority had taken this step.
Sponsors: Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) & 54 co-sponsors
S.319 would address the VA Child Care Pilot Program, providing access to cost-free child care during VA medical appointments to military veterans. Nearly one quarter of letter carriers are veterans.
Sponsors: Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) & 12 co-sponsors
S.684 would repeal the 40% excise tax on certain employer-sponsored health plans. Also known as the “Cadillac Tax”, it targets high-cost health insurance plans and adversely affects middle-class health benefits.
Sponsors: Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) & 63 co-sponsors
S.873 will eliminate restrictions on age-based withdrawals, allowing for active federal employees older than 59 1/2 to make multiple age-based withdrawals while still working and for retirees to make multiple, partial post-separation withdrawals. It would also allow participants to stop quarterly or annual payments, permit periodic withdrawals to be changed at any point during the year and save the option to purchase an annuity while recovering monthly benefits.
