Effective February 2021 Representative David McKinley, WV-1 introduced Resolution – HR 119 to encourage Congress to restore US Postal Service delivery standards to July 1, 2012 levels. Rep. McKinley has introduced a Resolution with the same goal in the 114th, 115th, 116th and now the 117th Session of Congress. The Resolution reads in part, “Expressing…
March 8, 2021 Representative Carolyn Maloney, Chair of the House Oversight Committee, has introduced two postal related bills. The first, H.R. 1307, introduced 2-24-2021, would “amend Title 39 of the US Code to require mail-in-ballots to use the Postal Service barcode service, and for other purposes.” The second, H.R. 1582 introduced 3-3-2021, would “clarify and…
The USPS has awarded the contract to build its Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDV) to Oshkosh Defense. Oshkosh Defense, will build between 50,000 and 165,000 NGDVs over the next 10 years. 2023 is the year the new vehicles will begin service. NGDVs will be both electric and gasoline powered. Additionally, looking toward the future and…
January 21, 2021 The USPS plans to roll out new postal delivery vehicles in January of 2022, per the USPS OIG . Since 2015, the USPS, along with vehicle manufacturers, has worked to develop a Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV). Introduction of NGDVs was originally projected for 2018 or 2019, however multiple delays have pushed…
The USPS will soon use its network of retail postal facilities to fingerprint new-hires nationwide. Candidates for jobs at the USPS have criminal background checks prior to being hired. The USPS hires approximately 120,000 people annually, and background checks help the agency retain its “most trusted federal agency” status. Local police stations have done the…
As a gesture of good will toward all AUSPL members, the AUSPL Board of Directors voted to decrease annual dues by 50%. Therefore, for all of 2021 dues will be $50. Renew Here Dues will return to $100 in 2022.
December 22, 2020 A COVID Relief bill has passed the U.S. House and Senate. The bill has been sent to the President who is expected to sign sometime in the next few days. Provisions in the bill affecting the US Postal Service include: No part of funds to be used to consolidate or close small…
December 14, 2020. AUSPL leadership and members met today with Rep. Gerald Connolly to discuss the prospects for postal reform legislation in the 117th Congress starting in January of 2021. Rep. Connolly stressed the importance of postal facilities in rural America, their roles as vital community centers, and their unique potential for provision of additional…
November 30, 2020 The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) has created a new rate making system for the USPS. The new system ties rate setting to the decline in mail density and the statutorily mandated payments for retirement costs. Both of which, says the PRC, are out of the control of the USPS. The Postal…
The USPS OIG issued a November 20, 2020 audit report evaluating steps the USPS had taken through July 2020 to keep its employees safe through the COVID-19 outbreak. In February of 2020 the USPS reported the first positive COVID-19 test of a Postal employee. As of July 31, 2020, 33,945 employees took leave to quarantine,…