Legislation

Legislative Committee Chairman Information and Updates

HR 22 - A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE ALERT

June 22, 2009 - HR 22 Co-Sponsorship Continues To Grow

The strength of steel is dependent upon it's temper. Most prized among the makers of swords is the forged Katana samurai that legend claims is folded and temper more times than any other to produce the strongest of all. Fantasy writers and Hollywood claim Katana is forged and folded up to 1 million times although the facts indicate it is far less. Still the concept of production does create the most impressive ancient weapon in Asian history.

League has worked in a Katana type effort to keep the focus on HR 22. Friday another co-sponsors put his name on to HR 22. Your League organization continues to receive a great response to the call for support of this bill . Congratulations IA! Your Congressman King added his support to HR 22 bringing the total to 337. Every single one of our States who have responded to this Legislative alert are to be commended. You can see everyones Co-Sponsors by date on the updated attached list.

The attached file shows also that not only a majority but most of the House sub-committee where this bill now sits has Co-Sponsored HR 22. The last hearings where our own President Mapa testified appeared very favorable and in fact indicated good support for our small Post Offices as well.

Our total HR 22 Co-sponsorship as of Friday 6/19/09 sits at 337. HR 22 has well over a House majority and the Postal Service's economic position is receiving attention. But we must emphasize that timing is extremely important and the details within this bill must be resolved prior to a vote. It is vitally important that the Congressional Budget Office(CBO) ensure that the costs are clearly and accurately presented. Right now CBO states that HR 22 will cost the American public $20 billion over the next 10 years assuming $2 billion/yr, but that calculation is not accurate. All of the money involved is POSTAL generated and none comes from any tax source. This is NOT a bailout bill. It simply refinances our future retiree health benefit payments to allow the Postal Service to survive the current recession.

In addition to addressing other Postmaster issues that have arisen in the last few weeks both President Mapa and our Legislative Counsel Bob Brinkmann are each working diligently to bring Senate leaders on board to introduce companion Legislation as well as working out details to ensure this will be the best possible legislation for the Postal Service and it's employees. Once again thanks to all of your efforts at the home state level.

This League Legislative grassroots alert is a testament to our state's dedication and one can readily see the active branches that are daily lining up Co-Sponsors for this critical bill! This ground work not only shows the bill's strength to the Senate as well as giving us the foundation we can call upon when that Senate bill IS introduced! And as I've mentioned before the greater the number of Co-Sponsors on the House side, the Senate will recognize how strong the support is for this action.

Yesterday's House Co-Sponsors are below (signature line) and the current entire list is attached. Though we have a majority our work is not done. Continue to call upon those Representatives that have not yet signed on to HR 22 and prepare the way in the Senate by previewing your Senators on this subject. We still have a long way to go but we are making progress and that is due to all of YOUR efforts in contacting and securing commitments. THANK YOU! Keep up the great work and be certain to follow up and express your appreciation to your Co-Sponsors.

We write this update to review this Bill's progress to keep you, our membership, informed and to show you that it is YOU that can make a difference!

Thanks again, Bill and Kathy

Rep King, Steve [IA-5] - 6/19/2009

Current House Co-Sponsors are included on the current Co-Sponsors list (click to view PDF). Though we have a majority our work is not done. Continue to call upon those Representatives that have not yet signed on to HR 22 and prepare the way in the Senate by previewing your Senators on this subject. We still have a long way to go but we are making progress and that is due to all of YOUR efforts in contacting and securing commitments. THANK YOU! Keep up the great work and be certain to follow up and express your appreciation to your Co-Sponsors.

Once again this is the link I recommend for you to send out to your people. "Contacting the Congress" is a very up-to-date database of congressional contact information for the 111th Congress. As of March 17, 2009 there are 538 email addresses (of which 526 are Web-based email homepages), and 537 WWW homepages known for the 541 members of the 111th Congress. Traditional ground mail addresses and fax numbers (both DC and District) are also available for all current members of Congress. Click here http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

One of the reasons we write this update everyday to review this Bill's progress is to keep you, our membership, informed and to show you that it is YOU that can make a difference!

Thanks again,

Bill and Kathy

Legislative Co-Chair's