NAPS Chat

Bob Levi discusses this week's  postal news, including the Postal Regulatory Commission's public  hearing on the Postal Service's proposed new service standards. In addition, Bob takes a deep dive into H.R. 3077, the Postal Service Improvement Act, which was approved by the House Oversight and Reform Committee  three weeks ago.

Bob Levi discusses this week's postal-related legislative and regulatory news, as well as taking a dive into H.R. 3076, the Postal Reform Act of 2021.

Senior member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform Pete Sessions (R-TX) joins Bob Levi on NAPS Chat to discuss the committee's recent approval of postal reform legislation, the legislation's prospects, and the congressman's support of the Postal Service and its employees. In addition, Bob talks with Rep. Sessions about his unique insight into the technical aspects of moving a postal bill, as a former chair of the all-powerful House Rules  Committee. The congressman also talks about his relationship with key members of both political parties and how such relationships move bills. Finally, Bob and Rep. Sessions talk about his affinity for the special needs community.

NAPS Executive Vice President Ivan Butts joins Bob Levi on NAPS Chat to discuss H.R. 3076 and H.R. 3077, legislation the House Committee on Oversight and Reform approved last week. Also, Bob and Ivan talk about this week's introduction of S. 1720, the Senate companion to H.R. 3076. Bob and Ivan discuss recent interactions with key postal legislators, NAPS' participation in advancing legislation to help sustain the USPS, provisions in the legislation important to NAPS and the federal agency, and prospects for the legislation.

Steve Hutkins, the administrator and founder of the "Save the Post Office" website joins  Bob Levi on NAPS Chat to discuss the website's popularity, purpose and impact. Bob and Steve talk about the role that  Steve's labor of love has played in the postal narrative and analysis. In addition, Bob discusses two postal bills approved this week by the House Committee on Oversight & Reform, as well as two new Senate-confirmed Postal Board of Governors.

National Association of Postal Supervisors President Brian Wagner joins Bob Levi on NAPS Chat to discuss a luncheon meeting held this week with the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors, the recently announced USPS reduction-in-force, the start of EAS Pay talks, and the upcoming 2021 NAPS National  Convention in Texas.

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) joins Bob Levi on NAPS Chat to talk about postal performance, legislative efforts to sustain the agency and his perspective on the future of the Postal Service. The congressman introduced H.R. 2230, the so-called DeJoy Act, which is intended to maintain current postal service standards.Rep. Krishnamoorthi is a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, and chairs its Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy.

NAPS Executive Vice President Ivan Butts joins Bob Levi on NAPS Chat to talk about this week's U.S. Senate confirmation hearing on the three pending presidential nominees to the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors (former Deputy Postmaster General Ron Stroman, former APWU General Counsel Anton Hajjar, and National Vote at Home Institute CEO Amber McReynolds). In addition, Ivan and Bob review the highlights of the recently concluded 2021 NAPS Virtual Legislative Training Seminar, at which time NAPS was addressed by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chair Gary Peters, House Oversight and  Reform Subcommittee on Government Operations Chair Gerry Connolly, and Postal Regulatory Commission Chair Michael Kubayanda.

NAPS Legislative Chairs Jimmy  Salmon (AZ) and Steve Shawn (MD), NAPS Branch 157 Legislative Chair Angie Hicks (NC), and NAPS member Carl Walton join Bob Levi on NAPS Chat to talk about preparation for NAPS' 2021  Legislative Training Seminar (LTS). The 2021 NAPS LTS will take place on April 18 and will be  followed by "living room lobbying" by NAPS members.

American Enterprise Institute Resident Scholar Kevin Kosar joins Bob Levi to explore the Postal Service's mission-shift in light of the Postmaster General's and Postal Board of Governors' week-old 10-year strategic plan. Kevin and Bob also discuss a number of the plan's legislative and operational proposals.

Kevin Kosar formerly served as vice president at the R Street Institute and analyst at the Congressional Research Service.