Reduces from nine to seven years the term of appointment. President George W. Bush signed the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA; P.L. The report provides a summary of the primary activities undertaken by the Commission throughout the year. Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act - Title I: Definitions; Postal Services - (Sec. Requires the Postal Service to notify the PRC whenever it requests to add a product or to transfer a product to a different category. (Sec. 503) Revises provisions concerning the private carriage of letters (letters carried outside of normal mail service by a private carrier) to allow such private carriage in three new circumstances: (1) when the amount paid to a private carrier is at least six times the rate then currently charged for the first ounce of a single-piece first-class letter; (2) when the letter weighs at least 12 and 1/2 ounces; or (3) when private carriage is within the scope of current Postal Service regulations that purport to permit private carriage by suspension of the operation of current law. Hackers/journalists/researchers: See these open data sources. December 27, 2006. 901) Makes a Postal Service employee ineligible for compensation or continuation of pay for the first three days of temporary disability (thereby establishing a three-day waiting period). We love educating Americans about how their government works too! Title IX: Compensation for Work Injuries - (Sec. Requires that, when the Postal Service determines a new hub point, mail tender from that hub during the year after the change be based on the passenger and freight shares to the destinations of the affected hub(s). The summary below was written by the Congressional Research Service, which is a nonpartisan division of the Library of Congress. by revising the limits on salary and total compensation paid to U.S. (Sec. (Sec. 701) Requires a report from the PRC to the President and Congress, at least every five years, concerning: (1) the operation of amendments made by this Act; and (2) recommendations for improving the effectiveness or efficiency of U.S. postal laws. [3], "Bush signs law changing postal operations", "Casey: The most insane law by Congress, ever? 603(b). Appears Democrats had no objections. I am truly surprised with the level of apathy over H.R. The executive branch shall construe sections 3662 … Would you like to join our advisory group to work with us on the future of GovTrack? (Sec. Retrouvez Implementation of the Postal Accountability Enhancement Act of 2006 et des millions de livres en stock sur Amazon.fr. You are encouraged to reuse any material on this site. We hope to enable educators to build lesson plans centered around any bill or vote in Congress, even those as recent as yesterday. (Sec. The PAEA was the first broad revision of the 710) Requires a study and report on options and strategies for the long-term structural and operational reforms of the Postal Service. 101) Amends federal law provisions concerning the Postal Service to add definitions, including the terms postal service, competitive product, market-dominant product, and rates. [2] When he signed the bill on December 20, 2006, Bush issued a signing statement that says that the government can open mail under emergency conditions, though Waxman asserted that the government cannot do this without a search warrant. It’s past time for people in … There were no recorded votes. to ensure that such discounts do not exceed the cost that the Postal Service avoids as a result of workshare activity (with exceptions). 6407, the "Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act" White House News. (Sec. Almost all news tells us that the culprit behind the trouble USPS is experiencing is lower mail volume, but mostly the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 (PDF) that requires USPS to pay huge sums of cash into the U.S. Treasury to cover future health and retirement benefits. (Sec. 401) Establishes in the Treasury a revolving Postal Service Competitive Products Fund to be available to the Postal Service without fiscal year limitation for the payment of: (1) costs attributable to competitive products; and (2) all other costs incurred by the Postal Service, to the extent allocable to competitive products. (Sec. By law, the Commission is required to submit its report to the president and Congress concerning the operations of the Commission, including the extent to which regulations are achieving the rate-setting objectives of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006. Achetez neuf ou d'occasion H.R. The summary below was written by the Congressional Research Service, which is a nonpartisan division of the Library of Congress. We hope to make GovTrack more useful to policy professionals like you. 402) Requires the Postal Service to: (1) compute its assumed federal income tax (which would be the taxable income of a corporation) on competitive products income for each year; and (2) transfer from the above Fund to the Postal Service Fund the amount of the assumed tax. The truth is, it’s one of the most insane laws Congress ever enacted. [4] In May 2020, a segment on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver examined the law and its impact on the USPS, demonstrating that it has contributed to its debt. (Sec. Most Americans have never heard of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006. for Periodicals/Public Interest Organizations, on this bill on a six-point scale from strongly oppose to strongly support. (Sec. Jan 25, 2021, Is this reform an example of how the times should be a-changin’? 109-435) on December 20, 2006. 12/20/2006--Public Law. (Sec. | Local News", "Susan Collins Engineered the USPS Disaster She's Now Protesting", "Congress Is Sabotaging Your Post Office: The Postal Service was once one of the world's most impressive institutions. (Sec. The PAEA was the first broad revision of the 1970 statute that replaced the U.S. Post Office with the U.S. On the eighth day of December in 2006, at 10:33 at night, the 2009th Congress passed H.R. This is part of a new project to develop better tools for bringing real-time legislative data into the classroom. Allows the employee to use annual leave, sick leave, or leave without pay for such three-day period, but provides that if the disability exceeds 14 days or is followed by permanent disability, the employee may have such leave reinstated or receive pay for the time spent on leave without pay. Because you are a member of panel, your positions on legislation and notes below will be shared with the panel administrators. Retrouvez Implementation of the Postal Accountability Enhancement Act of 2006 et des millions de livres en stock sur Amazon.fr. [1], The bill was introduced in the United States House of Representatives by Tom Davis, a Republican from Virginia, and cosponsored by Republican John M. McHugh of New York and Democrats Henry Waxman of California and Danny K. Davis of Illinois. Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act - Title I: Definitions; Postal Services - (Sec. Please join our advisory group to let us know what more we can do. (Sec. Pursuit of Postal Reform A number of factors encouraged the … 101) Amends federal law provisions concerning the Postal Service to add definitions, including the terms postal service, competitive … 1008) Requires the Postal Service to prescribe regulations for the safe transportation of hazardous material. Provides for the application of customs laws with respect to such services. [2] Bill Pascrell, a Democratic House member from New Jersey, said in 2019 that it was rushed through Congress without due consideration, and referred to it as "one of the worst pieces of legislation Congress has passed in a generation". 109-435; 120 Stat. [2] As the chair of the Senate Oversight committee, Senator Susan Collins of Maine shepherded the bill's passage through the Senate. Postal Service", Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service, National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees, National Rural Letter Carriers' Association, United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, Postage stamps and postal history of the United States, USPS Post Office Box Lobby Recycling program, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Postal_Accountability_and_Enhancement_Act&oldid=995529852, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 21 December 2020, at 15:17. [11] The latest quarterly financials of the USPS do not suggest the COVID-19 pandemic further reduced income due to decreased demand in 2020. Estimate of direct spending and revenues effects for the bill as cleared by the Congress on December 9, 2006, … [13], According to Bloomberg, prefunding the health benefits of retirees "is a requirement that no other entity, private or public, has to make". Visit us on Instagram, If the bill passes, it would only be the third House expulsion in the past century. Your note is for you and will not be shared with anyone. [11] Mail volume decreased from 97 billion to 68 billion items from 2006 to 2012. Background The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 (PAEA) amended 39 U.S.C. Prohibits a product that involves the carriage of letters, printed matter, or packages from being offered by the Postal Service unless it has been assigned to the market-dominant or competitive category of mail. 1005) Amends federal law relating to contracts for transportation of mail by air to modify certain definitions. We’re looking to learn more about who uses GovTrack and what features you find helpful or think could be improved. Requires the plan to include: (1) plans to expand and market retail access to postal services through the use of vending machines, the Internet, etc. [14] Columnist Dan Casey wrote in a July 2014 op-ed in The Roanoke Times that the PAEA is "one of the most insane laws Congress ever enacted". Requires the PRC to designate a PRC officer to represent the public interest in all public proceedings of the PRC. If you teach United States government and would like to speak with us about bringing legislative data into your classroom, please reach out! Modifies requirements regarding equitable tender with respect to nonpriority bypass mail on a city pair route in the State of Alaska for carriers providing scheduled bush passenger service. Young Americans have historically been the least involved in politics, despite the huge consequences policies can have on them. (Sec. By joining our advisory group, you can help us make GovTrack more useful and engaging to young voters like you. Postal Service Pricing Policies after PAEA Executive Summary The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 (PAEA) fundamentally altered (2010) US Postal Service workers have a retiree health care benefit in addition to their pension. 2003. 204) Requires the PRC to report annually to the President and Congress on PRC operations under this title, including an estimate of the costs incurred by the Postal Service in providing certain services. 707) Requires studies and reports on: (1) the number and value of contracts and subcontracts the Postal Service has with women, minorities, and small businesses; (2) the quality of information used by the Postal Service in determining the direct and indirect postal costs attributable to periodicals and any opportunities for improving periodical handling efficiencies; and (3) the adequacy and fairness of the process by which postage deficiency assessments under specified provisions are determined and appealable. [5] It reorganized the Postal Rate Commission, compelled the USPS to pay in advance for the health and retirement benefits of all of its employees for at least 50 years,[4] and stipulated that the price of postage could not increase faster than the rate of inflation. 704) Requires a report from the Postal Service Inspector General to Congress and the Postal Service on improving workplace safety and reducing workplace-related injuries nationwide. Requires the President to consult with specified congressional leaders in selecting individuals for Board nomination. Claim: "The Postal Service is not losing money because of Amazon. 706) Requires a study and report to the President and Congress on the extent to which women and minorities are represented in supervisory and management positions within the Postal Service. 1007) Amends the Postal Reorganization Act to give the Postal Service, with respect to an officer or employee of the former Post Office Department, the same authorities and responsibilities it has with respect to an officer or employee of the Postal Service. Requires that buildings constructed or altered by the Postal Service be constructed or altered in compliance with one of the nationally recognized model building codes and with other applicable nationally recognized codes. At the start of 2009, the Postal Service began using a combination of internal and external systems to measure the service performance of all market dominant products, including First-Class Mail, Periodicals, Standard Mail, Package Services, and Special Services. In part, the Act provided new flexibility, particularly in competitive pricing for shipping services, enabling the Postal Service to respond to dynamic market conditions and changing customer needs for packages. Requires the Postal Service to report to the PRC whenever it establishes a workshare discount rate. Repeals federal provisions which subject the annual PRC budget to disapproval by the Board of Governors. 1 104th to 106th Congresses (1995‐2000) The origin of the … Provides for deposits into, and administration of, the Fund. Under a bonus or reward program approved by the U.S. (Sec. Title V: General Provisions - (Sec. Prohibits a market test from exceeding 24 months, but allows the PRC to extend such period for up to 12 additional months. Noté /5. The Congressional Record seems to indicate that Minority Leader Reid was on the floor when the Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent. Requires the system to, among other things: (1) include an annual limitation on the percentage changes in rates; and (2) require the Postal Service to provide public notice, and the PRC to provide an opportunity for review of, rate adjustments at least 45 days before implementation. Authorizes the PRC, following specified criteria, to change the lists of market-dominant products and competitive products by adding or removing products, or transferring products between lists. ; and (2) comprehensive plans for reemployment assistance and early retirement benefits for Postal Service employees displaced as a result of the automation of functions, the closing or consolidation of facilities, or other reasons as the Postal Service determines. Authorizes the PRC to: (1) order the Postal Service to take appropriate action to achieve compliance; and (2) order fines in cases of deliberate noncompliance. GovTrack.us is not a government website. (Sec. 109-435 oversight issues for Congress. (Sec. 405) Makes the Secretary of State responsible for foreign policy related to international postal services and other international delivery services and and empowers such Secretary to conclude postal treaties, conventions, and amendments, subject to exception and limitation. Noté /5. 703) Requires a report from the Federal Trade Commission to the President, Congress, and the PRC identifying federal and state laws that apply differently to the Postal Service with respect to the competitive category of mail and to private companies providing similar products. Title II: Modern Rate Regulation - (Sec. Title VIII: Postal Service Retirement and Health Benefits Funding - Postal Civil Service Retirement and Health Benefits Funding Amendments of 2006 - (Sec. Postal Service (USPS), a self-supporting, independent agency of the executive branch. (Sec. Eliminates Postal Service sovereign immunity protection. Here's how to make it thrive again", "Carper Plays Key Role in Postal Overhaul", "John Oliver on why the USPS is on 'the brink of collapse, "Postmaster general suggests ending Saturday delivery", "Right to open mail claimed: Bush assertion illegal, experts say", "The USPS needs a bailout. 601) Replaces the Postal Rate Commission with the PRC. L. No. What is distinctive about the USPS is that, a a result of the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA), they are also required to pre-fund their retiree medical promises. 102) Removes provisions empowering the Postal Service to provide nonpostal services, except that the Postal Service may provide nonpostal services which were offered as of January 1, 2006, subject to a specified review by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) (formerly the Postal Rate Commission, see section 601). 3198, was enacted by the 109th Congress and signed by President George W. Bush on December 20, 2006. Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act As cleared by the Congress on December 9, 2006, and signed by the President on December 20, 2006 SUMMARY H.R. Postal Act of 2006 The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 significantly changed how the U.S. [10] The COVID-19 pandemic further reduced income due to decreased demand in 2020. Makes Office of Personnel Management (OPM) determinations on surplus or supplemental liability subject to PRC review if the Postal Service so requests. 602) Provides PRC authority to administer oaths, examine witnesses, receive evidence, issue subpoenas, and order the taking of depositions and responses to written interrogatories. 603) Authorizes appropriations out of the Postal Service Fund for: (1) the PRC; and (2) the Postal Service Office of Inspector General. [6] It has been alleged that this legislation contributed to the 2020 United States Postal Service crisis. And starting in 2019 we’ll be tracking Congress’s oversight investigations of the executive branch. Authorizes the Postal Service to establish size and weight limitations for mail matter in the market-dominant competitive categories of mail consistent with PRC regulations. Authorizes the use of arbitration boards in certain circumstances. GovTrack.us is an independent website tracking the status of legislation in the United States Congress and helping you participate in government. Provides for a mechanism and an amortization schedule regarding the handling of any surplus or supplemental liability of the Postal Service regarding the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund. Requires that one or more classes be maintained for letters sealed against inspection and that the rate for each such class be uniform throughout the United States, its territories, and possessions. Authorizes the Postal Service Board of Governors to establish reasonable and equitable classes of mail and rates of postage and fees. Authorizes appropriations. Prohibits the transfer from the market-dominant category of products covered by the postal monopoly. Help us develop the tools to bring real-time legislative data into the classroom. Cost Estimate . Jan 22, 2021, Are the silencers themselves weapons, or merely add-ons for weapons? [10] By the end of 2019, the USPS had $160.9 billion in debt, due to growth of the Internet, the Great Recession, and prepaying for employee benefits as stipulated in PAEA. (Sec. Republican Congressman Pence asked for the yeas and nays but was denied. The mind-numbing title alone sounds like it could put a hardcore insomniac to sleep. Requires that the Postal Service file with the PRC certain audit and funding reports required under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If you’ve visited a bill page on GovTrack.us recently, you may have noticed a new “study guide” tab located just below the bill title. Title IV: Provisions Relating to Fair Competition - (Sec. 12/20/2006--Public Law. 101) Amends federal postal law to add definitions, including the terms postal service, competitive product, market-dominant product, and rates. Directs the Postal Service, for each year, to pay into the above Fund such net present value and the annual installment due under the amortization schedule. [3] The bill was approved during the lame duck session of the 109th Congress, and approved without objection via voice vote. Establishes in the Treasury the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund, to be administered by OPM. 1001) Authorizes the Postal Service to employ police officers for all buildings and areas owned, occupied, or under the charge or control of the Postal Service (including areas outside the property), and to give such guards, while so employed, specified powers. 1006) Regulates the time limit for appeals to the PRC from a determination of the Postal Service to close or consolidate any post office. 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