NAPS Chat

Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) Chairman Michael Kubayanda joins Bob to discuss last month's Senate oversight hearing on the Postal Service, as well as the Commission's  regulatory activities relating the Postal Service's "Delivering for America" plan. As part of their conversation, Mike and Bob talk about the PRC's insistence that the USPS request a PRC Advisory Opinion on the plan. On May 16, about 3 hours after the episode taped, the USPS filed its refusal to make such a request at this time.

NAPS Executive Vice President Chuck Mulidore joins Bob to talk about the recently concluded 2024 NAPS Legislative Training Seminar and Lobbying Days on Capitol Hill. Chuck and Bob discuss the new legislative tools deployed at the conference, issues that members of Congress brought to the attention of NAPS activists, and a critical Postal Inspector General Audit Report relating to the establishment of a new regional processing and distribution center in Richmond, VA.

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), senior member of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, joins Bob to talk about the current state of the U.S. Postal Service, as we approach the second anniversary of the Postal Reform Act's enactment into law. At the time of the legislation's development and enactment, Rep. Connolly served as chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, the panel with jurisdiction over the Postal Service. The congressman and Bob discuss postal performance and accountability, and what's the next step to ensure the agency remains vital.

Dr. Kevin Kosar, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), joins Bob at the 2024 NAPS Legislative Training Seminar. The chat, which was recorded live before approximately 500 NAPS legislative advocates attending the Washington legislative conference, covered the importance of measuring postal performance, the necessity of constructive congressional oversight of the Postal Service, the Postal Service's transition to package delivery, and the new-reality of the Postal Service being "mostly" self-sustaining. Dr. Kosar, in addition to being a scholar at the AEI, was formerly the Congressional Research Service's resident expert on the Postal Service.

Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-MD), ranking member of the House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce, joins Bob to discuss the role of Congressional oversight in USPS operations, his postal priorities and how the Postal Service is viewed by his colleagues.

Former member of Congress Connie Morella (R-MD) joins Bob to reminisce about the days during which the House of Representatives acted with civility and labored on legislation important to the federal and postal workforce. During her 8 terms in Congress, Rep. Morella served on the House Postal Office and Civil Service Committee, and its successor, the House Committee on Government Reform. As a member of these two committees, Connie championed the interests of the postal and federal community.

Freshman member of Congress Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) joins Bob to reflect on her first year in the House of Representatives and to share her views on a number of postal and federal employee-related issues. In addition, Rep. Budzinski discusses her past experience in the labor movement and as a member of the Biden White House. 

On this, the 200th episode of NAPS Chat, National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) Staff Vice President for Policy and Programs John Hatton joins Bob to discuss crucial challenges and potential  legislation relating to postal and retiree benefits in 2024. Also, Bob touches upon postal first-class on time performance during the current peak mail season, and congressional and regulatory reaction to it.

National Association of Postal Supervisors Executive Vice President Chuck Mulidore joins Bob to discuss important legislative and Postal Service operational issues that deeply concern key members of Congress. Among the items discussed is legislation introduced by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which strives to better protect postal employees from escalating assaults while delivering the mail and to safeguard postal assets. In addition, Bob and Chuck talk about mounting congressional and USPS Board of Governors' concern about falling on-time first-class mail performance across the nation, testimony offered to the House Ways and Means Committee by former NAPS President Louis Atkins and current NAPS Auxiliary Secretary Treasurer Bonita Atkins regarding the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, and the upcoming 2024 NAPS legislative conference in Washington.

The "open season" for choosing a Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP) option runs from November 13 thru December 12. The choices are numerous and stakes are high. For the fifth year in a row, Bob is being joined by Jay Fritz, the Office of Personnel Management executive tasked with coordinating the FEHBP open season. Jay and Bob discuss what's new for active and retired postal and federal employees in the FEHBP environment. In addition, they discuss what's driving premium increases and benefit changes.

A few weeks ago, Mark Action left the Postal Regulatory Commission with two decades of engagement with the postal community under his belt. Over a cup of coffee at local Washington, DC, coffee house, Mark shares with Bob his reflections about serving on the PRC and the agency's importance to ensure transparency, accountability and performance.

It appeared that the Statute of Freedom, which is sits atop the Capitol, needed scaffolding to stabilize it in the wake of the U.S. House of Representatives’ shutdown, resulting from the removal of Rep. Kevin McCarthy as Speaker. During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Bob discusses the “House shutdown,” the overwhelming passage of a temporary government funding bill that sealed McCarthy’s fate, Senate confirmation of Robert Taub and Thomas Day to the Postal Regulatory Commission, a recent Postal Inspector General report on mail theft, and two pending U.S. Supreme Court cases that may have implications for the Postal Service, as well as other federal agencies.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Smithsonian Institution Postal Museum Curator Lynn Heidelbaugh joins Bob to talk about U.S. mail transportation. One of the major components of the Delivering for American Plan is shifting from air transport to ground movement of letters and packages. Moving the Mail, is an ongoing exhibit at the National Postal Museum, which traces the evolution of mail transport. So, it would instructive to examine the reasons for different modes of mail movement. In addition, Bob talks about the nomination of former USPS Senior Vice President of Government Relations Thomas Day to the Postal Regulatory Commission and his recent confirmation hearing.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Government Executive columnist and founder of "Retire Federal" Tammy Flanagan joins Bob to talk about the growing number of USPS retirees who seek post-retirement employment. Tammy and Bob talk about issues that such retirees ought to consider when embarking on an "encore career."  Bob also shares news relating to the September 7 Senate confirmation hearing of PRC Commissioner Robert Taub, and regulatory updates relating to the Delivering for America plan.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Association for Postal Commerce Michael Plunkett  joins Bob to talk about the role that PostCom plays in the postal space, and the current state of postal finances and operations.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, NAPS Executive Vice President Chuck Mulidore joins Bob to talk about the National Association of Postal Supervisors' Disciplinary Defense Fund and how this "insurance policy" protects the interests of postal supervisors, managers and postmasters.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Rep. Pete Session, chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce joins Bob to talk about his perspective on Postal Service operations and his role as chairman of the subcommittee having jurisdiction over the agency. In part, Chairman Sessions reflects on his recent oversight hearing, at which Postmaster General Louis DeJoy testified.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) Member Ann Fisher joins Bob to talk about the importance of U.S. Postal Service transparency and accountability, and how the PRC plays a constructive and necessary role in striving to meet those dual goals. Ann and Bob also discuss the different tools the PRC has as its disposal to cast light on particular aspects of postal finances and operations.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Joy Sazone, Research Specialist at the Postal Service Office of Inspector General (OIG), talks with Bob about a recently issued OIG "White Paper" on the investment of Postal Service pension funds. Joy was the lead author of the White Paper. In part, the paper suggests that had past CSRS and FERS contributions been invested in stock and bond index funds, the value of the USPS and employee contributions would have grown to $1.2 trillion, rather than the current balance of $298 billion. Under current law, CSRS and FERS contributions must be invested in low-yield U.S. Treasury securities. Joy and Bob discuss the implications of a change in investment strategy.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Bob Levi discusses the imminent introduction of a Senate companion to H.R. 3005, the Postal Police Reform Act, by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Richard Durbin (D-IL); the May 17 House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce hearing, at which Postmaster General DeJoy testified; and the Postal Regulatory Commission's ongoing "Public Inquiry" into the USPS Sorting and Processing Center initiative.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Karla Kirby, the U.S. Postal Service's Executive Manager for the Postal Service Health Benefits Program, joins Bob Levi to discuss the new postal health program, which will be effective  January 1, 2025. Karla and Bob discuss the status of the emerging program, its implementation, collaborative efforts to educate USPS employees and retirees about it, and what to expect as the plan rolls out.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, NAPS Executive Vice President Chuck Mulidore joins Bob Levi to discuss the recently concluded NAPS legislative conference in Washington, DC. Chuck and Bob discuss how conference attendees assessed the different elements of the 2023 NAPS Legislative Training Seminar, congressional engagement, and how NAPS fared on Capitol Hill. 

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Frank Albergo, president of the Postal Police Officers Association, joins Bob Levi to discuss the postal crime wave and how to reduce it. The escalation in postal-related crime, including assaults on USPS personnel, mail theft and mail fraud, concurrent with the 2020 USPS operational change to limit the law enforcement authority of postal police to the perimeter of USPS-occupied property, raises questions about the agency's commitment to employee safety and mail security. Postal police are the uniformed members of the Postal Inspection Service, the nation's oldest law enforcement entity.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, National Association of Postal  Supervisors Executive Vice President Chuck Mulidore joins Bob to discuss  some early congressional activity relating to the social security equity for many Civil Service Retirement  System annuitants; the effect the commencement of collective-bargaining  between the NALC and USPS will have on impending pay talks of supervisors, managers, and postmasters, and legislation to  provide fairness to these pay talks; the potential threat to the $3  billion provided to the USPS for delivery fleet modernization; and the upcoming NAPS legislative conference in Washington, DC.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, leading members of the  California Postal Legislative Coalition join Bob to discuss a variety of  issues that impact active and retired postal employees. The participants include: Marilyn Walton, Mary DiGoia and Kathryn Rahming of NAPS, Ron Jones of the NALC, Garry Davis of the  APWU, and Clarice Golden on UPMA. The CA Postal Legislative Coalition is a 25-year old alliance of union and management organizations representing the interests of CA postal  employees and retirees.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Dr. Kevin Kosar, Senior Fellow  at the American Enterprise Institute, joins Bob Levi to discuss the  chaotic opening act of the 118th Congress, American confidence in the U.S. Postal Service and the agency's challenges. Dr. Kosar as been a periodic guest on NAPS Chat. During  Kevin's tenure at the Congressional Research Service, he was its resident expert on the Postal Service.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, American University Constitutional Law Professor Stephen Wermiel joins Bob Levi to discuss  the historical context of the U.S. Postal Service being deployed as the nation's morality police. This issue has emerged  from the shadows as the result of the U.S. Department of Justice's  recent memorandum declaring that mailing prescription medication that may terminate a pregnancy does not violate the  1873 Comstock Act.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, NAPS Director of Legislative  & Political Affairs Director reflects on the first days of the 118th  Congress and its lasting impact on the postal employee community.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Karen Young, the publisher of  the National Association of Postal Supervisors monthly magazine invites Bob Levi to reflect on this past year's legislative and political news, and expectations for next year.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, National Association of Postal  Supervisors Michiana (Michigan-Indiana) Area Vice President Kevin  Trayer, joins Bob Levi to discuss his efforts to alert federal and local elected officials, and impacted  communities, about the USPS' ongoing sorting and delivery center  consolidation initiative. Bob also provides an update on the Democratic candidates aspiring to become the ranking member of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, as well as end-year government funding legislation.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, National Association of Postal  Supervisors Director of Legislative & Political Affairs Bob Levi  talks a bit about his recent visit to Israel, as well as congressional "lame duck" matters, including mail theft  suffered by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), a congressional resolution of  inquiry relating to the USPS Postal Inspection Service, budget options submitted to Congress by the Congressional  Budget Office relating to postal and federal employee benefits, and the  Georgia run-off election.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, National Association of Postal  Supervisors Executive Vice President Chuck Mulidore, joins Bob Levi to discuss the outcome of the 2022 congressional midterm elections and its impact on NAPS members, the November USPS Board of Governors meeting and the recent House postal oversight  hearings.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Jay Fritz, OPM Manager of  Outreach and Program Services, joins Bob Levi to discuss the 2022  Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) Open Season, which runs from Monday, Novermber 14, through Monday, December 12. This is the fourth year in a row that Jay Fritz has been on NAPS Chat to educate listeners about the FEHBP Open Season and health plans changes for the 2023 calendar year. Bob kicks off NAPS Chat to briefly discuss the 2022 congressional elections.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Tina Stoll, president of  Campaign Finance Consultants, joins Bob Levi to discuss the financial resources needed to run a modern House and Senate campaign, and the strategies employed to raise those funds. In addition, Tina and Bob talk about how candidates seek support from  organizations that align with their views.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, John Hatton, National  Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) Vice President for Policy and Programs, joins Bob Levi to discuss a variety of retirement and health benefit issues impacting postal  and federal employees and annuitants. John and Bob talk about the  status of legislation to repeal the Social Security Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination  Provision (WEP); the 2023 federal cost of living adjustment (COLA), how  the COLA is calculated, and related legislation; 2023 Federal Employee Health Benefit Program premiums; and the Federal  Long-term Care Insurance Program.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, former U.S. Postal Service Senior Vice President for Government Relations Thomas Day joins Bob Levi  to discuss the 2001 anthrax attack on the U.S. Postal Service. Approaching the 21st anniversary of the attempt  to weaponize U.S. mail with a deadly bacteria, Tom and Bob talk about the steps taken internally and on Capitol Hill to protect USPS employees and the mail system. In  addition, Tom and Bob talk about lessons learned and how they may have  informed decisions relating to the USPS' role relating to COVID-19 antigen test distribution.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, NAPS Executive Vice President  Chuck Mulidore joins Bob Levi to discuss congressional oversight of the impending consolidation of postal sorting and delivery facilities, the changing of the guard at the House Oversight and Reform Committee, and reflections on the recently concluded NAPS National Convention.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, which took place during the 68th National Association of Postal Supervisors' Convention, National  World War II Museum's Director of Curatorial Affairs, Kimberly Guice joins Bob Levi. Kimberly and Bob discuss  how Americans on the home-front communicated with soldiers in the  European and Pacific Theaters of World War II. Specifically, Kimberly and Bob talked about the importance of  mail to troop morale, how letters were transported from friends and  relatives to those fighting for our country abroad, and how mail was delivered to U.S. WW II prisoners of war. The podcast was recorded on-site at the National World War II Museum, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, NAPS President Ivan Butts joins  Bob Levi to discuss the 68th National Association of Postal Supervisors  Convention. Bob and Ivan are on-site, in New Orleans, and talk about last-minute preparations, plans for the convention, and Ivan's reflections on past conventions.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, NAPS Executive Vice President  Chuck Mulidore joins Bob Levi to discuss a recent Senate Subcommittee on Government Operations and Border Security hearing, at which Arizona NAPS Vice President and Chairman of the NAPS Postmasters Committee Jimmy Salmon testified. In addition, Chuck and Bob talk about the placement of GPO/WEP legislation on the House of Representatives "consent calendar,"  legislation introduced by Sens. Susan Collins and Joe Manchin relating to vote-by-mail, the advocacy day to promote the USPS Shipping Equity Act, recent congressional candidate meetings, and the upcoming NAPS National Convention.

The future is now, within the communications and logistics marketplace.  Is the Postal Service ready? During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Eddie Monroy of the NextGen Chamber of Commerce joins Bob Levi to discuss the needs and expectations of a new and growing generation of American entrepreneurs and small businesses, and how the US Postal Service can meet those needs and expectations.

Many challenges confronting today's Postal Service would not be foreign  to early postal officials -- high partisanship, operational  difficulties, and financial stress . In preparation for July 4, during this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Prof. Joseph Adelman of Framingham State University joins Bob Levi to discuss crucial postal decisions made by American patriots, including choices made by delegates to the 1787 Constitutional Convention, President George Washington and the 2nd U.S. Congress. These decisions resulted in the development of our postal system. Prof. Adelman is currently working on an epic history of the Postal Service.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Julia Kurnik, Director of Innovation Startups at the World  Wildlife Fund (WWF) joins Bob Levi to discuss an innovative postal product being promoted by the WWF. Farmers Post, if implemented, would connect small and family farms with consumers who seek farm-fresh agricultural products, and could generate postal revenue of between $1.5 billion and $6 billion annually.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Kim Weaver, the Director of External Affairs of the Federal Retirement Thrift Savings Investment Board, joins Bob Levi to discuss the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), its importance to postal and federal employee retirement security, and new TSP investment options that commenced on June 1, 2022

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Katie Maddocks, the Legislative and Political Director of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, joins Bob Levi to discuss the current legislative and political landscape as it impacts the postal and federal  workforce, the next steps relating to postal legislation, and what to  expect in the fall election.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Bob Levi discusses two recent  Ivy League law journal articles that reference NAPS v. USPS, three lawsuits brought against the USPS by 16 states, a handful of environmental groups and a labor union against the USPS, and the new performance standard for first-class parcels.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, National Association of Postal  Supervisors resident officers (President Ivan Butts, Executive Vice President Chuck Mulidore and Secretary-Treasurer Jimmy Warden) join Bob to talk about witnessing President Joseph Biden signing into law the "Postal Service Reform Act of 2022." They  reflect on the occasion, as well their personal and collective experiences engaging with President Biden, and with other invited guests at the White House.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Daniel Piazza of the the  Smithsonian Institution's National Postal Museum joins Bob to talk about  the museum's recently opened exhibition, "Baseball: America's Home Run." The museum hosted a gala VIP reception to  commemorate the opening less than 2 hours after President Joseph Biden signed into law H.R. 3076, the Postal Service Reform Act