[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 108 (Monday, July 21, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H7178-H7179]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1430
                     POSTMASTERS EQUITY ACT OF 2003

  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 2249) to amend chapter 10 of title 39, United States Code, to 
include postmasters and postmasters' organizations in the process for 
the development and planning of certain personnel policies, schedules, 
and programs of the United States Postal Service, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2249

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Postmasters Equity Act of 
     2003''.

     SEC. 2. POSTMASTERS AND POSTMASTERS' ORGANIZATIONS.

       (a) Percentage Representation Requirement.--The second 
     sentence of section 1004(b) of title 39, United States Code, 
     is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``that an organization (other than an 
     organization representing supervisors) represents at least 20 
     percent of postmasters,'' after ``majority of supervisors,''; 
     and
       (2) by striking ``supervisors)'' and inserting 
     ``supervisors or postmasters)''.
       (b) Consultation and Other Rights.--Section 1004 of title 
     39, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (g) the following:
       ``(h)(1) In order to ensure that postmasters and 
     postmasters' organizations are afforded the same rights under 
     this section as are afforded to supervisors and the 
     supervisors' organization, subsections (c) through (g) shall 
     be applied with respect to postmasters and postmasters' 
     organizations--
       ``(A) by substituting `postmasters' organization' for 
     `supervisors' organization' each place it appears; and
       ``(B) if 2 or more postmasters' organizations exist, by 
     treating such organizations as if they constituted a single 
     organization, in accordance with such arrangements as such 
     organizations shall mutually agree to.
       ``(2) If 2 or more postmasters' organizations exist, such 
     organizations shall, in the case of any factfinding panel 
     convened at the request of such organizations (in accordance 
     with paragraph (1)(B)), be jointly and severally liable for 
     the cost of such panel, apart from the portion to be borne by 
     the Postal Service (as determined under subsection 
     (f)(4)).''.
       (c) Definitions.--Subsection (i) of section 1004 of title 
     39, United States Code (as so redesignated by subsection 
     (b)(1)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period and inserting 
     a semicolon; and
       (3) by adding after paragraph (2) the following:
       ``(3) `postmaster' means an individual who is the manager 
     in charge of the operations of a post office, with or without 
     the assistance of subordinate managers or supervisors;
       ``(4) `postmasters' organization' means an organization 
     recognized by the Postal Service under subsection (b) as 
     representing at least 20 percent of postmasters; and
       ``(5) `members of the postmasters' organization' shall be 
     considered to mean employees of the Postal Service who are 
     recognized under an agreement--
       ``(A) between the Postal Service and the postmasters' 
     organization as represented by the organization; or
       ``(B) in the circumstance described in subsection 
     (h)(1)(B), between the Postal Service and the postmasters' 
     organizations (acting in concert) as represented by either or 
     any of the postmasters' organizations involved.''.
       (d) Thrift Advisory Council Not To Be Affected.--For 
     purposes of section 8473(b)(4) of title 5, United States 
     Code--
       (1) each of the 2 or more organizations referred to in 
     section 1004(h)(1)(B) of title 39, United States Code (as 
     amended by subsection (b)) shall be treated as a separate 
     organization; and
       (2) any determination of the number of individuals 
     represented by each of those respective organizations shall 
     be made in a manner consistent with the purposes of this 
     subsection.

     SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       The amendments made by this section shall take effect 60 
     days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Whitfield). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays) and the gentlewoman from the 
District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays).


                             General Leave

  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Connecticut?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
   Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2249, the Postmasters Equity Act, was introduced 
by my colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh). The 
gentleman chairs the Committee on Government Reform's Special Panel on 
Postal Reform and Oversight and has been a leader in Congress on postal 
issues. I am proud to support this legislation along with the members 
of this special panel, as well as the chairman and ranking member of 
the full committee, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) and the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman).
   Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2249 affords postmasters the same options given to 
postal supervisors when negotiating pay and benefits with the U.S. 
Postal Service. This bill would extend to postmasters and nonunion 
postal employees the fact-finding procedures already established under 
current law for postal supervisors. The fact-finding process allows for 
an unbiased review of issues in dispute during negotiations, as well as 
the ability to issue nonbinding recommendations to resolve those 
issues. Currently, without this right, postmasters lack any form of 
recourse when pay talks under the consultation process fail.
   Mr. Speaker, this bill is a matter of fairness. Postmasters deserve 
the same option available to postal supervisors, and the bill would 
produce an improved and fair consultation process. Frankly, I think it 
is a change most of us feel is long overdue.
   The Committee on Government Reform believes adding a fact-finding 
option to the consultation process for postmasters will help strengthen 
their role in improving the quality of mail service for postal patrons 
and also in managing local post offices. Their role has been eroded 
over the years, especially for postmasters at small- and medium-sized 
post offices who serve as front line managers.
  The Nation's two postmasters' organizations, the National League of 
Postmasters and the National Association of Postmasters of the United 
States, support this legislation.
  The Postal Service Reorganization Act of 1970 created a consultative 
process for postmasters and other nonunion postal employees to 
negotiate pay and benefits but did not include postmasters in a fact-
finding process subsequently provided to other management. Postmasters 
are often the heart and soul of the community. In many cases, they are 
the community's only link to the Federal Government.
   Mr. Speaker, it is important that we do what we can to support their 
work in the 38,000 post offices across the country. I am pleased that 
the House is considering this bill today.
   Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from New York for 
introducing H.R. 2249 and urge its passage, and I would also obviously 
commend the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), who 
is a very active person on issues dealing with labor and management 
issues.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I want to thank my good friend, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr.

[[Page H7179]]

Shays), for the work he has done on this bipartisan bill. It is an 
important and good bill that encourages the kinds of problem-solving 
and labor management relations that I am sure the whole House would 
want to embrace.
  H.R. 2249 was introduced on May 22, 2003, by the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. McHugh) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis). This 
measure would amend chapter 10 of title 39, U.S.C., to include 
postmasters and postmasters; organizations in the process for the 
development and planning of pay policies and benefits.
   H.R. 2249 is cosponsored by the entire Committee on Government 
Reform Special Panel on Postal Reform and Oversight. On June 17, the 
Senate Government Affairs Committee unanimously approved S. 678, the 
Postmasters Equity Act of 2003, and on June 19, the House Committee on 
Government Reform reported H.R. 2249 out of committee on a voice vote.
   During the 96th Congress, President Carter signed into law 
legislation creating a fact-finding process for resolving disputes over 
pay and benefits and to make recommendations to the postal service. It 
did not provide for arbitration of the disputes and the recommendations 
were not binding on the Postmaster General. However, the law only 
applied to postal supervisors, not postmasters.
   H.R. 2249 would extend to the postmasters the option of a fact-
finding panel to make nonbinding recommendations to the postal service. 
Currently, when pay and benefit discussions between the postal service 
and postmasters fail, postmasters have no recourse and have to accept 
what is offered by the postal service. Passage of H.R. 2249 would bring 
consistency in the manner by which two categories of postal managers 
negotiate with the postal service over pay and benefits.
   Mr. Speaker, I urge swift adoption of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I also yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2249.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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