[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 56 (Wednesday, April 18, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2504-S2516]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           TEXT OF AMENDMENTS

  SA 2033. Mr. McCAIN (for himself and Mr. Coburn) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1789, to 
improve, sustain, and transform the United States Postal Service; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end, add the following:

              TITLE V--COMMISSION ON POSTAL REORGANIZATION

     SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Commission on Postal 
     Reorganization Act'' or the ``CPR Act''.

     SEC. 502. DEFINITIONS.

       For purposes of this title--
       (1) the term ``Postal Service'' means the United States 
     Postal Service;
       (2) the term ``postal retail facility'' means a post 
     office, post office branch, post office classified station, 
     or other facility which is operated by the Postal Service, 
     and the primary function of which is to provide retail postal 
     services;
       (3) the term ``mail processing facility'' means a 
     processing and distribution center, processing and 
     distribution facility, network distribution center, or other 
     facility which is operated by the Postal Service, and the 
     primary function of which is to sort and process mail;
       (4) the term ``district office'' means the central office 
     of an administrative field unit with responsibility for 
     postal operations in a designated geographic area (as defined 
     under regulations, directives, or other guidance of the 
     Postal Service, as in effect on June 23, 2011);
       (5) the term ``area office'' means the central office of an 
     administrative field unit with responsibility for postal 
     operations in a designated geographic area which is comprised 
     of designated geographic areas as referred to in paragraph 
     (4); and
       (6) the term ``baseline year'' means the fiscal year last 
     ending before the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 503. COMMISSION ON POSTAL REORGANIZATION.

       (a) Establishment.--There shall be established, not later 
     than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, an 
     independent commission to be known as the ``Commission on 
     Postal Reorganization'' (hereinafter in this section referred 
     to as the ``Commission'').
       (b) Duties.--The Commission shall carry out the duties 
     specified for it in this title.
       (c) Members.--
       (1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 5 
     members who shall be appointed by the President, and of 
     whom--
       (A) 1 shall be appointed from among individuals recommended 
     by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
       (B) 1 shall be appointed from among individuals recommended 
     by the majority leader of the Senate;
       (C) 1 shall be appointed from among individuals recommended 
     by the minority leader of the House of Representatives;
       (D) 1 shall be appointed from among individuals recommended 
     by the minority leader of the Senate; and
       (E) 1 shall be appointed from among individuals recommended 
     by the Comptroller General.
       (2) Qualifications.--
       (A) In general.--Members of the Commission shall be chosen 
     to represent the public interest generally, and shall not be 
     representatives of specific interests using the Postal 
     Service.
       (B) Ineligibility.--An individual may not be appointed to 
     serve as a member of the Commission if such individual served 
     as an employee of the Postal Service or the Postal Regulatory 
     Commission, or of a labor organization representing employees 
     of the Postal Service or the Postal Regulatory Commission, 
     during the 3-year period ending on the date of such 
     appointment.
       (3) Political affiliation.--Not more than 3 members of the 
     Commission may be of the same political party.
       (d) Terms.--Each member of the Commission shall be 
     appointed for the life of the Commission and may be removed 
     only for cause.
       (e) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled 
     in the same manner as the original appointment.
       (f) Chairman.--The President shall, at the time of making 
     appointments under subsection (c), designate one of the 
     members to serve as chairman of the Commission.
       (g) Compensation and Travel Expenses.--
       (1) Compensation.--
       (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), 
     each member of the Commission shall be paid at a rate equal 
     to the daily equivalent of $40,000 per year for each day 
     (including travel time) during which the member is engaged in 
     the actual performance of duties vested in the Commission.
       (B) Exception.--Any member of the Commission who is a full-
     time officer or employee of the United States may not receive 
     additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of such 
     member's service on the Commission.
       (2) Travel expenses.--Each member shall receive travel 
     expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
     accordance with applicable provisions of subchapter I of 
     chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
       (h) Director.--The Commission shall have a Director who 
     shall be appointed by the Commission. The Director shall be 
     paid at the rate of basic pay for level IV of the Executive 
     Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code. 
     An appointment under this subsection shall be subject to the 
     requirements of subsection (c)(2).
       (i) Additional Personnel.--With the approval of the 
     Commission, the Director may appoint and fix the pay of such 
     additional personnel as the Director considers appropriate. 
     Such additional personnel may be appointed without regard to 
     the provisions of

[[Page S2505]]

     title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the 
     competitive service, and may be paid without regard to the 
     provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of 
     such title relating to classification and General Schedule 
     pay rates, except that an individual so appointed may not 
     receive pay at a rate of basic pay in excess of the rate of 
     basic pay payable to the Director. An individual appointed 
     under this subsection shall serve at the pleasure of the 
     Director.
       (j) Provisions Relating to Details.--
       (1) In general.--Upon request of the Director, the head of 
     any Federal department or agency may detail any of the 
     personnel of such department or agency to the Commission to 
     assist the Commission in carrying out its duties under this 
     title. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, to provide 
     continuity in the work of the Commission, such details may be 
     extended beyond 1 year at the request of the Director.
       (2) Numerical limitation.--Not more than \1/3\ of the 
     personnel of the Commission may consist of the number of 
     individuals on detail from the Postal Service and the Postal 
     Regulatory Commission combined.
       (3) Other limitations.--A person may not be detailed to the 
     Commission from the Postal Service or the Postal Regulatory 
     Commission if such person participated personally and 
     substantially on any matter, within the Postal Service or the 
     Postal Regulatory Commission, concerning the preparation of 
     recommendations for closures or consolidations of postal 
     facilities under this title. No employee of the Postal 
     Service or the Postal Regulatory Commission (including a 
     detailee to the Postal Service or the Postal Regulatory 
     Commission) may--
       (A) prepare any report concerning the effectiveness, 
     fitness, or efficiency of the performance, on the staff of 
     the Commission, of any person detailed from the Postal 
     Service or the Postal Regulatory Commission to such staff;
       (B) review the preparation of such a report; or
       (C) approve or disapprove such a report.
       (k) Other Authorities.--
       (1) Experts and consultants.--The Commission may procure by 
     contract, to the extent funds are available, temporary or 
     intermittent services under section 3109 of title 5, United 
     States Code.
       (2) Leasing, etc.--The Commission may lease space and 
     acquire personal property to the extent funds are available.
       (l) Authorization of Appropriations.--In order to carry out 
     this section, there are authorized to be appropriated out of 
     the Postal Service Fund $20,000,000, which funds shall remain 
     available until expended.
       (m) Financial Reporting.--
       (1) Audit and expenditures.--The Commission shall be 
     responsible for issuing annual financial statements and for 
     establishing and maintaining adequate controls over its 
     financial reporting.
       (2) Internal audits.--The Commission shall maintain an 
     adequate internal audit of its financial transactions.
       (3) Annual certification.--The Commission shall obtain an 
     annual certification for each fiscal year from an 
     independent, certified public accounting firm of the accuracy 
     of its financial statements.
       (4) Comptroller general.--The accounts and operations of 
     the Commission shall be audited by the Comptroller General 
     and reports thereon made to the Congress to the extent and at 
     such times as the Comptroller General may determine.
       (n) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate 60 days 
     after submitting its final reports under section 504(d)(3).

     SEC. 504. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CLOSURES AND CONSOLIDATIONS.

       (a) Plan for the Closure or Consolidation of Postal Retail 
     Facilities.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Postal Service, in 
     consultation with the Postal Regulatory Commission, shall 
     develop and submit to the Commission on Postal Reorganization 
     a plan for the closure or consolidation of such postal retail 
     facilities as the Postal Service considers necessary and 
     appropriate so that the total annual costs attributable to 
     the operation of postal retail facilities will be, for each 
     fiscal year beginning at least 2 years after the date on 
     which the Commission transmits to Congress its final report 
     under subsection (d)(3)(A) relating to this subsection, at 
     least $1,000,000,000 less than the corresponding total annual 
     costs for the baseline year.
       (2) Contents.--The plan shall include--
       (A) a list of the postal retail facilities proposed for 
     closure or consolidation under this title;
       (B) a proposed schedule under which--
       (i) closures and consolidations of postal retail facilities 
     would be carried out under this title; and
       (ii) all closures and consolidations of postal retail 
     facilities under this title would be completed by not later 
     than 2 years after the date on which the Commission transmits 
     to Congress its final report under subsection (d)(3)(A) 
     relating to such plan;
       (C) the estimated total annual cost savings attributable to 
     the proposed closures and consolidations described in the 
     plan;
       (D) the criteria and process used to develop the 
     information described in subparagraphs (A) and (B);
       (E) the methodology and assumptions used to derive the 
     estimates described in subparagraph (C); and
       (F) any changes to the processing, transportation, 
     delivery, or other postal operations anticipated as a result 
     of the proposed closures and consolidations described in the 
     plan.
       (3) Consistency.--The methodology and assumptions used to 
     derive the cost estimates described in paragraph (2)(C) shall 
     be consistent with the methodology and assumptions which 
     would have been used by the Postal Service if those closures 
     and consolidations had instead taken effect in the baseline 
     year.
       (b) Plan for the Closure or Consolidation of Mail 
     Processing Facilities.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 300 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Postal Service, in 
     consultation with the Inspector General of the United States 
     Postal Service, shall develop and submit to the Commission on 
     Postal Reorganization a plan for the closure or consolidation 
     of such mail processing facilities as the Postal Service 
     considers necessary and appropriate so that--
       (A) the total annual costs attributable to the operation of 
     mail processing facilities will be, for each fiscal year 
     beginning at least 2 years after the date on which the 
     Commission transmits to Congress its final report under 
     subsection (d)(3)(A) relating to this subsection, at least 
     $2,000,000,000 less than the corresponding total annual costs 
     for the baseline year; and
       (B) the Postal Service has, for fiscal years beginning at 
     least 2 years after the date on which the Commission 
     transmits to Congress its final report under subsection 
     (d)(3)(A) relating to this subsection, no more than 10 
     percent excess mail processing capacity.
       (2) Contents.--The plan shall include--
       (A) a list of the mail processing facilities proposed for 
     closure or consolidation under this title;
       (B) a proposed schedule under which--
       (i) closures and consolidations of mail processing 
     facilities would be carried out under this title; and
       (ii) all closures and consolidations of mail processing 
     facilities under this title would be completed by not later 
     than 2 years after the date on which the Commission transmits 
     to Congress its final report under subsection (d)(3)(A) 
     relating to such plan;
       (C) the estimated total annual cost savings attributable to 
     the proposed closures and consolidations described in the 
     plan;
       (D) the criteria and process used to develop the 
     information described in subparagraphs (A) and (B);
       (E) the methodology and assumptions used to derive the 
     estimates described in subparagraph (C); and
       (F) any changes to the processing, transportation, 
     delivery, or other postal operations anticipated as a result 
     of the proposed closures and consolidations described in the 
     plan.
       (3) Consistency.--The methodology and assumptions used to 
     derive the cost estimates described in paragraph (2)(C) shall 
     be consistent with the methodology and assumptions which 
     would have been used by the Postal Service if those closures 
     and consolidations had instead taken effect in the baseline 
     year.
       (4) Excess mail processing capacity.--The Commission shall 
     cause to be published in the Federal Register notice of a 
     proposed definition of ``excess mail processing capacity'' 
     for purposes of this section within 120 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, and shall provide a period of 
     30 days for public comment on the proposed definition. Not 
     later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, the Commission shall issue and cause to be published in 
     the Federal Register a final definition of ``excess mail 
     processing capacity'' for purposes of this section. Such 
     definition shall include an estimate of the total amount of 
     excess mail processing capacity in mail processing facilities 
     as of the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (5) Underutilized mail processing facilities.--In 
     developing a plan under this subsection, the Postal Service 
     may include the estimated total cost savings that would 
     result from moving mail processing operations to any mail 
     processing facility that, as of the date of introduction of 
     this Act--
       (A) is not currently used by the Postal Service; and
       (B) is capable of processing mail to the Postal Service's 
     standards.
       (c) Plan for the Closure or Consolidation of Area and 
     District Offices.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 300 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Postal Service, in 
     consultation with the Inspector General of the United States 
     Postal Service, shall develop and submit to the Commission on 
     Postal Reorganization a plan for the closure or consolidation 
     of such area and district offices as the Postal Service 
     considers necessary and appropriate so that the combined 
     total number of area and district offices will be, for each 
     fiscal year beginning at least 2 years after the date on 
     which the Commission transmits to Congress its final report 
     under subsection (d)(3)(A) relating to this subsection, at 
     least 30 percent less than the corresponding combined total 
     for the baseline year.
       (2) Contents.--The plan shall include--
       (A) a list of the area and district offices proposed for 
     closure or consolidation under this title;
       (B) a proposed schedule under which--
       (i) closures and consolidations of area and district 
     offices would be carried out under this title; and

[[Page S2506]]

       (ii) all closures and consolidations of area and district 
     offices under this title would be completed by not later than 
     2 years after the date on which the Commission transmits to 
     Congress its final report under subsection (d)(3)(A) relating 
     to such plan;
       (C) the estimated total annual cost savings attributable to 
     the proposed closures and consolidations described in the 
     plan;
       (D) the criteria and process used to develop the 
     information described in subparagraphs (A) and (B);
       (E) the methodology and assumptions used to derive the 
     estimates described in subparagraph (C); and
       (F) any changes to the processing, transportation, 
     delivery, or other postal operations anticipated as a result 
     of the proposed closures and consolidations described in the 
     plan.
       (3) Consistency.--The methodology and assumptions used to 
     derive the cost estimates described in paragraph (2)(C) shall 
     be consistent with the methodology and assumptions which 
     would have been used by the Postal Service if those closures 
     and consolidations had instead taken effect in the baseline 
     year.
       (d) Review and Recommendations of the Commission.--
       (1) Initial reports.--
       (A) In general.--After receiving the plan of the Postal 
     Service under subsection (a), (b), or (c), the Commission on 
     Postal Reorganization shall transmit to Congress and publish 
     in the Federal Register a report under this paragraph, which 
     shall contain the Commission's findings based on a review and 
     analysis of such plan, together with the Commission's initial 
     recommendations for closures and consolidations of postal 
     facilities, mail processing facilities, or area and district 
     offices (as the case may be).
       (B) Explanation of changes.--The Commission shall explain 
     and justify in its report any recommendations made by the 
     Commission that are different from those contained in the 
     Postal Service plan to which such report pertains.
       (C) Deadlines.--A report of the Commission under this 
     paragraph shall be transmitted and published, in accordance 
     with subparagraph (A), within--
       (i) if the report pertains to the plan under subsection 
     (a), 60 days after the date on which the Commission receives 
     such plan; or
       (ii) if the report pertains to the plan under subsection 
     (b) or (c), 90 days after the date on which the Commission 
     receives such plan.
       (2) Public hearings.--
       (A) In general.--After receiving the plan of the Postal 
     Service under subsection (a), (b), or (c), the Commission on 
     Postal Reorganization shall conduct at least 5 public 
     hearings on such plan. The hearings shall be conducted in 
     geographic areas chosen so as to reflect a broadly 
     representative range of needs and interests.
       (B) Testimony.--All testimony before the Commission at a 
     public hearing conducted under this paragraph shall be given 
     under oath.
       (C) Deadlines.--All hearings under this paragraph shall be 
     completed within 60 days after the date as of which the 
     Commission satisfies the requirements of paragraph (1) with 
     respect to such plan.
       (3) Final reports.--
       (A) In general.--After satisfying the requirements of 
     paragraph (2) with respect to the plan of the Postal Service 
     under subsection (a), (b), or (c) (as the case may be), the 
     Commission shall transmit to Congress and publish in the 
     Federal Register a report under this paragraph containing a 
     summary of the hearings conducted with respect to such plan, 
     together with the Commission's final recommendations for 
     closures and consolidations of postal facilities, mail 
     processing facilities, or area and district offices (as the 
     case may be).
       (B) Approval.--Recommendations under subparagraph (A) shall 
     not be considered to be final recommendations unless they are 
     made with--
       (i) except as provided in clause (ii), the concurrence of 
     at least 4 members of the Commission; or
       (ii) to the extent that the requirements of subsection 
     (b)(1)(A) or (c)(1) are not met, the concurrence of all 
     sitting members, but only if the shortfall (relative to the 
     requirements of subsection (b)(1)(A) or (c)(1), as the case 
     may be) does not exceed 25 percent.
       (C) Contents.--A report under this paragraph shall 
     include--
       (i) the information required by paragraph (2) of subsection 
     (a), (b), or (c) (as the case may be); and
       (ii) a description of the operations that will be affected 
     by the closure or consolidation and the facilities or offices 
     which will be performing or ceasing to perform such 
     operations as a result of such closure or consolidation.
       (D) Deadlines.--A report of the Commission under this 
     paragraph shall be transmitted and published, in accordance 
     with subparagraph (A), within 60 days after the date as of 
     which the Commission satisfies the requirements of paragraph 
     (2) with respect to the plan involved.
       (e) Limitation Relating to Postal Retail Facilities 
     Identified for Closure or Consolidation.--
       (1) Applicability.--This subsection applies to any plan of 
     the Postal Service under subsection (a) and any report of the 
     Commission under subsection (d) (whether initial or final) 
     pertaining to such plan.
       (2) Limitation.--Of the total number of postal retail 
     facilities recommended for closure or consolidation 
     (combined) under any plan or report to which this subsection 
     applies, the number of such facilities that are within the K 
     or L cost ascertainment grouping (combined) shall account for 
     not more than 10 percent of such total number.
       (3) References.--For purposes of this subsection--
       (A) any reference to a ``cost ascertainment grouping'' 
     shall be considered to refer to a cost ascertainment grouping 
     as described in section 123.11 of the Postal Operations 
     Manual (as in effect on June 23, 2011); and
       (B) any reference to a particular category (designated by a 
     letter) of a cost ascertainment grouping shall be considered 
     to refer to such category, as described in such section 
     123.11 (as in effect on the date specified in subparagraph 
     (A)).
       (f) Annual Reports.--
       (1) In general.--There shall be included in the next 5 
     annual reports submitted under section 2402 of title 39, 
     United States Code, beginning with the report covering any 
     period of time occurring after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the following (shown on a State-by-State basis):
       (A) In connection with closures and consolidations taking 
     effect in the year covered by the report, the total number of 
     individuals separated from employment with the Postal 
     Service, including, if separation occurs in a year other than 
     the year in which the closing or consolidation occurs, the 
     year in which separation occurs.
       (B) Of the total numbers under subparagraph (A)--
       (i) the number and percentage comprising preference 
     eligibles or veterans; and
       (ii) the number and percentage comprising individuals other 
     than preference eligibles or veterans.
       (C) Of the total numbers under subparagraph (A), the number 
     and percentage reemployed in a position within the general 
     commuting area of the facility or office involved (including, 
     if reemployment occurs in a year other than the year in which 
     the closing or consolidation occurs, the year in which 
     reemployment occurs)--
       (i) with the Postal Service; or
       (ii) with an employer other than the Postal Service.
       (D) The methodology and assumptions used to derive the 
     estimates described in subparagraph (B).
       (E) The criteria and process used to develop the 
     information described in subparagraph (C).
       (2) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection--
       (A) the term ``preference eligible'' has the meaning given 
     such term in section 2108(3) of title 5, United States Code; 
     and
       (B) the term ``veteran'' has the meaning given such term in 
     section 101(2) of title 38, United States Code.

     SEC. 505. IMPLEMENTATION OF CLOSURES AND CONSOLIDATIONS.

       (a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), the Postal 
     Service shall--
       (1) close or consolidate (as the case may be) the 
     facilities and offices recommended by the Commission in each 
     of its final reports under section 504(d)(3); and
       (2) carry out those closures and consolidations in 
     accordance with the timetable recommended by the Commission 
     in such report, except that in no event shall any such 
     closure or consolidation be completed later than 2 years 
     after the date on which such report is submitted to Congress.
       (b) Congressional Disapproval.--
       (1) In general.--The Postal Service may not carry out any 
     closure or consolidation recommended by the Commission in a 
     final report if a joint resolution disapproving the 
     recommendations of the Commission is enacted, in accordance 
     with section 506, before the earlier of--
       (A) the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date on 
     which the Commission transmits those recommendations to 
     Congress under section 504(d)(3); or
       (B) the adjournment of the Congress sine die for the 
     session during which such report is transmitted.
       (2) Days of session.--For purposes of paragraph (1) and 
     subsections (a) and (c) of section 506, the days on which 
     either House of Congress is not in session because of an 
     adjournment of more than 7 days to a day certain shall be 
     excluded in the computation of a period.

     SEC. 506. CONGRESSIONAL CONSIDERATION OF FINAL CPR REPORTS.

       (a) Terms of the Resolution.--For purposes of this title, 
     the term ``joint resolution'', as used with respect to a 
     report under section 504(d)(3), means only a joint 
     resolution--
       (1) which is introduced within the 10-day period beginning 
     on the date on which such report is received by Congress;
       (2) the matter after the resolving clause of which is as 
     follows: ``That Congress disapproves the recommendations of 
     the Commission on Postal Reorganization, submitted by such 
     Commission on __, and pertaining to the closure or 
     consolidation of __.'', the first blank space being filled in 
     with the appropriate date and the second blank space being 
     filled in with ``postal retail facilities'', ``mail 
     processing facilities'', or ``area and district offices'' (as 
     the case may be);
       (3) the title of which is as follows: ``Joint resolution 
     disapproving the recommendations of the Commission on Postal 
     Reorganization.''; and
       (4) which does not have a preamble.
       (b) Referral.--A resolution described in subsection (a) 
     that is introduced in the

[[Page S2507]]

     House of Representatives or the Senate shall be referred to 
     the appropriate committees of the House of Representatives or 
     the Senate, respectively.
       (c) Discharge.--If the committee to which a resolution 
     described in subsection (a) is referred has not reported such 
     resolution (or an identical resolution) by the end of the 20-
     day period beginning on the date on which the Commission 
     transmits the report (to which such resolution pertains) to 
     Congress under section 504(d)(3), such committee shall, at 
     the end of such period, be discharged from further 
     consideration of such resolution, and such resolution shall 
     be placed on the appropriate calendar of the House involved.
       (d) Consideration.--
       (1) In general.--On or after the third day after the date 
     on which the committee to which such a resolution is referred 
     has reported, or has been discharged (under subsection (c)) 
     from further consideration of, such a resolution, it is in 
     order (even though a previous motion to the same effect has 
     been disagreed to) for any Member of the respective House to 
     move to proceed to the consideration of the resolution. A 
     Member may make the motion only on the day after the calendar 
     day on which the Member announces to the House concerned the 
     Member's intention to make the motion, except that, in the 
     case of the House of Representatives, the motion may be made 
     without such prior announcement if the motion is made by 
     direction of the committee to which the resolution was 
     referred. All points of order against the resolution (and 
     against consideration of the resolution) are waived. The 
     motion is highly privileged in the House of Representatives 
     and is privileged in the Senate and is not debatable. The 
     motion is not subject to amendment, or to a motion to 
     postpone, or to a motion to proceed to the consideration of 
     other business. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the 
     motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall not be in order. If 
     a motion to proceed to the consideration of the resolution is 
     agreed to, the respective House shall immediately proceed to 
     consideration of the joint resolution without intervening 
     motion, order, or other business, and the resolution shall 
     remain the unfinished business of the respective House until 
     disposed of.
       (2) Debate.--Debate on the resolution, and on all debatable 
     motions and appeals in connection therewith, shall be limited 
     to not more than 2 hours, which shall be divided equally 
     between those favoring and those opposing the resolution. An 
     amendment to the resolution is not in order. A motion further 
     to limit debate is in order and not debatable. A motion to 
     postpone, or a motion to proceed to the consideration of 
     other business, or a motion to recommit the resolution is not 
     in order. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the 
     resolution is agreed to or disagreed to is not in order.
       (3) Vote on final passage.--Immediately following the 
     conclusion of the debate on a resolution described in 
     subsection (a) and a single quorum call at the conclusion of 
     the debate if requested in accordance with the rules of the 
     appropriate House, the vote on final passage of the 
     resolution shall occur.
       (4) Appeals.--Appeals from the decisions of the Chair 
     relating to the application of the rules of the Senate or the 
     House of Representatives, as the case may be, to the 
     procedure relating to a resolution described in subsection 
     (a) shall be decided without debate.
       (e) Consideration by Other House.--
       (1) In general.--If, before the passage by one House of a 
     resolution of that House described in subsection (a), that 
     House receives from the other House a resolution (described 
     in subsection (a)) relating to the same report, then the 
     following procedures shall apply:
       (A) The resolution of the other House shall not be referred 
     to a committee and may not be considered in the House 
     receiving it except in the case of final passage as provided 
     in subparagraph (B)(ii).
       (B) With respect to the resolution described in subsection 
     (a) (relating to the report in question) of the House 
     receiving the resolution--
       (i) the procedure in that House shall be the same as if no 
     resolution (relating to the same report) had been received 
     from the other House; but
       (ii) the vote on final passage shall be on the resolution 
     of the other House.
       (2) Disposition of a resolution.--Upon disposition of the 
     resolution received from the other House, it shall no longer 
     be in order to consider the resolution that originated in the 
     receiving House.
       (f) Rules of the Senate and House.--This section is enacted 
     by Congress--
       (1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate 
     and House of Representatives, respectively, and as such it is 
     deemed a part of the rules of each House, respectively, but 
     applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed 
     in that House in the case of a resolution described in 
     subsection (a), and it supersedes other rules only to the 
     extent that it is inconsistent with such rules; and
       (2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of 
     either House to change the rules (so far as relating to the 
     procedure of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and 
     to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that 
     House.

     SEC. 507. NONAPPEALABILITY OF DECISIONS.

       (a) To PRC.--The closing or consolidation of any facility 
     or office under this title may not be appealed to the Postal 
     Regulatory Commission under section 404(d) or any other 
     provision of title 39, United States Code, or be the subject 
     of an advisory opinion issued by the Postal Regulatory 
     Commission under section 3661 of such title.
       (b) Judicial Review.--No process, report, recommendation, 
     or other action of the Commission on Postal Reorganization 
     shall be subject to judicial review.

     SEC. 508. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

       (a) Continued Availability of Authority To Close or 
     Consolidate Postal Facilities.--
       (1) In general.--Nothing in this title shall be considered 
     to prevent the Postal Service from closing or consolidating 
     any postal facilities, in accordance with otherwise 
     applicable provisions of law, either before or after the 
     implementation of any closures or consolidations under this 
     title.
       (2) Coordination rule.--No appeal or determination under 
     section 404(d) of title 39, United States Code, or any other 
     provision of law shall delay, prevent, or otherwise affect 
     any closure or consolidation under this title.
       (b) Inapplicability of Certain Provisions.--
       (1) In general.--The provisions of law identified in 
     paragraph (2)--
       (A) shall not apply to any closure or consolidation carried 
     out under this title; and
       (B) shall not be taken into account for purposes of 
     carrying out section 503 or 504.
       (2) Provisions identified.--The provisions of law under 
     this paragraph are--
       (A) section 101(b) of title 39, United States Code; and
       (B) section 404(d) of title 39, United States Code.

     SEC. 509. REPEALS.

       Sections 202, 203, 204, and 205 of this Act, and the 
     amendments made by those sections, shall have no force or 
     effect.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2034. Mr. AKAKA (for himself, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Harkin, Mrs. Murray, 
Mr. Franken, Mr. Leahy, and Mrs. Shaheen) submitted an amendment 
intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, 
sustain, and transform the United States Postal Service; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       Strike title III and insert the following:

             TITLE III--FEDERAL EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ACT

     SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Federal Workers' 
     Compensation Modernization and Improvement Act''.

     SEC. 302. PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS AND ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES.

       (a) Definition of Medical Services.--Section 8101(3) of 
     title 5, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking ``law. Reimbursable'' and inserting ``law 
     (reimbursable''; and
       (2) by inserting before the semicolon, the following: ``, 
     and medical services may include treatment by a physician 
     assistant or advanced practice nurse, such as a nurse 
     practitioner, within the scope of their practice as defined 
     by State law, consistent with regulations prescribed by the 
     Secretary of Labor)''.
       (b) Medical Services and Other Benefits.--Section 8103 of 
     title 5, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (a), the following:
       ``(b) Medical services furnished or prescribed pursuant to 
     subsection (a) may include treatment by a physician assistant 
     or advanced practice nurse, such as a nurse practitioner, 
     within the scope of their practice as defined by State law, 
     consistent with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of 
     Labor.''.
       (c) Certification of Traumatic Injury.--Section 8121(6) of 
     title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting before 
     the period, the following: ``(except that in a case of a 
     traumatic injury, a physician assistant or advanced practice 
     nurse, such as a nurse practitioner, within the scope of 
     their practice as defined by State law, may also provide 
     certification of such traumatic injury and related disability 
     during the continuation of pay period covered by section 
     8118, in a manner consistent with regulations prescribed by 
     the Secretary of Labor)''.

     SEC. 303. COVERING TERRORISM INJURIES.

       Section 8102(b) of title 5, United States Code, is amended 
     in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
       (1) by inserting ``or from an attack by a terrorist or 
     terrorist organization, either known or unknown,'' after 
     ``force or individual,''; and
       (2) by striking ``outside'' and all that follows through 
     ``1979)'' and inserting ``outside of the United States''.

     SEC. 304. DISFIGUREMENT.

       Section 8107(c)(21) of title 5, United States Code--
       (1) by striking ``For'' and inserting the following: ``(A) 
     Except as provided under subparagraph (B), for''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), for an injury 
     occurring during the 3-year period prior to the date of 
     enactment of the Federal Workers' Compensation Modernization 
     and Improvement Act for which the Secretary of Labor has not 
     made a compensation determination on disfigurement under 
     subparagraph (A), or for an injury occurring

[[Page S2508]]

     on or after the date of enactment of such Act resulting in a 
     serious disfigurement of the face, head, or neck, proper and 
     equitable compensation in proportion to the severity of the 
     disfigurement, not to exceed $50,000, as determined by the 
     Secretary, shall be awarded in addition to any other 
     compensation payable under this schedule. The applicable 
     maximum compensation for disfigurement provided under this 
     subparagraph shall be adjusted annually on March 1 in 
     accordance with the percentage amount determined by the cost 
     of living adjustment in section 8146a.''.

     SEC. 305. SOCIAL SECURITY EARNINGS INFORMATION.

       Section 8116 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
     Secretary of Labor may require, as a condition of receiving 
     any benefits under this subchapter, that a claimant for such 
     benefits consent to the release by the Social Security 
     Administration of the Social Security earnings information of 
     such claimant.''.

     SEC. 306. CONTINUATION OF PAY IN A ZONE OF ARMED CONFLICT.

       Section 8118 of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b), by striking ``Continuation'' and 
     inserting ``Except as provided under subsection (e)(2), 
     continuation'';
       (2) in subsection (c), by striking ``subsections (a) and 
     (b)'' and inserting ``subsections (a) and (b) or subsection 
     (e),'';
       (3) in subsection (d), by striking ``subsection (a)'' and 
     inserting ``subsection (a) or (e)'';
       (4) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and
       (5) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
       ``(e) Continuation of Pay in a Zone of Armed Conflict.--
       ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), the 
     United States shall authorize the continuation of pay of an 
     employee as defined in section 8101(1) of this title (other 
     than those referred to in subparagraph (B) or (E)), who has 
     filed a claim for a period of wage loss due to traumatic 
     injury in performance of duty in a zone of armed conflict (as 
     so determined by the Secretary of Labor under paragraph (3)), 
     as long as the employee files a claim for such wage loss 
     benefit with his immediate superior not later than 45 days 
     following termination of assignment to the zone of armed 
     conflict or return to the United States, whichever occurs 
     later.
       ``(2) Continuation of pay.--Notwithstanding subsection (b), 
     continuation of pay under this subsection shall be furnished 
     for a period not to exceed 135 days without any break in time 
     or waiting period, unless controverted under regulations 
     prescribed by the Secretary of Labor.
       ``(3) Determination of zones of armed conflict.--For 
     purposes of this subsection, the Secretary of Labor, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of 
     Defense, shall determine whether a foreign country or other 
     foreign geographic area outside of the United States (as that 
     term is defined in section 202(7) of the State Department 
     Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 4302(7))) is a zone 
     of armed conflict based on whether--
       ``(A) the Armed Forces of the United States are involved in 
     hostilities in the country or area;
       ``(B) the incidence of civil insurrection, civil war, 
     terrorism, or wartime conditions threatens physical harm or 
     imminent danger to the health or well-being of United States 
     civilian employees in the country or area;
       ``(C) the country or area has been designated a combat zone 
     by the President under section 112(c) of the Internal Revenue 
     Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 112(c));
       ``(D) a contingency operation involving combat operations 
     directly affects civilian employees in the country or area; 
     or
       ``(E) there exist other relevant conditions and factors.''.

     SEC. 307. SUBROGATION OF CONTINUATION OF PAY.

       (a) Subrogation of the United States.--Section 8131 of 
     title 5, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``continuation of pay 
     or'' before ``compensation''; and
       (2) in subsection (c), by inserting ``continuation of pay 
     or'' before ``compensation already paid''.
       (b) Adjustment After Recovery From A Third Person.--Section 
     8132 of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``continuation of pay or'' before 
     ``compensation'' the first, second, fourth, and fifth place 
     it appears;
       (2) by striking ``in his behalf'' and inserting ``on his 
     behalf''; and
       (3) by inserting ``continuation of pay and'' before 
     ``compensation'' the third place it appears.

     SEC. 308. FUNERAL EXPENSES.

       Section 8134 of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``If'' and inserting 
     ``Except as provided in subsection (b), if'';
       (2) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
       (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
       ``(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), for deaths occurring 
     on or after the date of enactment of the Federal Workers' 
     Compensation Modernization and Improvement Act, if death 
     results from an injury sustained in the performance of duty, 
     the United States shall pay, to the personal representative 
     of the deceased or otherwise, funeral and burial expenses not 
     to exceed $6,000, in the discretion of the Secretary of 
     Labor. The applicable maximum compensation for burial 
     expenses provided under this subsection shall be adjusted 
     annually on March 1 in accordance with the percentage amount 
     determined by the cost of living adjustment in section 
     8146a.''.

     SEC. 309. EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION FUND.

       Section 8147 of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by striking ``except administrative expenses'' and 
     inserting ``including administrative expenses''; and
       (B) by striking the last 2 sentences; and
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in the first sentence, by inserting before the period 
     ``and an estimate of a pro-rata share of the amount of funds 
     necessary to administer this subchapter for the fiscal year 
     beginning in the next calendar year''; and
       (B) in the second sentence, by striking ``costs'' and 
     inserting ``amount set out in the statement of costs and 
     administrative expenses furnished pursuant to this 
     subsection''.

     SEC. 310. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.

       Section 8101(1)(D) of title 5, United States Code, is 
     amended by inserting before the semicolon ``who suffered an 
     injury on or prior to March 3, 1979''.

     SEC. 311. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       Except as otherwise provided, this title and the amendments 
     made by this title, shall take effect 60 days after the date 
     of enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 312. PAYGO COMPLIANCE.

       The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 
     complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go-Act of 2010, shall 
     be determined by reference to the latest statement titled 
     ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, 
     submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the 
     Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, provided that such 
     statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2035. Mr. AKAKA submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the United 
States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       Strike title III.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2036. Mr. PRYOR (for himself, Mr. Begich, Mr. Sanders, and Mr. 
Merkley) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the 
bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the United States 
Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. SENSE OF THE SENATE.

       It is the sense of the Senate that the Postal Service 
     should not close or consolidate any postal facility (as 
     defined in section 404(f) of title 39, United States Code, as 
     added by this Act) or post office before the date of 
     enactment of this Act.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2037. Mr. DURBIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the United 
States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       On page 35, line 16, strike the quotation marks and the 
     second period and insert the following:
       ``(10) Prohibition on closing, consolidation, and reduction 
     in workforce.--
       ``(A) In general.--If the Postal Service conducted an area 
     mail processing study after June 1, 2001 with respect to a 
     postal facility which was terminated or concluded that no 
     significant cost savings or efficiencies would result from 
     closing, consolidating, or reducing the number of employees 
     of the postal facility, the Postal Service may not--
       ``(i) close the postal facility;
       ``(ii) consolidate the postal facility; or
       ``(iii) involuntarily separate an employee of the postal 
     facility from service, except for removal for cause on 
     charges of misconduct or delinquency.
       ``(B) Application.--Subparagraph (A) shall apply with 
     respect to a postal facility that was not closed or 
     consolidated before May 15, 2012, without regard to the 
     conclusions of any area mail processing study conducted with 
     respect to the postal facility after the publication of an 
     area mail processing study described in subparagraph (A).''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2038. Mr. PAUL submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the United 
States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the end of title II, add the following:

     SEC. __. ENDING THE POSTAL SERVICE MONOPOLY ON FIRST-CLASS 
                   MAIL AND MAILBOX USE.

       (a) Ending the First-class Mail Monopoly.--

[[Page S2509]]

       (1) Title 18.--Chapter 83 of title 18, United States Code, 
     is amended by striking sections 1694, 1695, 1696, and 1697.
       (2) Title 39.--Chapter 6 of title 39, United States Code, 
     is amended--
       (A) by striking sections 601 and 602; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:

     ``Sec.  607. Limitation on authorization for searches, 
       seizures, detention, inspections, and examinations of mail 
       matter

       ``(a) Limitation Relating to Private Property.--Subject to 
     subsection (b), and notwithstanding sections 603, 604, 605, 
     and 606, or any other provision of law, the Postal Service, 
     and any authorized officer or employee of the Postal Service, 
     may not search, seize, detain, inspect, or examine any mail 
     matter that is located on private property or in a private 
     vehicle.
       ``(b) Exception.--The prohibition under subsection (a) 
     shall not apply to mail matter that--
       ``(1) an individual voluntarily places in--
       ``(A) the mail; or
       ``(B) a letter box or post office box; or
       ``(2) is otherwise placed in the possession of the Postal 
     Service before the mail matter is searched, seized, detained, 
     inspected, or examined by the Postal Service or any 
     authorized officer or employee of the Postal Service.''.
       (b) Ending the Mailbox Use Monopoly.--Section 1725 of title 
     18, United States Code, is amended by striking ``established, 
     approved, or accepted'' and all that follows through ``mail 
     route'' and inserting ``or post office box owned by the 
     Postal Service or located on Postal Service property''.
       (c) Regulations.--The Postal Service shall prescribe such 
     regulations as may be necessary to carry out the amendments 
     made by this section.
       (d) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) Title 18.--The table of sections for chapter 83 of 
     title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking the 
     items relating to sections 1694, 1695, 1696, and 1697.
       (2) Title 39.--The table of sections for chapter 6 of title 
     39, United States Code, is amended--
       (A) by striking the items relating to sections 601 and 602; 
     and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:

``607. Limitation on authorization for searches, seizures, detention, 
              inspections, and examinations of mail matter.''.
       (3) Other technical and conforming amendments.--Not later 
     than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
     Postal Service shall submit to Congress a list of any 
     technical and conforming amendments that are necessary to 
     carry out the amendments made by this section.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2039. Mr. PAUL submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the United 
States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the end of title I, add the following:

     SEC. 107. PROHIBITION ON COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

       (a) In General.--Section 1206 of title 39 is amended to 
     read as follows:

     ``Sec.  1206. Prohibition on collective-bargaining agreements

       ``The Postal Service may not enter into a collective-
     bargaining agreement with any labor organization.''.
       (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--Chapter 12 of 
     title 39, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in section 1202--
       (A) in the section heading, by striking ``Bargaining 
     units'' and inserting ``Employee organizations'';
       (B) by striking the first sentence; and
       (C) by striking ``The National Labor Relations Board shall 
     not include in any bargaining unit--'' and inserting ``An 
     organization of employees of the United States Postal Service 
     shall not include--'';
       (2) in section 1203, by striking subsections (c), (d), and 
     (e);
       (3) in section 1204(a), by striking ``shall be conducted 
     under the supervision of the National Labor Relations Board, 
     or persons designated by it, and'';
       (4) in section 1205(a), by striking ``not subject to 
     collective-bargaining agreements'';
       (5) by striking sections 1207, 1208, and 1209; and
       (6) in the table of sections--
       (A) by striking the item relating to section 1202 and 
     inserting the following:

``1203. Employee organizations.''; and

       (B) by striking the items relating to sections 1206, 1207, 
     1208, and 1209 and inserting the following:

``1206. Prohibition on collective-bargaining agreements.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2040. Mr. CARDIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the United 
States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       On page 35, line 16, strike the quotation marks and the 
     second period and insert the following:
       ``(10) Prohibition.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     this subsection, the Postal Service may not close or 
     consolidate a postal facility that is more than 50 miles from 
     the nearest postal facility.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2041. Mr. MANCHIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the 
United States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. MORATORIUM ON CLOSING AND CONSOLIDATING POSTAL 
                   FACILITIES.

       (a) Definition.--In this section, the term ``postal 
     facility'' has the same meaning as in section 404(f) of title 
     39, United States Code, as added by this section.
       (b) Moratorium.--Notwithstanding subsection (f) of section 
     404 of title 39, United States Code, as added by this 
     section, or any other provision of law, during the 2-year 
     period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the 
     Postal Service may not close or consolidate a postal 
     facility.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2042. Mr. CASEY (for himself, Mr. Brown of Ohio, Mr. Sanders, Mr. 
Baucus, Mr. Leahy, and Mrs. McCaskill) submitted an amendment intended 
to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and 
transform the United States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on 
the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. MAINTENANCE OF DELIVERY SERVICE STANDARDS.

       (a) In General.--
       (1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``2011 
     market-dominant product service standards'' means the 
     expected delivery time for market-dominant products entered 
     into the network of sectional center facilities that existed 
     on September 15, 2011, under part 121 of title 39, Code of 
     Federal Regulations (as in effect on March 14, 2010).
       (2) Maintenance of delivery time.--Notwithstanding 
     subsections (a), (b), and (c) of section 3691 of title 39, 
     United States Code, the Postal Service may not increase the 
     expected delivery time for market-dominant products, relative 
     to the 2011 market-dominant product service standards, 
     earlier than the date that is 4 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act.
       (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) Postal facilities.--Section 404(f) of title 39, United 
     States Code, as added by this Act, is amended--
       (A) in paragraph (6)(C)--
       (i) by striking ``3-year period'' and inserting ``4-year 
     period''; and
       (ii) by striking ``section 201 of''; and
       (B) in paragraph (7)--
       (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``, including the 
     service standards established under section 201 of the 21st 
     Century Postal Service Act of 2012''; and
       (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``, including the 
     service standards established under section 201 of the 21st 
     Century Postal Service Act of 2012,''.
       (2) Definition.--For purposes of section 206(a)(2), the 
     term ``continental United States'' means the 48 contiguous 
     States and the District of Columbia.
       (3) Section 201.--Section 201 of this Act shall have no 
     force or effect.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2043. Mr. UDALL of New Mexico (for himself, Mr. Sanders, Mrs. 
McCaskill, and Mr. Brown of Ohio) submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed by him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform 
the United States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the 
table; as follows:

       Strike section 208 and insert the following:

     SEC. 208. TRANSFER OF AMOUNTS FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE 
                   RETIREMENT AND DISABILITY FUND.

       Section 8348(h)(2) of title 5, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking subparagraphs (B) and (C) and inserting 
     the following:
       ``(B)(i) The Office shall--
       ``(I) redetermine the Postal surplus or supplemental 
     liability as of the close of each of fiscal years 2007 
     through 2043; and
       ``(II) report the results of the redetermination for each 
     such fiscal year, including appropriate supporting analyses 
     and documentation, to the United States Postal Service on or 
     before June 30 of the subsequent fiscal year.
       ``(ii) If the result of a redetermination under clause (i) 
     is a supplemental liability, the Office shall establish an 
     amortization schedule, including a series of annual 
     installments commencing on September 30 of the subsequent 
     fiscal year, that provides for the liquidation of such 
     liability by September 30, 2043.
       ``(C)(i) Subject to clause (ii), if the result of a 
     redetermination under subparagraph (B) for any of fiscal 
     years 2013 through 2023 is a surplus, the amount of the 
     surplus shall be transferred to the General Fund of the 
     Treasury.
       ``(ii) Not more than a total of $8,900,000 shall be 
     transferred under clause (i).''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2044. Mr. DeMINT submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the United 
States

[[Page S2510]]

Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. PAYCHECK PROTECTION.

       (a) Short Title.--The section may be cites as the 
     ``Paycheck Protection Act''.
       (b) Right Not To Subsidize Union Nonrepresentational 
     Activities.--Title I of the Labor-Management Reporting and 
     Disclosure Act of 1959 (29 U.S.C. 411 et seq.) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 106. RIGHT NOT TO SUBSIDIZE UNION NONREPRESENTATIONAL 
                   ACTIVITIES.

       ``No employee's union dues, fees, or assessments or other 
     contributions shall be used or contributed to any person, 
     organization, or entity for any purpose not directly germane 
     to the labor organization's collective bargaining or contract 
     administration functions unless the member, or nonmember 
     required to make such payments as a condition of employment, 
     authorizes such expenditure in writing, after a notice period 
     of not less than 35 days. An initial authorization provided 
     by an employee under the preceding sentence shall expire not 
     later than 1 year after the date on which such authorization 
     is signed by the employee. There shall be no automatic 
     renewal of an authorization under this section.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2045. Mr. DeMINT submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the United 
States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. RIGHT-TO-WORK.

       (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the 
     ``National Right-to-Work Act''.
       (b) Amendments to the National Labor Relations Act.--
       (1) Rights of employees.--Section 7 of the National Labor 
     Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 157) is amended by striking ``except 
     to'' and all that follows through ``authorized in section 
     8(a)(3)''.
       (2) Unfair labor practices.--Section 8 of the National 
     Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 158) is amended--
       (A) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ``: Provided, That'' 
     and all that follows through ``retaining membership'';
       (B) in subsection (b)--
       (i) in paragraph (2), by striking ``or to discriminate'' 
     and all that follows through ``retaining membership''; and
       (ii) in paragraph (5), by striking ``covered by an 
     agreement authorized under subsection (a)(3) of this 
     section''; and
       (C) in subsection (f), by striking clause (2) and 
     redesignating clauses (3) and (4) as clauses (2) and (3), 
     respectively.
       (c) Amendment to the Railway Labor Act.--Section 2 of the 
     Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 152) is amended by striking 
     paragraph Eleven.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2046. Mr. DeMINT submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the United 
States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. PAYCHECK PROTECTION.

       (a) Short Title.--The section may be cites as the 
     ``Paycheck Protection Act''.
       (b) Right Not To Subsidize Union Nonrepresentational 
     Activities.--Chapter 12 of title 39, United States Code, is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 1210. RIGHT NOT TO SUBSIDIZE UNION NONREPRESENTATIONAL 
                   ACTIVITIES.

       ``No Postal Service employee's labor organization dues, 
     fees, or assessments or other contributions shall be used or 
     contributed to any person, organization, or entity for any 
     purpose not directly germane to the labor organization's 
     collective bargaining or contract administration functions 
     unless the member, or nonmember required to make such 
     payments as a condition of employment, authorizes such 
     expenditure in writing, after a notice period of not less 
     than 35 days. An initial authorization provided by an 
     employee under the preceding sentence shall expire not later 
     than 1 year after the date on which such authorization is 
     signed by the employee. There shall be no automatic renewal 
     of an authorization under this section.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2047. Mr. BENNET (for himself and Mr. Blunt) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1789, to 
improve, sustain, and transform the United States Postal Service; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. CITIZEN'S SERVICE PROTECTION ADVOCATES.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 4 of title 39, United States Code, 
     is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``Sec.  417. Citizen's service protection advocates

       ``(a) Appointment of Advocate.--
       ``(1) In general.--The chief executive of a State affected 
     by the closing or consolidation of a rural post office or 
     postal facility (as defined in section 404(f)) may appoint a 
     citizen's service protection advocate to represent the 
     interests of postal customers affected the closing or 
     consolidation.
       ``(2) Consultation.--In making an appointment under this 
     subsection, the chief executive of a State shall consult 
     with--
       ``(A) the mayor (or equivalent official) of any city 
     affected by the closing or consolidation; and
       ``(B) the commissioner (or equivalent official) of any 
     county or parish affected by the closing or consolidation.
       ``(b) Notice.--The Postal Service shall transmit to the 
     chief executive of a State notice of any determination by the 
     Postal Service to close or consolidate a rural post office or 
     postal facility that affects postal customers in the State.
       ``(c) Access to Information and Assistance.--
       ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), upon the 
     request of any citizen's service protection advocate 
     appointed under this section, the Postal Service shall 
     provide to the citizen's service protection advocate--
       ``(A) access to any records, reports, audits, reviews, 
     documents, papers, recommendations, or other materials of the 
     Postal Service relating to the closing or consolidation of 
     the relevant post office or postal facility; and
       ``(B) assistance in carrying out the duties of the 
     citizen's service protection advocate.
       ``(2) Privacy protections.--The Postal Service may not 
     provide to a citizen's service protection advocate any 
     information, or compilation of information, that is a means 
     of identification, as defined in section 1028(d)(7) of title 
     18, United States Code.
       ``(d) Communication and Consultation.--The Postal Service 
     shall--
       ``(1) provide for regular and efficient communication 
     between a citizen's service protection advocate and the 
     officer or employee of the Postal Service responsible for the 
     closing or consolidation of the relevant post office or 
     postal facility; and
       ``(2) consult with the citizen's service protection 
     advocate in developing and implementing service changes that 
     affect postal customers affected by the closing or 
     consolidation of the relevant post office or postal facility.
       ``(e) Termination of Service.--An individual may not serve 
     as a citizen's service protection advocate with respect to 
     the closing or consolidation of a rural post office or postal 
     facility after the later of--
       ``(1) the date on which the Postal Service determines not 
     to close or consolidate the rural post office or postal 
     facility; and
       ``(2) the date on which the Postal Service determines to 
     close or consolidate the rural post office or postal 
     facility.''.
       (b) Table of Sections.--The table of sections for chapter 4 
     of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
     end the following:

``417. Citizen's service protection advocate.''.

       (c) Appeal to the Postal Regulatory Commission.--
       (1) Postal facilities.--Section 404(f)(7) of title 39, 
     United States Code, as added by this Act, is amended by 
     inserting ``or with the requirements of section 417 of this 
     title'' after ``2012'' each place that term appears.
       (2) Post offices.--Section 404(d)(5)(C) of title 39, United 
     States Code, as amended by this Act, is amended by inserting 
     ``or with the requirements of section 417 of this title'' 
     after ``2012''.
       (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect on the date on which the Postal Service 
     establishes retail service standards under section 203.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2048. Mr. BENNET submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the United 
States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the appropriate place, add the following:
       (g) Study and Strategic Plan on Inter-agency Agreements for 
     Rural Post Offices.--
       (1) Duties of advisory commission.--
       (A) Study.--
       (i) In general.--The Advisory Commission shall conduct a 
     study concerning the advisability of the Postal Service 
     entering into inter-agency agreements with Federal, State, 
     and local agencies, with respect to rural post offices, 
     that--

       (I) streamline services provided by the Federal, State, and 
     local agencies;
       (II) decrease the costs of the Federal, State, and local 
     agencies; and
       (III) maintain the customer service standards of the 
     Federal, State, and local agencies.

       (ii) Clarification of inter-agency agreements.--The study 
     under clause (i) shall include consideration of the 
     advisability of the Postal Service entering into an inter-
     agency agreement with--

       (I) the Bureau of the Census for the provision of personnel 
     and resources for the 2020 decennial census;
       (II) the Social Security Administration for the provision 
     of social security cards;
       (III) the department of motor vehicles, or an equivalent 
     agency, of each State for the provision of driver licenses, 
     vehicle registration, and voter registration; and
       (IV) the division of wildlife, the department of natural 
     resources, or an equivalent agency, of each State for the 
     provision of hunting and fishing licenses.

[[Page S2511]]

       (B) Strategic plan.--Upon completion of the study under 
     subparagraph (A), the Advisory Commission shall develop a 
     strategic plan for entering into inter-agency agreements 
     concerning rural post offices.
       (C) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Advisory Commission shall submit 
     to the Postal Service a report that contains the results of 
     the study under subparagraph (A) and the strategic plan under 
     subparagraph (B).
       (2) Postal service strategic plan.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date on 
     which the Advisory Commission submits to the Postal Service 
     the report under paragraph (1)(C), the Postal Service shall 
     submit to the Postal Regulatory Commission a strategic plan 
     for entering into inter-agency agreements concerning rural 
     post offices.
       (B) Limitations.--The strategic plan submitted under 
     subparagraph (A) shall be consistent with--
       (i) the retail service standards established under section 
     203 of this Act; and
       (ii) public interest and demand.
       (C) Vote by postal regulatory commission.--Not later than 
     60 days after the date on which the Postal Service submits 
     the strategic plan under subparagraph (A), the Postal 
     Regulatory Commission shall, by a majority vote of the 
     members of the Postal Regulatory Commission--
       (i) approve the strategic plan, in whole or in part; or
       (ii) disapprove the strategic plan.
       (D) Implementation by postal service.--Not later than 30 
     days after the date on which the Postal Regulatory Commission 
     votes on a strategic plan under subparagraph (C), the Postal 
     Service shall implement the strategic plan as approved by the 
     Postal Regulatory Commission under subparagraph (C)(i).
       (E) Disapproval.--If the Postal Regulatory Commission 
     disapproves a strategic plan under subparagraph (C)(ii), not 
     later than 90 days after the date of the disapproval the 
     Postal Service shall develop and submit an amended strategic 
     plan that the Postal Regulatory Commission shall vote on in 
     accordance with subparagraph (C).
       (h) Termination of the Commission.--The Advisory Commission 
     shall terminate 90 days after the later of--
       (1) the date on which the Advisory Commission submits the 
     report on the strategic blueprint for long-term solvency 
     under subsection (f); and
       (2) the date on which the Advisory Commission submits the 
     report on the strategic plan on inter-agency agreements for 
     rural post offices under subsection (g).
       (i)
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2049. Mr. AKAKA submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the United 
States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the end of title I, add the following:

     SEC. 106. SUPERVISORY AND OTHER MANAGERIAL ORGANIZATIONS.

       Section 1004 of title 39, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b), in the second sentence, by inserting 
     ``as provided under subsection (d) and any changes in, or 
     termination of, pay policies and schedules and fringe benefit 
     programs for members of the supervisors' organization as 
     provided under subsection (e)'' before the period; and
       (2) in subsection (e)(1), by inserting ``, or termination 
     of,'' after ``any changes in''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2050. Mr. SCHUMER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the 
United States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       On page 48, strike line 3 and all that follows through the 
     end of the matter between lines 5 and 6 on page 52.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2051. Mr. CORKER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the United 
States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       On page 39, strike line 20 and all that follows through 
     page 45, line 17, and insert the following:

     SEC. 205. OTHER PROVISIONS.

       (a) Frequency of Mail Delivery.--Section 101 of title 39, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(h) Subject to the requirements of section 3661, nothing 
     in this title or any other provision of law shall be 
     construed to prevent the Postal Service from taking any 
     action necessary to provide for a 5-day-per-week delivery 
     schedule for mail and a commensurate adjustment in the 
     schedule for rural delivery of mail.''.
       (b) Overall Value of Fringe Benefits.--Section 1005(f) of 
     title 39, United States Code, is amended by striking the last 
     sentence.
       (c) Modern Rate Regulation.--Section 3622(d) of title 39, 
     United States Code, is repealed.
       (d) Delivery Service Standards and Mail Processing.--
     Sections 201 and 202 of this Act, and the amendments made by 
     those sections, shall have no force or effect.
       (e) Historic Post Offices.--Section 404(d) of title 39, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(7)(A) In this paragraph, the term ``historic post office 
     building'' means a post office building that is a certified 
     historic structure, as that term is defined in section 
     47(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2052. Mr. CORKER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the United 
States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       Strike section 402 and insert the following:

     SEC. 402. MINIMUM COST COVERAGE FOR MARKET-DOMINANT PRODUCTS.

       Section 3622(d)(1) of title 39, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(F) require that each class of domestic or outbound 
     international mail bear the costs that are the sum of--
       ``(i) the direct and indirect postal costs attributable to 
     the class of mail through reliably identified causal 
     relationships; and
       ``(ii) that portion of all costs of the Postal Service 
     other than the costs described in clause (i) that are 
     reasonably assignable to the class of mail.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2053. Mr. CORKER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the United 
States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       On page 39, strike line 20 and all that follows through 
     page 45, line 17, and insert the following:

     SEC. 205. HISTORIC POST OFFICES.

       (a) Repeals.--Sections 201 and 202 of this Act, and the 
     amendments made by those sections, shall have no force or 
     effect.
       (b) Historic Post Offices.--Section 404(d) of title 39, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(7)(A) In this paragraph, the term ``historic post office 
     building'' means a post office building that is a certified 
     historic structure, as that term is defined in section 
     47(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2054. Mr. CORKER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the United 
States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. ALLOWANCE FOR VOLUME CHANGES IN ESTABLISHING THE 
                   PRICE CAP FOR BULK MARKET DOMINANT PRODUCTS.

       Section 3622(d)(1) of title 39, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(A) include an annual limitation on the percentage 
     changes in rates to be set by the Postal Regulatory 
     Commission that--
       ``(i) except as provided in clause (ii), will be equal to 
     the change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban 
     Consumers unadjusted for seasonal variation over the most 
     recent available 12-month period preceding the date the 
     Postal Service files notice of its intention to increase 
     rates; and
       ``(ii) for bulk products, shall be the rate described in 
     clause (i), adjusted to reflect any estimated changes in unit 
     costs due solely to changes in the volume of such products 
     entered into the mail;''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2055. Mr. CORKER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the United 
States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       On page 23, strike lines 7 through 24 and insert the 
     following:

     SEC. 106. ARBITRATION; LABOR DISPUTES.

       Section 1207(c)(2) of title 39, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(A)'' after ``(2)'';
       (2) by striking the last sentence and inserting ``The 
     arbitration board shall render a decision not later than 45 
     days after the date of its appointment.''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(B) In rendering a decision under this paragraph, the 
     arbitration board shall consider such relevant factors as--
       ``(i) the financial condition of the Postal Service;
       ``(ii) the requirements relating to pay and compensation 
     comparability under section 1003(a); and
       ``(iii) the policies of this title.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2056. Mr. TESTER (for himself, Mr. Franken, Mr. Levin, Mr. Pryor, 
Mr. Wyden, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Begich, Mrs. Shaheen, and Ms. Mikulski) 
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 
1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the United States Postal 
Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       Strike section 205(a) and insert the following:
       (a) Closing Post Offices.--Section 404(d) of title 39, 
     United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

[[Page S2512]]

       ``(d)(1) The Postal Service, prior to making a 
     determination under subsection (a)(3) of this section as to 
     the necessity for the closing or consolidation of any post 
     office, shall--
       ``(A) consider whether--
       ``(i) to close the post office or consolidate the post 
     office and another post office located within a reasonable 
     distance;
       ``(ii) instead of closing or consolidating the post 
     office--
       ``(I) to reduce the number of hours a day that the post 
     office operates; or
       ``(II) to continue operating the post office for the same 
     number of hours a day;
       ``(iii) to procure a contract providing full, or less than 
     full, retail services in the community served by the post 
     office; or
       ``(iv) to provide postal services to the community served 
     by the post office through a rural carrier;
       ``(B) provide postal customers served by the post office an 
     opportunity to participate in a nonbinding survey conducted 
     by mail on a preference for an option described in 
     subparagraph (A); and
       ``(C) if the Postal Service determines to close or 
     consolidate the post office, provide adequate notice of its 
     intention to close or consolidate such post office at least 
     60 days prior to the proposed date of such closing or 
     consolidation to persons served by such post office to ensure 
     that such persons will have an opportunity to present their 
     views.
       ``(2) The Postal Service, in making a determination whether 
     or not to close or consolidate a post office--
       ``(A) shall consider--
       ``(i) the effect of such closing or consolidation on the 
     community served by such post office;
       ``(ii) the effect of such closing or consolidation on 
     employees of the Postal Service employed at such office;
       ``(iii) whether such closing or consolidation is consistent 
     with--
       ``(I) the policy of the Government, as stated in section 
     101(b) of this title, that the Postal Service shall provide a 
     maximum degree of effective and regular postal services to 
     rural areas, communities, and small towns where post offices 
     are not self-sustaining; and
       ``(II) the retail service standards established under 
     section 203 of the 21st Century Postal Service Act of 2012;
       ``(iv) the extent to which the community served by the post 
     office lacks access to Internet, broadband and cellular phone 
     service;
       ``(v) whether substantial economic savings to the Postal 
     Service would result from such closing or consolidation; and
       ``(vi) such other factors as the Postal Service determines 
     are necessary; and
       ``(B) may not consider compliance with any provision of the 
     Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 651 et 
     seq.).
       ``(3) Any determination of the Postal Service to close or 
     consolidate a post office shall be in writing and shall 
     include the findings of the Postal Service with respect to 
     the considerations required to be made under paragraph (2) of 
     this subsection. Such determination and findings shall be 
     made available to persons served by such post office.
       ``(4) The Postal Service shall take no action to close or 
     consolidate a post office until 60 days after its written 
     determination is made available to persons served by such 
     post office.
       ``(5) A determination of the Postal Service to close or 
     consolidate any post office, station, branch, or facility may 
     be appealed by any person served by such office, station, 
     branch, or facility to the Postal Regulatory Commission 
     within 30 days after such determination is made available to 
     such person. The Commission shall review such determination 
     on the basis of the record before the Postal Service in the 
     making of such determination. The Commission shall make a 
     determination based upon such review no later than 120 days 
     after receiving any appeal under this paragraph. The 
     Commission shall set aside any determination, findings, and 
     conclusions found to be--
       ``(A) arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or 
     otherwise not in accordance with the law;
       ``(B) without observance of procedure required by law;
       ``(C) inconsistent with the delivery service standards 
     required to be maintained under section 201 of the 21st 
     Century Postal Service Act of 2012 or not in conformance with 
     the retail service standards established under section 203 of 
     the 21st Century Postal Service Act of 2012; or
       ``(D) unsupported by substantial evidence on the record, 
     including that substantial economic savings are likely to be 
     achieved as a result of the closing or consolidation.

     The Commission may affirm or reverse the determination of the 
     Postal Service or order that the entire matter be returned 
     for further consideration, but the Commission may not modify 
     the determination of the Postal Service. The determination of 
     the Postal Service shall be suspended until the final 
     disposition of the appeal. The provisions of section 556, 
     section 557, and chapter 7 of title 5 shall not apply to any 
     review carried out by the Commission under this paragraph.
       ``(6) For purposes of paragraph (5), any appeal received by 
     the Commission shall--
       ``(A) if sent to the Commission through the mails, be 
     considered to have been received on the date of the Postal 
     Service postmark on the envelope or other cover in which such 
     appeal is mailed; or
       ``(B) if otherwise lawfully delivered to the Commission, be 
     considered to have been received on the date determined based 
     on any appropriate documentation or other indicia (as 
     determined under regulations of the Commission).
       ``(7) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to 
     limit the right under section 3662--
       ``(A) of an interested person to lodge a complaint with the 
     Postal Regulatory Commission under section 3662 concerning 
     nonconformance with service standards, including the retail 
     service standards established under section 203 of the 21st 
     Century Postal Service Act of 2012; or
       ``(B) of the Postal Regulatory Commission, if the 
     Commission finds a complaint lodged by an interested person 
     to be justified, to order the Postal Service to take 
     appropriate action to achieve compliance with applicable 
     requirements, including the retail service standards 
     established under section 203 of the 21st Century Postal 
     Service Act of 2012, or to remedy the effects of any 
     noncompliance.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2057. Mr. UDALL of New Mexico (for himself and Mr. Bingaman) 
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 
1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the United States Postal 
Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 32, line 2, insert ``within a district'' after 
     ``locality''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2058. Mr. COBURN (for himself and Mr. McCain) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1789, to 
improve, sustain, and transform the United States Postal Service; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 131, strike lines 21 through 23 and insert the 
     following:
       ``(iv) to provide postal services to the community served 
     by the post office--

       ``(I) through a rural carrier; or
       ``(II) by co-locating an employee of the Postal Service at 
     a commercial or government entity;

                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2059. Mr. COBURN (for himself and Mr. McCain) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1789, to 
improve, sustain, and transform the United States Postal Service; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 121, strike line 22 and all that follows through 
     page 128, line 10, and insert the following:

     SEC. 201. POSTAL POLICY AND POWERS OF THE POSTAL SERVICE.

       (a) Postal Policy.--Section 101(b) of title 39, United 
     States Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking ``a maximum degree of''; and
       (2) by striking ``where post offices'' and all that follows 
     through ``a deficit''.
       (b) Powers of the United States Postal Service.--Section 
     404(d)(2) of title 39, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as 
     subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively;
       (2) by inserting before subparagraph (B), as so 
     redesignated, the following:
       ``(A) shall give primary consideration to whether such 
     closing or consolidation is consistent with the intent of 
     Congress, as stated in section 101(b), that the Postal 
     Service shall provide effective and regular postal services 
     to rural areas, communities, and small towns;''; and
       (3) in subparagraph (B), as so redesignated--
       (A) by striking clause (iii); and
       (B) by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) as clauses (iii) 
     and (iv), respectively.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2060. Mr. COBURN (for himself, Mr. Johnson of Wisconsin, and Mr. 
McCain) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the 
bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the United States 
Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. GOVERNMENT SPONSORED CONFERENCES.

       (a) Travel Expenses of Federal Agencies Relating to 
     Conferences.--
       (1) Limitations and reports on travel expenses to 
     conferences.--Chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, is 
     amended by inserting after section 5711 the following:

     ``Sec.  5712. Limitations and reports on travel expenses to 
       conferences

       ``(a) In this section, the term--
       ``(1) `conference' means a meeting that--
       ``(A) is held for consultation, education, or discussion;
       ``(B) is not held entirely at an agency facility;
       ``(C) involves costs associated with travel and lodging for 
     some participants; and
       ``(D) is sponsored by 1 or more agencies, 1 or more 
     organizations that are not agencies, or a combination of such 
     agencies or organizations; and
       ``(2) `international conference' means a conference 
     attended by representatives of --

[[Page S2513]]

       ``(A) the United States Government; and
       ``(B) any foreign government, international organization, 
     or foreign nongovernmental organization.
       ``(b) No agency may pay the travel expenses for more than 
     50 employees of that agency who are stationed in the United 
     States, for any international conference occurring outside 
     the United States, unless the Secretary of State determines 
     that attendance for such employees is in the national 
     interest.
       ``(c) At the beginning of each quarter of each fiscal year, 
     each agency shall post on the public Internet website of that 
     agency a report on each conference for which the agency paid 
     travel expenses during the preceding 3 months that includes--
       ``(1) the itemized expenses paid by the agency, including 
     travel expenses, the cost of scouting for and selecting the 
     location of the conference, and any agency expenditures to 
     otherwise support the conference;
       ``(2) the primary sponsor of the conference;
       ``(3) the location of the conference;
       ``(4) in the case of a conference for which that agency was 
     the primary sponsor, a statement that--
       ``(A) justifies the location selected;
       ``(B) demonstrates the cost efficiency of the location; and
       ``(C) provides a cost benefit analysis of holding a 
     conference rather than conducting a teleconference;
       ``(5) the date of the conference;
       ``(6) a brief explanation how the conference advanced the 
     mission of the agency;
       ``(7) the title of any Federal employee or any individual 
     who is not a Federal employee whose travel expenses or other 
     conference expenses were paid by the agency; and
       ``(8) the total number of individuals whose travel expenses 
     or other conference expenses were paid by the agency.
       ``(d) Each report posted on the public Internet website 
     under subsection (c) shall--
       ``(1) be in a searchable electronic format; and
       ``(2) remain on that website for at least 5 years after the 
     date of posting.''.
       (2) Technical and conforming amendment.--The table of 
     sections for chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, is 
     amended by inserting after the item relating to section 5711 
     the following:

``5712. Limitations and reports on travel expenses to conferences.''.

       (b) Limitations on Annual Travel Expenses.--
       (1) In general.--In the case of each of fiscal years 2012 
     through 2016, an agency (as defined under section 5701(1) of 
     title 5, United States Code) may not make, or obligate to 
     make, expenditures for travel expenses, in an aggregate 
     amount greater than 80 percent of the aggregate amount of 
     such expenses for fiscal year 2010.
       (2) Identification of travel expenses.--Not later than 
     September 1, 2012 and after consultation with the 
     Administrator of General Services and the Director of the 
     Administrative Office of the United States Courts, the 
     Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall 
     establish guidelines for the determination of what expenses 
     constitute travel expenses for purposes of this subsection. 
     The guidelines shall identify specific expenses, and classes 
     of expenses, that are to be treated as travel expenses.
       (c) Conference Transparency and Limitations.--
       (1) Definitions.--In this subsection--
       (A) the term ``agency'' has the meaning given under section 
     5701(1) of title 5, United States Code; and
       (B) the term ``conference'' has the meaning given under 
     section 5712(a)(1) of that title (as added by subsection 
     (a)).
       (2) Public availability of conference materials.--Each 
     agency shall post on the public Internet website of that 
     agency a detailed information on any presentation made by any 
     employee of that agency at a conference, including--
       (A) any minutes relating to the presentation;
       (B) any speech delivered;
       (C) any visual exhibit, including photographs or slides;
       (D) any video, digital, or audio recordings of the 
     conference; and
       (E) information regarding any financial support or other 
     assistance from a foundation or other non-Federal source used 
     to pay or defray the costs of the conference, which shall 
     include a certification by the head of the agency that there 
     is no conflict of interest resulting from the support 
     received from each such source.
       (3) Limitation on amount expended on a conference.--
       (A) In general.--No agency may expend more than $500,000 to 
     support a single conference.
       (B) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this paragraph shall 
     be construed to preclude an agency from receiving financial 
     support or other assistance from a foundation or other non-
     Federal source to pay or defray the costs of a conference the 
     total cost of which exceeds $500,000.
       (4) Limitation on the annual number of conferences an 
     agency may support.--No agency may expend funds on more than 
     a single conference sponsored or organized by an organization 
     during any fiscal year, unless the agency is the primary 
     sponsor and organizer of the conference.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2061. Mr. COBURN (for himself and Mr. McCain) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1789, to 
improve, sustain, and transform the United States Postal Service; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. REQUIREMENT FOR RETIREMENT-ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES OF THE 
                   POSTAL SERVICE TO RETIRE.

       (a) Definition.--In this section, the term ``retirement-
     eligible employee''--
       (1) means an employee of the Postal Service who meets the 
     age and service requirements to retire on an immediate 
     annuity under section 8336 or 8412 of title 5, United States 
     Code; and
       (2) does not include an individual described in section 
     8336(d) or 8412(g) of title 5, United States Code.
       (b) Prohibition.--On and after the date that is 90 days 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, a retirement-
     eligible employee may not perform service as an employee of 
     the Postal Service.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2062. Mr. MERKLEY (for himself and Mrs. McCaskill) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1789, to 
improve, sustain, and transform the United States Postal Service; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. RURAL POST OFFICES.

       Section 404(d) of title 39, United States Code, as amended 
     by section 205 of this Act, is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (3)--
       (A) in the first sentence, by inserting ``and, with respect 
     to a rural post office, a summary of the determinations 
     required under paragraph (9)'' after ``paragraph (2) of this 
     subsection''; and
       (B) in the second sentence, by striking ``determination and 
     findings'' and inserting ``determination, findings, and 
     summary''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(9) The Postal Service may not make a determination under 
     subsection (a)(3) to close a post office located in a rural 
     area, as defined by the Census Bureau, unless the Postal 
     Service determines that--
       ``(A) seniors served by the post office would continue to 
     receive the same or substantially similar access to 
     prescription medication sent through the mail as before the 
     closing;
       ``(B) businesses located in the community served by the 
     post office would not suffer financial loss as a result of 
     the closing;
       ``(C) the economic loss to the community served by the post 
     office as a result of the closing does not exceed the cost to 
     the Postal Service of not closing the post office;
       ``(D) the area served by the post office has adequate 
     access to wired broadband Internet service, as identified on 
     the National Broadband Map of the National Telecommunications 
     and Information Administration;
       ``(E) seniors and persons with disabilities who live near 
     the post office would continue to receive the same or 
     substantially similar access to postal services as before the 
     closing; and
       ``(F) the closing would not result in more than 10 miles 
     distance (as measured on roads with year-round access) 
     between any 2 post offices.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2063. Mrs. McCASKILL submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed by her to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform 
the United States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the 
table; as follows:

       On page 88, strike line 4 and all that follows through page 
     90, line 3, and insert the following:
       ``(2) Exceptions.--
       ``(A) Covered recipients who are retirement age, have an 
     exempt disability condition, or face financial hardship.--
     Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a covered claim for total 
     disability by an employee if the employee--
       ``(i) on the date of enactment of the Workers' Compensation 
     Reform Act of 2012, has attained retirement age;
       ``(ii) is an individual who has an exempt disability 
     condition; or
       ``(iii) is a member of a household that would meet the 
     income and assets requirements for eligibility for the 
     supplemental nutrition assistance program as described in 
     section 5 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
     2014) (not including any provisions permitting eligibility 
     due to benefits received under any other law) if the basic 
     compensation for total disability of the employee were 
     provided in accordance with paragraph (1).
       ``(B) Transition period for certain employees.--For a 
     covered claim for total disability by an employee who is not 
     an employee described in subparagraph (A), the employee shall 
     receive the basic compensation for total disability provided 
     under subsection (a) until the later of--
       ``(i) the date on which the employee attains retirement 
     age; and
       ``(ii) the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment 
     of the Workers' Compensation Reform Act of 2012.''.

[[Page S2514]]

       (3) Partial disability.--Section 8106 is amended--
       (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``If'' and inserting 
     ``In General.--Subject to subsection (b), if'';
       (B) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections 
     (c) and (d), respectively; and
       (C) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
       ``(b) Conversion of Entitlement at Retirement Age.--
       ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
     basic compensation for partial disability for an employee who 
     has attained retirement age shall be 50 percent of the 
     difference between the monthly pay of the employee and the 
     monthly wage-earning capacity of the employee after the 
     beginning of the partial disability.
       ``(2) Exceptions.--
       ``(A) Covered recipients who are retirement age or face 
     financial hardship.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a 
     covered claim for partial disability by an employee if the 
     employee--
       ``(i) on the date of enactment of the Workers' Compensation 
     Reform Act of 2012, has attained retirement age; or
       ``(ii) is a member of a household that would meet the 
     income and assets requirements for eligibility for the 
     supplemental nutrition assistance program as described in 
     section 5 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
     2014) (not including any provisions permitting eligibility 
     due to benefits received under any other law) if the basic 
     compensation for total disability of the employee were 
     provided in accordance with paragraph (1).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2064. Mrs. McCASKILL submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed by her to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform 
the United States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the 
table; as follows:

       On page 134, between lines 16 and 17, insert the following:

     SEC. 314. TERRORISM INJURIES; ZONES OF ARMED CONFLICT.

       (a) Covering Terrorism Injuries.--Section 8102(b) of title 
     5, United States Code, is amended in the matter preceding 
     paragraph (1)--
       (1) by inserting ``or from an attack by a terrorist or 
     terrorist organization, either known or unknown,'' after 
     ``force or individual,''; and
       (2) by striking ``outside'' and all that follows through 
     ``1979)'' and inserting ``outside of the United States''.
       (b) Continuation of Pay in a Zone of Armed Conflict.--
     Section 8118 of title 5, United States Code, as amended by 
     section 308(b) of this Act, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b), by striking ``Continuation'' and 
     inserting ``Except as provided under subsection (d)(2), 
     continuation'';
       (2) in subsection (c), as redesignated by section 308(b)(4) 
     of this Act, by striking ``subsection (a)'' and inserting 
     ``subsection (a) or (d)'';
       (3) by redesignating subsection (d), as redesignated by 
     section 308(b)(4) of this Act, as subsection (e); and
       (4) inserting after subsection (c) the following:
       ``(d) Continuation of Pay in a Zone of Armed Conflict.--
       ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), the 
     United States shall authorize the continuation of pay of an 
     employee described in subparagraph (A), (C), (D), or (F) of 
     section 8101(1), who--
       ``(A) files a claim for a period of wage loss due to an 
     injury in performance of duty in a zone of armed conflict (as 
     determined by the Secretary of Labor under paragraph (3)); 
     and
       ``(B) files the claim for such wage loss benefit with the 
     immediate superior of the employee not later than 45 days 
     after the later of--
       ``(i) the termination of the assignment of the employee to 
     the zone of armed conflict; or
       ``(ii) the return of the employee to the United States.
       ``(2) Continuation of pay.--Notwithstanding subsection (b), 
     continuation of pay under this subsection shall be furnished 
     for a period not to exceed 135 days without any break in time 
     or waiting period, unless controverted under regulations 
     prescribed by the Secretary of Labor.
       ``(3) Determination of zones of armed conflict.--For 
     purposes of this subsection, the Secretary of Labor, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of 
     Defense, shall determine whether a foreign country or other 
     foreign geographic area outside of the United States (as 
     defined in section 202(a)(7) of the State Department Basic 
     Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 4302(a)(7)) is a zone of 
     armed conflict based on whether--
       ``(A) the Armed Forces of the United States are involved in 
     hostilities in the country or area;
       ``(B) the incidence of civil insurrection, civil war, 
     terrorism, or wartime conditions threatens physical harm or 
     imminent danger to the health or well-being of United States 
     civilian employees in the country or area;
       ``(C) the country or area has been designated a combat zone 
     by the President under section 112(c) of the Internal Revenue 
     Code of 1986;
       ``(D) a contingency operation involving combat operations 
     directly affects civilian employees in the country or area; 
     or
       ``(E) there exist other relevant conditions and factors.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2065. Mr. CARPER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the United 
States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       On page 140, between lines 16 and 17, insert the following:
       (d) Temporary Authority to Adjust First-class Mail Stamp 
     Rate.--
       (1) Authority.--Notwithstanding the annual limitation on 
     the percentage changes in rates established under section 
     3622(d)(1)(A) of title 39, United States Code, the Postal 
     Service may, not later than 3 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, establish a rate for the first ounce 
     of a single-piece first-class letter that is not more than 
     the greater of--
       (A) 50 cents; or
       (B) the rate otherwise authorized to be established under 
     section 3622 of title 39, United States Code.
       (2) Implementation.--Not later than 90 days after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, the Postal Service, in consultation 
     with the Commission, shall establish a projected annual 
     schedule for the increase in the rate for the first ounce of 
     a single-piece first-class letter authorized under paragraph 
     (1) using--
       (A) any authority to increase rates that the Postal Service 
     expects to receive under section 3622(d)(1)(A) of title 39, 
     United States Code;
       (B) any unused rate adjustment authority, as defined in 
     section 3622(d)(2)(C) of title 39, United States Code, that 
     the Postal Service anticipates using; and
       (C) any actions the Postal Service plans to take to enable 
     the Postal Service to use the authority under paragraph (1) 
     in a predictable and stable manner.
       (3) No effect on other rates.--The Commission may not refer 
     to or rely on a decision by the Postal Service to exercise 
     the authority under paragraph (1) for the purpose of 
     determining whether any other rate (including any other 
     first-class mail rate) complies with the requirements of 
     title 39, United States Code.
       (4) Discount calculation.--Section 3622(e)(1) of title 39, 
     United States Code, is amended by inserting after ``under 
     subsection (a)'' the following: ``, except that the 
     Commission shall not consider the rates for presorted first-
     class mail to be a discount from the rates for single-piece 
     first-class mail''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2066. Mr. CARPER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the United 
States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. ___. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

       (a) Limit on Maximum Compensation.--
       (1) Number of executives.--Section 3686(c) of title 39, 
     United States Code, is amended in the first sentence by 
     striking ``12 officers'' and inserting ``6 officers''.
       (2) Interim limitation.--
       (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), 
     and notwithstanding section 3686(c) of title 39, United 
     States Code, as amended by this Act, for 2012, 2013, 2014, 
     and 2015, the total compensation of an officer or employee of 
     the Postal Service may not exceed the annual amount of basic 
     pay payable for level I of the Executive Schedule under 
     section 5312 of title 5.
       (B) Performance based compensation relating to solvency 
     plan.--
       (i) In general.--Any compensation relating to achieving the 
     goals established under the plan under section 401 shall not 
     apply toward the limit on compensation under subparagraph 
     (A).
       (ii) Other limitations apply.--Nothing in this subparagraph 
     shall be construed to modify the limitation on compensation 
     under subsections (b) and (c) of section 3686 of title 39, 
     United States Code, as amended by this Act.
       (b) Carry Over Compensation.--The Postal Service may not 
     pay compensation for service performed during a year (in this 
     subsection referred to as the ``base year'') in any 
     subsequent year if the total amount of compensation provided 
     relating to service during the base year would exceed the 
     amount specified under section 3686(c) of title 39, United 
     States Code, as amended by this Act, or subsection (a)(2), as 
     applicable.
       (c) Benefits.--Section 1003 of title 39, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(e) Limitations on Benefits.--For any fiscal year, an 
     officer or employee of the Postal Service who is in a 
     critical senior executive or equivalent position, as 
     designated under section 3686(c), may not receive fringe 
     benefits (within the meaning given that term under section 
     1005(f)) that are greater than the fringe benefits received 
     by supervisory and other managerial personnel who are not 
     subject to collective-bargaining agreements under chapter 
     12.''.
       (d) Effective Date; Applicability.--This section and the 
     amendments made by this section shall--
       (1) take effect on the date of enactment of this Act; and
       (2) apply to any contract entered or modified by the Postal 
     Service on or after the date of enactment of this Act.

[[Page S2515]]

                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2067. Mr. CARPER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the United 
States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. ADJUSTMENT TO METHOD FOR CALCULATING PAYMENTS BY 
                   POSTAL SERVICE TO FEDERAL EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT 
                   SYSTEM.

       Section 8423(a) of title 5, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A)(i), by inserting ``or subparagraph 
     (C)'' after ``subparagraph (B)'';
       (B) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking the period at the 
     end and inserting the following: ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(C) the product of--
       ``(i) the normal-cost percentage, as determined for 
     employees of the United States Postal Service under paragraph 
     (5), multiplied by
       ``(ii) the aggregate amount of basic pay payable by the 
     United States Postal Service, for the period involved, to 
     employees of the United States Postal Service.''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(5)(A) In determining the normal cost percentage for 
     employees of the United States Postal Service, the Office 
     shall use--
       ``(i) demographic factors specific to such employees, 
     unless such data cannot be generated; and
       ``(ii) economic assumptions regarding increases in rates of 
     basic pay that reflect the specific past and likely future 
     pay increases for such employees.
       ``(B) Upon request of the Office, the United States Postal 
     Service shall provide any data or projections the Office may 
     require in order to determine the normal cost percentage for 
     employees of the United States Postal Service consistent with 
     subparagraph (A).
       ``(C) The United States Postal Service may appeal any 
     determination by the Office to the Board of Actuaries of the 
     Civil Service Retirement System pursuant to subsection (c) of 
     this section.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2068. Mr. WYDEN (for himself, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Tester, and Mr. 
Udall of New Mexico) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the United 
States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the end of section 208, add the following:
       (f) Election Periods.--
       (1) In general.--Section 3691 of title 39, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(e) Mail Delivery During Election Periods.--
       ``(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `covered 
     election' means a Federal, State, or local election in which 
     individuals eligible to vote in the election are permitted or 
     required to vote by mail.
       ``(2) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), 
     during the 30-day period ending on the date of a covered 
     election, the Postal Service shall provide delivery 6 days 
     per week to each individual who is permitted or required to 
     vote by mail (including by use of an absentee ballot) in the 
     covered election.
       ``(3) Exception.--Paragraph (2) shall not apply with 
     respect to any route for which the Postal Service provided 
     delivery on fewer than 6 days per week as of December 1, 
     2011.''.
       (2) Change to schedule.--A plan established under 
     subsection (a)(2) shall comply with section 3691(e) of title 
     39, United States Code, as added by this subsection.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2069. Mr. ALEXANDER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the 
United States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       On page 147, line 22, strike the quotation marks and the 
     second period and insert the following:
       ``(4) In this subsection, the term `laws and regulations' 
     includes any licensing, permitting, recordkeeping, or 
     reporting obligation.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2070. Mr. ALEXANDER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the 
United States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       On page 147, line 22, strike the quotation marks and the 
     second period and insert the following:
       ``(4) In this subsection, the term `laws and regulations' 
     includes any licensing, permitting, recordkeeping, or 
     reporting obligation.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2071. Mr. WARNER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the United 
States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. RETIREMENT REPORTING.

       (a) Definition.--In this section, the term ``agency'' has 
     the meaning given that term in section 551 of title 5, United 
     States Code.
       (b) Reports.--Not later than June 1, 2012, and every month 
     thereafter, the Director of the Office of Personnel 
     Management shall submit to Congress, the Comptroller General 
     of the United States, and issue publicly (including on the 
     website of the Office of Personnel Management) a report 
     that--
       (1) for each agency, evaluates the timeliness, 
     completeness, and accuracy of information submitted by the 
     agency relating to employees of the agency who are retiring;
       (2) indicates--
       (A) the total number of applications for retirement 
     benefits that are pending action by the Office of Personnel 
     Management; and
       (B) the number of months each such application has been 
     pending; and
       (3) provides a timetable for completion of each component 
     of the retirement systems modernization project of the Office 
     of Personnel Management, including all data elements required 
     for accurate completion of adjudication and the date (which 
     shall be not later than January 31, 2013) by which all 
     Federal payroll processing entities will electronically 
     transmit all personnel data to the Office of Personnel 
     Management.
       (c) Budget Request.--The Office of Personnel Management 
     shall include a detailed statement regarding the progress of 
     the Office of Personnel Management in completing the 
     retirement systems modernization project of the Office of 
     Personnel Management in each budget request of the Office of 
     Personnel Management submitted as part of the preparation of 
     the budget of the President submitted to Congress under 
     section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2072. Ms. LANDRIEU submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by her to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the 
United States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       On page 32, line 15, insert ``(F) the effect of the closing 
     or consolidation on small businesses in the area, including 
     shipping and communications with customers and suppliers and 
     the corresponding impact on revenues, operations, and growth; 
     and'', strike ``(F)'' and insert ``(G)'' before the clause 
     that follows.
       On page 41, line 11, insert ``(ii) the effect of the 
     closing or consolidation on small businesses in the area, 
     including shipping and communications with customers and 
     suppliers and the corresponding impact on revenues, 
     operations, and growth; and'', strike ``(ii)'' and insert 
     ``(iii)'' before the clause that follows.
       On page 53, line 1, strike ``customers and communities'' 
     and insert ``customers, communities, and small businesses''.
       On page 57, line 3, strike ``customers and communities'' 
     and insert ``customers, communities, and small businesses''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2073. Mr. ROCKEFELLER submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed by him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform 
the United States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the 
table; as follows:

       On page 23, between lines 6 and 7, insert the following:
       (f) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section or the 
     amendments made by this section may be construed to authorize 
     the Postal Service to require a Postal Service employee or 
     annuitant (as defined in section 8903c of title 5, United 
     States Code, as added by this section) to enroll in Medicare.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2074. Mr. ROCKEFELLER submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed by him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform 
the United States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the 
table; as follows:

       On page 14, strike line 15 and all that follows through 
     page 16, line 7, and insert the following:
       (B) be available for participation by any officer or 
     employee of the Postal Service who is not a covered employee;
       (C) provide benefits comparable to the Federal Employee 
     Health Benefits Plan, as determined by the Director of the 
     Office of Personnel Management;
       (D) be administered in a manner determined in a joint 
     agreement reached under subsection (b); and
       (E) provide for transition of coverage under the Federal 
     Employee Health Benefits Program of all officers and 
     employees of the Postal Service to coverage under the Postal 
     Service Health Benefits Program on January 1, 2013;
       (2) shall include a program through which officers and 
     employees of the Postal Service may obtain dental benefits; 
     and
       (3) shall include a program through which officers and 
     employees of the Postal Service may obtain vision benefits.
       (d) Agreement and Implementation.--If a joint agreement is 
     reached under subsection (b)--
       (1) the Postal Service shall implement the Postal Service 
     Health Benefits Program;
       (2) the Postal Service Health Benefits Program shall 
     constitute an agreement between the collective bargaining 
     representatives and the Postal Service for purposes of 
     section 1005(f) of title 39, United States Code; and

[[Page S2516]]

       (3) officers and employees of the Postal Service may not 
     participate as employees in the Federal Employees Health 
     Benefits Program.
       (e) Government Plan.--The Postal Service Health Benefits 
     Program shall be a government plan as that term is defined 
     under section 3(32) of Employee Retirement Income Security 
     Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1002(32)).
       (f) Report.--Not later than June 30, 2013, the Postal 
     Service shall submit a report to the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of 
     Representatives that--
       (1) reports on the implementation of this section; and
       (2) requests any additional statutory authority that the 
     Postal Service determines is necessary to carry out the 
     purposes of this section.
       (g) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
     construed as an endorsement by Congress for withdrawing 
     officers and employees of the Postal Service from the Federal 
     Employee Health Benefits Program.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2075. Mr. CARDIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the United 
States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the end of the bill, add the following:

     SEC. 4__. CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK 
                   COMMISSION.

       Section 6(g) of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Development 
     Act (16 U.S.C. 410y 4(g)) is amended by striking ``40'' and 
     inserting ``50''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2076. Mr. BINGAMAN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the 
United States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       On page 48, line 2, after ``State.'' insert the following: 
     ``An employee designated under this subsection to represent 
     the needs of Postal Service customers in a State shall be 
     located in that State.''.

                          ____________________