Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight, joins NAPS Director of Legislative and Political Affairs Bob Levi on the week's episode of NAPS chat. Rep. Pascrell and Bob discuss the Postal Service's pilot program to offer limited check cashing services. In addition, they discuss the current status of HR 3076, the Postal Reform Act of 2021, which is pending before the House Ways and Means Committee, and the congressman's view on postal performance. Rep. Pascrell is a strong advocate for postal accountability and maintains a long and close relationship with postal employees, dating back to his days a mayor of Patterson, New Jersey.

NAPS Chat

Episode 144 October 15 2021 -- "Maintaining the Postal Service as a Public Trust" with Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ)

On this week's episode of NAPS Chat, NAPS Director of Legislative and Political Affairs discusses presidential nominations to postal agencies, a complaint filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission against the Postal Service by 20 state attorney generals, a modest USPS pilot program relating to postal banking, and the status of postal legislation.

Episode 143 October 8 2021 -- "Postal Nominations, Complaints, Pilots and Stagnation" with Bob Levi, NAPS Director of Legislative & Political Affairs

Louis Atkins, former national  president of the National Association of Postal Supervisors, joins Bob Levi on this week's episode of NAPS Chat. Louis reflects on his tenure as president (2010-2016), his  interactions with past postmaster generals and current issues that confront postal supervisors, manages and postmasters. Bob also summarizes this week's Postal Regulatory Commission Advisory Opinion on the Postal Service's plan to slow-down the delivery of first-class parcels. This USPS plan is intended to be implemented in tandem with the USPS plan to slow-down the delivery of first-class letter mail.

Episode 142 October 1 2021 -- "Reflections with a Past President of NAPS" with Louis Atkins, NAPS President (2010-2016)

Jeffrey Post, a legislative fixture in the postal world, joins Bob Levi on this week's episode of NAPS Chat. They discuss how the venue for legislative deliberations (i.e., the House and Senate personal office, the committee office within the respective legislative bodies, or the executive branch) can make a difference. In addition, Jeff and Bob discuss Jeff's experience working for different committee chairs, and his perspective regarding the congressional role in postal matters, and reviewing nominees to the Board of Governors and the Postal Regulatory Commission.

Episode 141 September 17 2021 -- "A Legislative Postal Fixture Shares His Wisdom" with Jeffrey Post, Senior Professional Staff Member, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

Newly elected National Association of Postal Supervisors Executive Vice President Chuck Mulidore joins Bob Levi on this week's episode of NAPS Chat. They discuss the outcome of pay consultations between the Postal Service and NAPS, the recently concluded NAPS National Convention, planning for the 2022 NAPS Legislative Training Seminar, legislative activities and the Supervisors Political Action Committee (SPAC).

Episode 140 September 20 2021 - "A Visit with Chuck Mulidore, the Newly Elected Executive VP of NAPS"

Brian Wagner, retiring  President of the National Association of Postal Supervisors joins Bob  Levi on this week's episode of NAPS Chat. They discuss the Postal Service's August 24 pay package for Executive  Administrative Schedule (EAS) level employees, reflections on key events that took place during Brian's 5-year tenure as NAPS president, and working with senior USPS leadership.

Episode 139 August 27 2021 - "Reflections with Retiring NAPS President Brian Wagner"

Ivan Butts, NAPS Executive  Vice President, joins Bob Levi on this week's episode of NAPS Chat. They discuss the protracted wait for congressional action on pending postal legislation, public trust in the Postal Service, postal governance, and reflections on Ivan's seven years as  executive vice president that comes to end in a few weeks.

Episode 138 August 20 2021 -- "What Happened to Postal Legislation and Reflections of 7 Years as Executive Vice President" with Ivan Butts, NAPS Executive VP

Art Sackler, executive  director of the Coalition for a 21st Century Postal Service, joins Bob  Levi on this week's episode of NAPS Chat. They discuss a new nationwide survey relating to the Postal Service conducted by Bellwether Citizen Response and commissioned by the Coalition. The survey seeks to assess America's view about the  Postal Service and its 10-year strategic plan. The survey queried over  2,000 Americans, finding, in part, a huge majority object to the Postal Service's plan devalue first class mail by slowing it down, a majority are unaware of the imminent postage increase, and  that customer satisfaction is waning. Art and Bob take a deep look at the view Americans have a true national treasure.

Episode 137 August 8 2021 -- "What Does America Think About the Postal Service?" -- with Art Sackler of the Coalition for a 21st Century Postal Service

Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA), senior member of the House Committee on Oversight & Reform and former chair of the committee's postal subcommittee, joins Bob Levi on this week's episode of NAPS Chat. Rep. Lynch and Bob discuss pending postal legislation and fleet modernization, the  representative's and his congressional district's unique affinity to postal issues, and the congressman's views relating to the Postal Regulatory Commission's advisory opinion on reduced delivery standards.

Episode 136 July 30 2021 -- "A Congressman's Postal DNA" with Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA)

NAPS Director of Legislative and Political Affairs Bob Levi goes solo on this week's edition of NAPS Chat. Bob discusses the Postal Regulatory Commission's (PRC) Advisory Opinion on the Postal Service's proposal to slow down the mail, which the Commission, in its opinion, characterized as "not ready for prime time," and Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro going to federal court to stop the proposal. In addition, Bob talks about the PRC's affirmation of the Postal Service's August 29 rate increase. Bob also chats about committee-approved legislation relating to postal family-medical leave, new legislation to change the method for determining retiree COLAs, and the pending H.R. 3076, the Postal Reform Act of 2021.

Episode 135 July 23 2021 -- "The USPS' Not Ready for Prime Time Proposal to Slow Down the Mail and Other Postal Regulatory Commission and Congressional Activities"

NAPS Executive Vice President Ivan Butts, joins Bob Levi on the latest edition of NAPS Chat. They discuss Postal Inspector General Tammy Whitcomb's testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee, where she emphasized the need for enhanced oversight of the USPS' implementation of its 10-year business plan. Also, Ivan and Bob discuss Sen. John Boozman's (R-AR) request for an inspector general review of the USPS reduction-in-force (RIF). In addition, they note this week's publication of the Congressional Budget Office's (CBO) cost estimate for HR 3076, the bipartisan Postal Service Reform Act. In part, CBO disproves an assertion that the bill negatively impacts non-postal FEHBP participants. Finally, Ivan and Bob reflect on Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro's comments on the last episode of NAPS Chat and his threat to seek judicial intervention to derail USPS efforts to revise mail and parcel delivery standards.

Episode 134 July 16 2021 -- "Senate Postal Hearing, Congressional Budget Office View of Postal Bill and Attorney General's Demand for USPS Accountability" -- with NAPS Executive VP Ivan Butts

Pennsylvania's chief law enforcement officer, Attorney General Josh Shapiro, joins Bob Levi on NAPS Chat to discuss his activities to protect America's mail service. In part, Attorney General Shapiro speaks about his recent Postal Regulatory Commission filing on behalf of 21 states, objecting to the Postal  Service's proposed plans to slow the mail and his successful 2020  federal lawsuit that forced the Postal Service to revoke certain operational changes that could have impacted election mail. The Attorney General also raised the possibility of future legal action against the Postal Service should the agency impair prompt and effective mail delivery.

Episode 133 July 2 2021 -- "Fighting to Protect the Postal Service" -- with Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro

NAPS Director of Legislative and Political Affairs Bob Levi discusses this week's postal news, and is joined by Marilyn Walton, NAPS Western Region Vice President and National Legislative Chair. Marilyn and Bob discuss the California Postal Employees Legislative Coalition, how California NAPS members approach legislative activism, current postal legislation, and the importance of the Postal Service to military veterans and building America's middle class.

Episode 132 June 25 2021 -- "California Dream'n About Postal Legislation" -- with Marilyn Walton, NAPS Western Region Vice President

NAPS Director of Legislative and Political Affairs Bob Levi discusses this week's postal news, and is joined by Ann Strickland, NAPS' Florida Legislative Chair. Ann and Bob discuss how Florida  approaches legislative activism, the inspiration for the state's  political engagement, and postal issues of the day. In addition, Ann and Bob talk about how Florida emerged as a major revenue generator for the Supervisor Political Action  Committee (SPAC).

Episode 131 -- "Legislative Activisim in the Sunshine State" -- with Ann Strickland, NAPS Florida Legislative Chair

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

Episode 130 June 11 2021 -- "Postal Regulatory Commission Hearing on Postal Standards and Deep Dive Into H.R. 3077" - with Bob Levi, NAPS Director of Legislative & Political Affairs

NAPS Chat is a weekly podcast intended to inform NAPS members about the latest legislative and political goings-on within our nation’s capital. Hosted by NAPS Director of Legislative and Political Affairs Bob Levi.

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NAPS Chat

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