21st Century Postal Service Act of 2012

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

2 November 2011

Last action

26 April 2012 · Floor

Status

Held at the desk.

Summary

21st Century Postal Service Act of 2011 - Amends provisions of federal law relating to the United States Postal Service (USPS) workforce, services and operations, worker compensation, and other matters. Requires surplus contributions to the USPS Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) in FY2012-FY2014 to be used by USPS to provide postal employees who voluntarily separate from service before October 1, 2014, with voluntary separation incentive payments and for additional retirement service credits. Allows any additional surplus postal contributions to be used for repayment of debts incurred by USPS and for making required payments to retiree health and pension funds. Allows USPS to offer up to one year of additional creditable service for employees in the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and up to two years for employees in FERS. Disqualifies any employee who receives such additional creditable service from receiving a voluntary separation incentive payment under this Act. Requires postal retirees and their family members who are eligible for Medicare coverage to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B. Allows a 40-year amortization of USPS pre-funded retiree health benefit payments, beginning in 2012, and a 20% reduction of the net present value of such payments. Authorizes USPS to negotiate jointly with all employee bargaining representatives to establish a Postal Service Health Benefits Program outside of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB) program. Requires any arbitration board deciding a contract dispute between USPS and labor organizations to consider all relevant factors, including: (1) the financial condition of USPS, (2) requirements for consideration of comparability of wages and benefits to those offered the the private sector, and (3) established policies of postal law. Sets forth criteria for the closing or consolidation of postal facilities (excluding any post office, station, or branch, or any facility used only for administrative functions). Requires USPS: (1) to develop and update every five years a strategic plan for consolidating area and district offices; (2) to consolidate and relocate such offices based on such plan; (3) to develop service standards for providing postal customers with access to retail services; and (4) not later than September 30, 2015, to convert door delivery points to curbline delivery points, sidewalk delivery points, or centralized delivery points. Prohibits USPS from establishing a general, nationwide 5-day-per-week delivery schedule (i.e., eliminating Saturday service) for the two-year period after the enactment of this Act. Allows USPS to offer nonpostal services that would use existing USPS infrastructure, that are in the public interest, and that would not create unfair competition with the private sector. Workers' Compensation Reform Act of 2011 - Revises federal workers' compensation benefits for current beneficiaries in the worker compensation system and for future enrollees. Imposes restrictions on additional benefits for dependents of disabled employees. Requires: (1) injured USPS employees who are not permanently disabled to participate in developing a comprehensive return to work plan and to undergo vocational rehabilitation, (2) worker compensation beneficiaries to report outside compensation from employment or self-employment, and (3) an independent medical assessment of disability and the potential for return to work after receipt of disability benefits for at least six months. Increases benefits for a severe disfigurement of the face, head, or neck and reimbursements for funeral expenses for an employee who dies due to a work-related injury. Requires USPS to submit to Congress a report on how it will become profitable by FY2015 and achieve long-term financial solvency. Requires the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) to publish an annual report on the fiscal stability of the U.S. mailing industry. Provides for the mailing of wine and beer sent by a licensed winery or brewery in accordance with the laws of the state, territory, or district where the addressee or agent takes delivery. Sets forth provisions relating to the contracting of postal services, including the establishment of the position of Advocate for Competition. Requires the PRC to make noncompetitive purchase requests for any noncompetitive award, including the rationale for the award, publicly available on the PRC website. Sets forth procedures for identifying and resolving ethical issues in the contracting process.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

2 November 2011
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7070-7081)
Source: IntroReferral
2 November 2011
Introduced
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7070)
Source: IntroReferral
2 November 2011
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
9 November 2011
Reported
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Source: Committee
26 January 2012
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 296.
Source: Calendars
26 January 2012
Reported
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Source: Committee
26 January 2012
Reported
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Source: Committee
31 January 2012
Floor
By Senator Lieberman from Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs filed written report. Report No. 112-143. Additional views filed.
Source: Floor
31 January 2012
Committee
By Senator Lieberman from Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs filed written report. Report No. 112-143. Additional views filed.
Source: Committee
22 March 2012
Floor
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S1985)
Source: Floor
27 March 2012
Vote
Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 46. Record Vote Number: 60. (consideration: CR S2054-2055; text: CR S2054)
Source: Floor
17 April 2012
Passed
Motion to proceed to consideration of the motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 1789 was not invoked (Roll Call Vote No. 60) agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2348)
Source: Floor
19 April 2012
Floor
Cloture motion on amendment SA 2000 withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate. (consideration: CR S2538)
Source: Floor
24 April 2012
Floor
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S2634-26351)
Source: Floor
25 April 2012
Floor
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S2683-2697)
Source: Floor
25 April 2012
Vote
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 62 - 37. Record Vote Number: 82.
Source: Floor
26 April 2012
Floor
Held at the desk.
Source: Floor
26 April 2012
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
26 April 2012
Floor
Received in the House.
Source: Floor

Votes

25 April 2012 · Bill Passed · On Passage of the Bill S. 1789 · Bill Passed · Official source

Yes 62 · No 37 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 1

Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.

27 March 2012 · Cloture Motion Rejected · On the Cloture Motion S. 1789 · Cloture Motion Rejected · Official source

Yes 51 · No 46 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 3

Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.

Versions

Engrossed in Senate · 25 April 2012 · Download file
Reported to Senate · 26 January 2012 · Download file
Introduced in Senate · 2 November 2011 · Download file

Documents

9 official files

Engrossed in Senate (text)

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Engrossed in Senate (text)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 25 April 2012
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Engrossed in Senate (PDF)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 25 April 2012
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Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 25 April 2012
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Reported to Senate (text)
Reported to Senate · EN · 26 January 2012
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Reported to Senate (PDF)
Reported to Senate · EN · 26 January 2012
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Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
summary · EN · 26 January 2012
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Introduced in Senate (text)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 2 November 2011
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Introduced in Senate (PDF)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 2 November 2011
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Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 2 November 2011
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Related records

amends ← SAMDT 1512
amends ← SAMDT 1975
amends ← SAMDT 2001
amends ← SAMDT 2002
amends ← SAMDT 2003
amends ← SAMDT 2004
amends ← SAMDT 2005
amends ← In the nature of a substitute.

Showing 8 of 86 related records.

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/1789
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/112/s/1789
us · 112-s-1789 · source updated 7 April 2025