Vice President
David Kennedy



dkennedy@branch43.com

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From the VEEP

We’ve had some recent positive experiences I’d like to share with the membership this month.  First, we met locally with Representative Steve Driehaus and an aid from Representative Jean Schmidt’s office.  The highly sought after USPS financial reform legislation has been introduced in the House, and finally a report from MDA summer camp.

Branch 43 Legislative Liaisons and leaders attended meetings with Representatives from both the 1st and 2nd Ohio Districts last month.  We were pleased to discover that Congresswoman Jean Schmidt [OH-2] had signed House Resolution 173.  Although this is not legislation, it does express …the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Postal Service should take all appropriate measures to ensure the continuation of its 6-day mail delivery service.  Meeting with Ms. Schmidt in her Washington office this past spring, she was deeply concerned about the future viability of the Postal Service, and especially the effect any reduction in service would have on the rural communities she represents.  

During our meeting with Congressman Driehaus, he reiterated his commitment to 6-day delivery he promised in the spring and inquired about pending legislation.  We discussed the proposed rate increase and the over-funding of the CSRS retirement system.  We also stated that if legislation were introduced and passed regarding the more than $50 billion in over-funding as reported by the OIG and the PRC, there would be no need to raise postage or eliminate a day of delivery.

In between meetings with our local Representatives, Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) introduced H.R 5746.  This proposed legislation would …amend the provisions of title 5, United States Code, relating to the methodology for calculating the amount of any Postal surplus or supplemental liability under the Civil Service Retirement System. H.R. 5746 is a major step in addressing the financial predicament our employer currently faces. The bill is written to implement many of the Postal Regulatory Commission recommendations. As of this writing, the bill has gone to the full House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.  NALC legislative activists nationwide are being called to action to recruit co-sponsors for H.R. 5746.  I encourage all members to contact their representatives and stay informed about this important legislation at www.nalc.org.

                 Finally, after more than 10 years of raising funds for MDA, I attended their summer camp.   Also invited were Branch 43 MDA chairman Mike Mize, NBA Dan Toth, and branch leaders from Hamilton and Dayton.  Upon arrival, the campers were finishing breakfast in a cafeteria filled with loud chatter just as anyone would expect from a large group of youngsters.  When they began heading outside, I noticed a big difference.  Most of them had limited mobility and many were in wheelchairs.  After introductions and a brief tour of the cabins, we were off for the day’s activities.  The morning consisted of a friendly competition on a tabletop shuffleboard game, fishing on the banks of a river, and wooden crafts provided by Lowe’s.  The highlight was a chance to ‘test drive’ a small prototype electric vehicle.  MDA summer camp gives these children the opportunity to share experiences and build confidence in ways they are not able to in their daily lives because of their disabilities.  This was the first year the Cincinnati and Dayton MDA offices combined their camps.  MDA Summer Camp is provided at no cost to the families of these children, and is just one of the many ways letter carriers reach out and raise funds for those who suffer from muscular dystrophy. This is an unforgettable week for the children and an unforgettable day for me.

In Solidarity, Dave Kennedy

 

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