NAPS Chat

Rep. George Latimer (D-NY) joins Bob to discuss the beginning of the 119th Congress, freshman orientation, his transition from elected local office to federal office, his expectations for the year, and his views relating to the U.S. Postal Service. In addition, Bob shares news relating to imminent attacks on postal health and retirement benefits though the congressional budget process.

In the holiday spirit, NAPS Branch 32 (Mid-Tennessee) President Robert Wakefield joins Bob to discuss the history of holiday greeting cards and postage stamps. In addition, Robert and Bob commiserate about correspondence that was sent during the time of the first Christmas and before.  In addition, Bob provides an end-of-year accounting of successful legislation to repeal the government pension of...

Recorded at the National Press Club, Federal News Network Reporter Jory Heckman and Bob Levi review the Postmaster General's recent interaction with the House and Senate at recent congressional hearings, as well as the Postal Regulatory Commission's ongoing assessment of the Delivering for America plan. Jory and Bob also discuss how Trump Administration and changes in Congress may impact the Posta...

Last month on NAPS Chat, USPS' Karla Kirby talked about the Postal Service Health Benefits Program (PSHBP) and what to expect. Karla referenced the USPS' partnership with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in implementing the new health program. On this episode, OPM Manager of Outreach and Program Services Jay Fritz joins Bob to discuss the just commenced PSHBP open season, program changes,...

National Association of Postal Supervisors Executive Vice President Chuck Mulidore joins Bob to discuss the NAPS activities surrounding the consequential 2024 general elections.  Chuck and Bob talk about the historic investment the Supervisors Political Action Committee (SPAC) has made for this election cycle, as well as the impact postal supervisors, postal managers and postmasters will have in s...

Karla Kirby, executive director of the new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) program, joins Bob to discuss the inaugural "open season" of the program for postal employees and annuitants. Karla and Bob talk about the differing roles the USPS and the Office of Personnel Management have played, will continue to play in the implementation of the PSHB program, and what participants should anticipat...

Carrie Villar, director of curatorial affairs at the National Postal Museum joins Bob to discuss America's tradition of using the U.S. Postal Service to accept, transport and deliver election ballots. The is a history dating back to the Civil War. Coincidentally, on September 27, Postmaster General DeJoy testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Gover...

Rep. Garrett Graves joins Bob to discuss his effort to force a House vote on H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act. Rep. Graves talks about his bipartisan work with Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) to finally address the unfair Social Security treatment suffered by millions of Americans who either worked for federal, state and  local governments, or are their dependents. Rep. Graves commended NA...

Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) member Ashley Poling joins Bob at the NAPS' 69th Biennial National Convention to discuss how the PRC is casting much-needed illumination on the impact recent operational changes implemented by the Postal Service is having on the nation and on postal-reliant American citizens. In addition, Ashley and Bob talk about pending congressional legislation to provide...

As Congress approached its summer recess, congressional and regulatory concern over the Postal Service executive leadership's "Delivering for America" juggernaut grew. NAPS Legislative & Political Director Bob Levi discusses legislation and Senate confirmation hearings reflecting this reality and this gives voice to the American public's concerns. In addition, President Biden...

In honor of Independence Day, NAPS Chat continues its tradition of exploring our consequential postal past. Newly appointed US Postal Service Historian Steve Kochersperger joins Bob to discuss one of our more compelling postmaster generals, John "AJ" Creswell. Creswell, who served as PMG during post-Civil War Reconstruction, began to integrate the postal workforce, improved postal perfor...

Frank McCarthy, Founder and Principal of McCarthy Advanced Consulting (MAC) joins Bob to discuss his approach in representing multi-clients before Congress. Frank's advocacy operation generally lobbies on behalf of labor unions, primarily before Republican members of the House and Senate. Frank and Bob talk about the difference in promoting interest before Republican, Democratic and Independen...

Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) Chairman Michael Kubayanda joins Bob to discuss last month's Senate oversight hearing on the Postal Service, as well as the Commission's  regulatory activities relating the Postal Service's "Delivering for America" plan. As part of their conversation, Mike and Bob talk about the PRC's insistence that the USPS request a PRC Advisory Opini...

Federal News Network Reporter Jory Heckman joins Bob to discuss the April 16, 2024, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee postal oversight hearing, at which Postmaster General DeJoy, USPS Board of Governors Chair Martinez, PRC Chair Kubayanda and Postal IG Hull testified about the implementation of the "Delivering for America" plan. The committee focused on the impa...

NAPS Executive Vice President Chuck Mulidore joins Bob to talk about the recently concluded 2024 NAPS Legislative Training Seminar and Lobbying Days on Capitol Hill. Chuck and Bob discuss the new legislative tools deployed at the conference, issues that members of Congress brought to the attention of NAPS activists, and a critical Postal Inspector General Audit Report relating to the establishment...

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), senior member of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, joins Bob to talk about the current state of the U.S. Postal Service, as we approach the second anniversary of the Postal Reform Act's enactment into law. At the time of the legislation's development and enactment, Rep. Connolly served as chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations,...

Dr. Kevin Kosar, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), joins Bob at the 2024 NAPS Legislative Training Seminar. The chat, which was recorded live before approximately 500 NAPS legislative advocates attending the Washington legislative conference, covered the importance of measuring postal performance, the necessity of constructive congressional oversight of the Postal Service,...

Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-MD), ranking member of the House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce, joins Bob to discuss the role of Congressional oversight in USPS operations, his postal priorities and how the Postal Service is viewed by his colleagues.

Former member of Congress Connie Morella (R-MD) joins Bob to reminisce about the days during which the House of Representatives acted with civility and labored on legislation important to the federal and postal workforce. During her 8 terms in Congress, Rep. Morella served on the House Postal Office and Civil Service Committee, and its successor, the House Committee on Government Reform. As a memb...

Freshman member of Congress Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) joins Bob to reflect on her first year in the House of Representatives and to share her views on a number of postal and federal employee-related issues. In addition, Rep. Budzinski discusses her past experience in the labor movement and as a member of the Biden White House. 

On this, the 200th episode of NAPS Chat, National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) Staff Vice President for Policy and Programs John Hatton joins Bob to discuss crucial challenges and potential  legislation relating to postal and retiree benefits in 2024. Also, Bob touches upon postal first-class on time performance during the current peak mail season, and congressional...

National Association of Postal Supervisors Executive Vice President Chuck Mulidore joins Bob to discuss important legislative and Postal Service operational issues that deeply concern key members of Congress. Among the items discussed is legislation introduced by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which strives to better protect postal employees from escalating...

The "open season" for choosing a Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP) option runs from November 13 thru December 12. The choices are numerous and stakes are high. For the fifth year in a row, Bob is being joined by Jay Fritz, the Office of Personnel Management executive tasked with coordinating the FEHBP open season. Jay and Bob discuss what's new for active and retired pos...

A few weeks ago, Mark Action left the Postal Regulatory Commission with two decades of engagement with the postal community under his belt. Over a cup of coffee at local Washington, DC, coffee house, Mark shares with Bob his reflections about serving on the PRC and the agency's importance to ensure transparency, accountability and performance.

It appeared that the Statute of Freedom, which is sits atop the Capitol, needed scaffolding to stabilize it in the wake of the U.S. House of Representatives’ shutdown, resulting from the removal of Rep. Kevin McCarthy as Speaker. During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Bob discusses the “House shutdown,” the overwhelming passage of a temporary government funding bill that sealed McCarthy’s fa...