NAPS Chat

Rep. Suhas Subramanyan (D-VA) joins Bob to discuss congressional activities having a direct impact on postal and federal employees, and his impressions of his first six months in the House of Representatives. Congressman Subramanyan serves on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Postal Service and the federal workforce. In addition, Bob provides a summa...

Bob reflects on the legacy of late Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and provide an update on NAPS' fight to protect postal benefits from congressional attacks on them. In addition, Bob provides an update on USPS governance changes.

National Association of Active and Retired Employees (NARFE) Vice President for Policy and Programs Vice President John Hatton joins Bob to discuss the recent budget attacks on the postal and federal employee community, and effective strategies to protect the benefits. John and Bob talk about the "budget reconciliation process" and legislation the House Oversight and Accountability Commi...

Recorded live at the 2025 NAPS Legislative Training Seminar, in Washington, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Legislative Representative Dr. Keith Abouchar joins Bob to discuss the importance of building and sustaining effective advocacy coalitions in the the legislative process. In addition, Keith and Bob talk about the current attacks against postal and federal employee benefits...

National Association of Postal Supervisors Executive Vice President Chuck Mulidore joins Bob to discuss the upcoming 2025 NAPS Legislative Training Seminar (LTS) and its associated Legislative Rally, to be held on April 8, on the West Front Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Chuck explains how this year's visit to Washington is unlike any visit in recent memory and what NAPS has planned to meet these c...

American Enterprise Institute (AEI) Senior Fellow Dr. Kevin Kosar joins Bob to discuss press reports that President Trump plans to takeover the U.S. Postal Service by firing its Board of Governors, and folding its governance and operations into the Department of Commerce. Newly confirmed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has expressed interest in "privatizing" the USPS. Kevin is the AEI&...

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...