Legislature(2021 - 2022)GRUENBERG 120
03/01/2022 03:00 PM House STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HJR29 | |
| SB71 | |
| HB234 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HJR 29 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 71 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 234 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HJR 29-SUPPORT UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
3:08:27 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that the first order of business
would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 29, Urging the United States
Congress to pass the Postal Service Reform Act of 2021; urging
the United States Congress to pass the Postal Banking Act; and
urging the United States Postal Service to continue delivering
mail six days a week under historic delivery standards.
3:08:49 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE RAUSCHER, Alaska State Legislature,
introduced HJR 29, as the prime sponsor. He paraphrased the
sponsor statement [included in the committee packet], which read
in its entirety as follows:
HJR 29 recognizes that the United States Postal
Service plays a crucial role in communities across
Alaska, especially in areas of Alaska accessible only
by air or water.
We have seen over the years that prices have be
rising, while at the same time delivery of mail has
been slowed. The Postal Service has also lost $69
billion over the past 11 fiscal years, in addition to
unfunded liabilities that are twice the amount of
their annual revenue.
This is noticeable in rural Alaska, where the Federal
Government's failure to recognize the need for
adequate staffing has hit those communities especially
hard.
This resolution would send a formal request from the
Alaska State Legislature, to Congress, asking them to
pass Senate Bill 1720, the Postal Service Reform Act
of 2021.
And finally, would request that the United States
Congress pass Senate Bill 4616, the Postal Banking Act
of 2020.
Time is of the essence and action is required to
preserve the United States Postal Service and the
services it provides for the residents of Alaska
3:11:18 PM
RYAN MCKEE, Staff, Representative George Rauscher, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Rauscher, prime
sponsor, indicated that a forthcoming change would replace "S.
1720" [the Postal Service Reform Act of 2021] with "HR 3076" in
the bill language to ensure that the proper federal legislation
was being cited. He said Representative Rauscher's office would
work through the chair to draft the amendment.
3:12:21 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN inquired about the sponsors of the
corresponding federal legislation.
MR. MCKEE offered to follow up with the requested information.
3:12:43 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked for a summary of the federal
legislation.
MR. MCKEE explained that HR 3076, the Postal Service Reform Act
of 2022, would require the Office of Personnel Management to
create the postal service health benefits program for postal
employees and retirees, and repeal the requirement that the
United States Postal Service (USPS) pre-fund future retiree
health benefits. He relayed that the USPS would be required to
deliver mail six days per week and create an online dashboard
with service performance data at the national and local level.
HR 3076 would allow USPS to form strategic partnerships with
state, local, and tribal governments to provide non-postal and
noncommercial services. Additionally, S. 4619, the Postal
Banking Act of 2020, would create a pilot program aimed at
providing for low interest loans to low-income communities and
establish an alternative to predatory loans.
3:14:36 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS welcomed invited testimony.
3:14:50 PM
ALAN SORUM, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Valdez, urged passage of the
proposed resolution. He opined that USPS worked well when
properly supported, acknowledging its vitality to the state of
Alaska and its rural residents. He highlighted existing
disruptions, such as staffing issues and personnel shortages, at
the local postal office in Valdez and other communities.
Nationally, USPS was experiencing problems with the cost of
service. He understood that Alaska's federal delegation was
working to resolve some of these issues, recognizing the
importance of USPS to the state. He indicated that HJR 29 was
intended to support the federal delegation in its efforts to
pass legislation addressing postal service reform. In response
to the question from Representative Claman, he reported that The
Postal Service Reform Act of 2021 was co-sponsored by U.S.
Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan. Its companion bill,
HR 3076, was co-sponsored by Congressman Don Young.
3:19:01 PM
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN asked why the postal service no longer
offered banking services.
MR. SORUM shared his understanding that in 1910, banks were
struggling, which created the need for an alternative location
where people could access their savings and basic banking
services.
3:19:53 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN inquired about the provisions in the
federal bills related to unfunded liabilities for pension
payments and the requirement to pre-pay the pensions. He asked
whether the proposed legislation would maintain the pension
obligations while removing the pre-funding requirement.
MR. SORUM answered yes, explaining that the legislation would
establish an organization to oversee that.
3:21:03 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS invited additional questions from the
committee for the bill sponsor.
3:21:10 PM
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN turned attention to page 2 of the
resolution, which cited a loss of $69 billion over the last 11
years. He asked whether that figure was accurate.
MR. MCKEE answered yes.
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN highlighted USPS's unsustainable unfunded
liabilities that were twice annual revenues in addition to the
loss of $69 billion. He sought to confirm that the proposed fix
was for the postal service, which was going bankrupt, to get
into banking.
MR. MCKEE answered yes, through the pilot program, which could
raise an estimated $9 billion annually through low interest
loans and banking services.
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN asked how they would fund the low
interest loans.
MR. MCKEE offered to follow up with the requested information.
3:22:50 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KAUFMAN requested additional information on the
underlying federal legislation, which would clarify unanswered
questions.
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN requested sectional analyses of the
underlying federal legislation.
MR. MCKEE offered to follow up with the requested information
for HR 3076, as it was a current bill in Congress.
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN sought to confirm that HJR 29 referenced
a second piece of federal legislation.
MR. MCKEE clarified that [S.4614] the Postal Banking Act of 2020
died in the last session of Congress; however, he understood
that parts of it could be added to existing legislation.
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN asked which parts were being recommended
in HJR 29 and whether sectional analyses could be provided for
those "parts."
MR. MCKEE clarified that HJR 29 was urging Congress to pass HR
3076, the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022, and reintroduce and
pass S. 4614, the Postal Banking Act of 2020.
3:25:53 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that HJR 29 was held over.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB071_ArtsCouncil_SamplePlates_PlateDemand_07Feb2022.pdf |
HSTA 3/1/2022 3:00:00 PM |
SB 71 |
| HJR 29 Hearing Request memo.pdf |
HSTA 3/1/2022 3:00:00 PM |
HJR 29 |
| HJR 29 Version A.PDF |
HSTA 3/1/2022 3:00:00 PM |
HJR 29 |
| SB 71 Fiscal Note EED-ASCA-1-11-2022.pdf |
HSTA 3/1/2022 3:00:00 PM |
SB 71 |
| SB 71 Fiscal Note DOA-DMV-1-24-2022.pdf |
HSTA 3/1/2022 3:00:00 PM |
SB 71 |
| HJR 29 Sponsor Statement 03.01.2022.pdf |
HSTA 3/1/2022 3:00:00 PM |
HJR 29 |
| HB 234 Amendment I.10 by Kreiss-Tomkins.pdf |
HSTA 3/1/2022 3:00:00 PM |
HB 234 |
| HB 234 Amendment packet with votes - H STA 03.01.22.pdf |
HSTA 3/1/2022 3:00:00 PM |
HB 234 |