NEMOA | News Detail

Mailing Industry Makes Progress at Senate Postal Bill Markup
Washington Update:
Mailers' Voice Heard at Senate Markup;
Support for Baldwin Amendment Alters Discussion

Washington Update:
Mailers' Voice Heard at Senate Markup;
Support for Baldwin Amendment Alters Discussion

To All With Catalog Interests:

Many thanks to the catalogers, suppliers and others in the mailing industry who have stepped up to contact Members of the Senate oversight committee concerning the impact of Section 301 in the revised postal draft legislation. Due to your action, it appeared Senator Tammy Baldwin had a majority of the committee supporting her amendment to strike Section 301 even though a formal vote was not taken during yesterday's markup of the Senate's postal reform bill. Instead, the committee adjourned after discussing about 10 of the more than 30 amendments offered. Senators and staff are now attempting to find common ground. No word on when the markup process will be reconvened.

Although a lot of work remains to be done by the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee to settle on legislation that can be passed and reported out to the full Senate for consideration, the impact of the mailing community was very much in evidence. Months ago, little support for mailing industry concerns were in evidence. Yesterday was a different story.

While we could fill volumes with all the details, the bottom line is the industry made a difference yesterday. If you would like a more detailed accounting of the state of play, please email us. Please be ready for some more constituent advocacy. With some persistence and a bit of luck, we can get a postal reform bill that is workable for all three major stakeholder groups: postal management, postal unions and the mailers who underwrite 90% of the costs of operating this nationwide system.

We need to keep the pressure on. As the days progress, contacts to the HSGAC Members will still have an impact. If you have constituent standing with any of the Senators listed below and have not already reached out to them, please do so right away. More courageous Senators like Ms. Baldwin need and deserve our support.

Sincerely,

Hamilton Davison
President & Executive Director
American Catalog Mailers Association
www.catalogmailers.org
hdavison@catalogmailers.org

Senators To Contact
Please contact the following Members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee: Carl Levin (D-MI); John McCain (R-AZ); Mark Pryor (D-AR); Ron Johnson (R-WI); Mary Landrieu (D-LA); Rob Portman (R-OH); Claire McCaskill (D-MO); Rand Paul (R-KY), Jon Tester (D-MT); Mike Enzi (R-WY); Mark Begich (D-AK); Kelly Ayotte (R-NH); Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND). Also, contact the following key senators: Kay Hagan (D-NC); Al Franken (D-MN); Jeff Merkley (D-OR); Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH); Joe Manchin (D-WV); Mitch McConnell (R-KY); Susan Collins (R-ME); Lindsey Graham (R-SC); Jeff Sessions (R-AL).

For further background on this effort, click here and click here for our previous alerts. Thank you for your help in this effort.

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About ACMA
ACMA is a Washington-based not-for-profit organization specifically created to advocate for the unique collective interests of catalog mailers in regulatory, public and administrative matters where the shared impact transcends individual company interests. The only catalog owned and controlled trade group focused solely on the business interests of catalogers and their supply chain, ACMA participates in rule-making and other proceedings of significance where a single collective voice increases influence and effectiveness. Membership is open to any party with direct interests in the catalog industry. More information can be found at www.catalogmailers.org.

© 2014 American Catalog Mailers Association, Inc. You are encouraged to pass this message on to others in the catalog industry.

Published: 01/30/14