APWU Milwaukee Area Local 3
7/3/25
Reconciliation Legislation Passes
Today, Republicans in the House of Representatives narrowly passed President Trump’s tax-and-spending
reconciliation bill after its passage in the Senate just two days ago. H.R. 1, the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,”
gives $4.5 trillion in tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy, paid for by the working class. The bill slashes Medicaid, food
assistance, and green-energy programs while it expands tax breaks and increases defense spending. But thanks to
an all-hands on deck campaign by postal and federal union members, every direct attack on our retirement security
was stripped from the bill before its final passage.
In the House and Senate, Democrats were united in voting against the bill. A few Republicans broke with their party
to join Democrats in opposition, including Senators Thom Tillis (NC), Rand Paul (KY), and Susan Collins (ME). In the
House, Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and Thomas Massie (KY-04) found the bill to be not-so-beautiful
and voted against it.
After Vice President JD Vance broke a tie in the Senate on Tuesday and the House of Representatives passed the bill
today, it is now headed to the president's desk to be signed into law.
As you may recall, earlier versions of the bill in the House and Senate contained many disastrous provisions aimed
at postal and federal workers, including:
1.
Increasing the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annuity contribution rate for all active employees
to 4.4%, resulting in a direct pay cut for any active employee hired before 2014;
2.
Replacing the High-3 FERS annuity calculation with a High-5 calculation, resulting in a reduction in annuity
payments;
3.
Eliminating the FERS Social Security supplement, which allows workers who have earned their retirement the
ability to retire before their Social Security benefits begin;
4.
Increasing the FERS annuity contribution rate for new hires;
5.
Establishing a filing fee for the Merit Systems Protection Board Claims and Appeals;
6.
Disposing of the Postal Service’s electric vehicle (EV) fleet and rescinding EV funding.
Thanks to the tireless activism of APWU members, and our coalition of postal and federal allies, the final version of
the reconciliation bill contains NONE of these attacks!
“This was a direct result of APWU member activism and shows our collective power,” said APWU Legislative and
Political Director Judy Beard. “I want to thank every member who picked up the phone, sent an email, wrote a letter,
or who personally met with their member of Congress. You have shown that even when the odds are stacked
against us, we can win!”
While we successfully fought off the threats most affecting postal workers, we cannot lose sight of the fact that this
bill is no doubt a crushing blow to millions of working families across the nation.
“Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder," declared APWU President Dimondstein. "What is dubbed as ‘The One Big
Beautiful Bill Act’ is beautiful if you are part of the 1%, the fossil fuel industry, or multi-national defense contractors.
For the rest of us, the working folks, this is as ugly as it gets.”
Dimondstein continued, “We are pleased that through concerted efforts, including from our members and the
APWU, the major attacks on federal and postal retirement benefits were stripped out of the final package. But let’s
be clear: Congress shamefully voted for a massive transfer of wealth from the working and low-income people to
make permanent $4 trillion in tax breaks for corporate America, Wall Street and the fat cats. It should never be
acceptable to reward those who need it the least by taking away Medicaid health care benefits, nutritional
assistance and educational support from those who need it the most.”
Although many harmful provisions were successfully removed from this bill, we ask that you continue to stay
vigilant. There are other dangerous bills currently moving through Congress and the APWU will keep you informed
of our future fights.
APWU Milwaukee Area Local 3
7/3/25
Reconciliation
Legislation Passes
Today, Republicans in the House of Representatives
narrowly passed President Trump’s tax-and-spending
reconciliation bill after its passage in the Senate just
two days ago. H.R. 1, the so-called “One Big Beautiful
Bill Act,” gives $4.5 trillion in tax cuts to the ultra-
wealthy, paid for by the working class. The bill slashes
Medicaid, food assistance, and green-energy programs
while it expands tax breaks and increases defense
spending. But thanks to an all-hands on deck
campaign by postal and federal union members, every
direct attack on our retirement security was stripped
from the bill before its final passage.
In the House and Senate, Democrats were united in
voting against the bill. A few Republicans broke with
their party to join Democrats in opposition, including
Senators Thom Tillis (NC), Rand Paul (KY), and Susan
Collins (ME). In the House, Representatives Brian
Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and Thomas Massie (KY-04) found
the bill to be not-so-beautiful and voted against it.
After Vice President JD Vance broke a tie in the Senate
on Tuesday and the House of Representatives passed
the bill today, it is now headed to the president's desk
to be signed into law.
As you may recall, earlier versions of the bill in the
House and Senate contained many disastrous
provisions aimed at postal and federal workers,
including:
1.
Increasing the Federal Employees Retirement
System (FERS) annuity contribution rate for all
active employees to 4.4%, resulting in a direct pay
cut for any active employee hired before 2014;
2.
Replacing the High-3 FERS annuity calculation with
a High-5 calculation, resulting in a reduction in
annuity payments;
3.
Eliminating the FERS Social Security supplement,
which allows workers who have earned their
retirement the ability to retire before their Social
Security benefits begin;
4.
Increasing the FERS annuity contribution rate for
new hires;
5.
Establishing a filing fee for the Merit Systems
Protection Board Claims and Appeals;
6.
Disposing of the Postal Service’s electric vehicle
(EV) fleet and rescinding EV funding.
Thanks to the tireless activism of APWU members, and
our coalition of postal and federal allies, the final
version of the reconciliation bill contains NONE of
these attacks!
“This was a direct result of APWU member activism
and shows our collective power,” said APWU
Legislative and Political Director Judy Beard. “I want to
thank every member who picked up the phone, sent
an email, wrote a letter, or who personally met with
their member of Congress. You have shown that even
when the odds are stacked against us, we can win!”
While we successfully fought off the threats most
affecting postal workers, we cannot lose sight of the
fact that this bill is no doubt a crushing blow to
millions of working families across the nation.
“Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder," declared APWU
President Dimondstein. "What is dubbed as ‘The One
Big Beautiful Bill Act’ is beautiful if you are part of the
1%, the fossil fuel industry, or multi-national defense
contractors. For the rest of us, the working folks, this is
as ugly as it gets.”
Dimondstein continued, “We are pleased that through
concerted efforts, including from our members and
the APWU, the major attacks on federal and postal
retirement benefits were stripped out of the final
package. But let’s be clear: Congress shamefully voted
for a massive transfer of wealth from the working and
low-income people to make permanent $4 trillion in
tax breaks for corporate America, Wall Street and the
fat cats. It should never be acceptable to reward those
who need it the least by taking away Medicaid health
care benefits, nutritional assistance and educational
support from those who need it the most.”
Although many harmful provisions were successfully
removed from this bill, we ask that you continue to
stay vigilant. There are other dangerous bills currently
moving through Congress and the APWU will keep you
informed of our future fights.
APWU Milwaukee Area Local 3
7/3/25
Reconciliation Legislation Passes
Today, Republicans in the House of Representatives narrowly passed President Trump’s tax-and-spending reconciliation bill after its passage in the Senate just
two days ago. H.R. 1, the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” gives $4.5 trillion in tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy, paid for by the working class. The bill slashes
Medicaid, food assistance, and green-energy programs while it expands tax breaks and increases defense spending. But thanks to an all-hands on deck
campaign by postal and federal union members, every direct attack on our retirement security was stripped from the bill before its final passage.
In the House and Senate, Democrats were united in voting against the bill. A few Republicans broke with their party to join Democrats in opposition, including
Senators Thom Tillis (NC), Rand Paul (KY), and Susan Collins (ME). In the House, Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and Thomas Massie (KY-04) found the
bill to be not-so-beautiful and voted against it.
After Vice President JD Vance broke a tie in the Senate on Tuesday and the House of Representatives passed the bill today, it is now headed to the president's
desk to be signed into law.
As you may recall, earlier versions of the bill in the House and Senate contained many disastrous provisions aimed at postal and federal workers, including:
1.
Increasing the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annuity contribution rate for all active employees to 4.4%, resulting in a direct pay cut for any
active employee hired before 2014;
2.
Replacing the High-3 FERS annuity calculation with a High-5 calculation, resulting in a reduction in annuity payments;
3.
Eliminating the FERS Social Security supplement, which allows workers who have earned their retirement the ability to retire before their Social Security
benefits begin;
4.
Increasing the FERS annuity contribution rate for new hires;
5.
Establishing a filing fee for the Merit Systems Protection Board Claims and Appeals;
6.
Disposing of the Postal Service’s electric vehicle (EV) fleet and rescinding EV funding.
Thanks to the tireless activism of APWU members, and our coalition of postal and federal allies, the final version of the reconciliation bill contains NONE of these
attacks!
“This was a direct result of APWU member activism and shows our collective power,” said APWU Legislative and Political Director Judy Beard. “I want to thank
every member who picked up the phone, sent an email, wrote a letter, or who personally met with their member of Congress. You have shown that even when
the odds are stacked against us, we can win!”
While we successfully fought off the threats most affecting postal workers, we cannot lose sight of the fact that this bill is no doubt a crushing blow to millions of
working families across the nation.
“Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder," declared APWU President Dimondstein. "What is dubbed as ‘The One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ is beautiful if you are part of
the 1%, the fossil fuel industry, or multi-national defense contractors. For the rest of us, the working folks, this is as ugly as it gets.”
Dimondstein continued, “We are pleased that through concerted efforts, including from our members and the APWU, the major attacks on federal and postal
retirement benefits were stripped out of the final package. But let’s be clear: Congress shamefully voted for a massive transfer of wealth from the working and
low-income people to make permanent $4 trillion in tax breaks for corporate America, Wall Street and the fat cats. It should never be acceptable to reward those
who need it the least by taking away Medicaid health care benefits, nutritional assistance and educational support from those who need it the most.”
Although many harmful provisions were successfully removed from this bill, we ask that you continue to stay vigilant. There are other dangerous bills currently
moving through Congress and the APWU will keep you informed of our future fights.
