NAPO meets with Senator Landrieu's Staff regarding the PPOA
August 8, 2013
On August 7, 2013, NAPO met with Senator Landrieu’s (D-LA) staff to discuss language modifications to Title 18, United States Code, Section 3061 that will positively impact NAPO’s member group, the Postal Police Officers Association (PPOA). (Senator Landrieu is the Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Homeland Security).
In Title 18, U.S.C., Section 3061, Congress prescribed law enforcement functions for the Postal Service. These functions are to be carried out by Postal Inspectors and uniformed police. Congress granted the Postal Service the authority to have Postal Police Officers serve warrants and subpoenas and conduct certain postal investigations. The Postal Service has not yet availed itself of this authority. NAPO has been working closely with the PPOA to clarify the language of the aforementioned section of the United States Code to ensure Postal Police Officers are utilized to their full capacity. Senator Landrieu’s staff was receptive to our proposed language modifications.
Over the past several months, NAPO and the PPOA have focused much effort to providing briefings on this issue to over a dozen members of Congress. We have received a great deal of positive feedback, and we are confident that our language proposals will be considered as both the House and Senate move forward with legislation to reform the U.S. Postal Service (H.R. 2309 & S.1486).
NAPO and the PPOA are scheduled to meet with Senator Coburn’s (R-OK) staff on August 14th to follow-up on the briefing we provided to the office in May 2013. (Senator Coburn and Senator Carper (D-DE) introduced the Senate’s version of postal reform legislation (S.1486) on August 1st).
NAPO will continue to provide updates on the progress of this initiative. If you have any questions about this issue, please contact Melissa Nee at: mnee@napo.org.