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Today, NALC President Brian L. Renfroe testified at a hearing before the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. The hearing focused on reform and oversight of the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) program.
Other witnesses included Scott Szymendera, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress; Luiz Santos, Acting Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor; and Tammy Hull, Inspector General, U.S. Postal Service.
In her opening remarks, Ranking Member Ilhan Omar (D-MN) referenced a Minnesota letter carrier who was struck by a speeding vehicle while on the job, was ultimately unable to return to work, and has been dependent on FECA for support. She also mentioned how letter carriers go above and beyond for their communities, highlighting NALC's Hero of the Year, Tesfaye Deyasso, a letter carrier from her district who saved a man from a burning vehicle.
President Renfroe used his opening remarks to highlight letter carriers' essential work and outline the critical health and safety issues facing letter carriers every day.
"Five years ago, during a global pandemic when most businesses shut down as the rest of the nation sheltered in place, letter carriers didn't take one day off," he said. "We were lifelines for the American people, delivering paychecks, bills, ballots, test kits, and other essential packages while providing a sense of normalcy during a time of worldwide uncertainty."
Next, he emphasized how vital FECA is for letter carriers. "Postal employees account for nearly half of the claims made to the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) each year, and letter carriers file most of these claims. FECA benefits provide critical financial support, allowing them the time to heal and rehabilitate so they can rejoin the workforce or compensate them for their lost wages if they are permanently unable to do so," he said.
Renfroe then pivoted to the pressing issues facing letter carriers, which, if appropriately addressed, could reduce workers' compensation claims – the hazards from heat and crime.
He closed by stating, "When a letter is injured, we must ensure they receive the care and the help they need. Reducing benefits or making it harder for injured workers to access care are contrary to the goals we all share – prompt provisions of benefits to injured employees and more timely return to the workplace."
Overall, questions to the witnesses focused on the administration of FECA and how to cut back on fraud and abuse.
Ranking Member Omar asked Renfroe what common challenges letter carriers face in the FECA process. He explained that provider access was one of the most significant issues and referenced the union's support for the Improving Access to Workers' Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act (H.R. 3170). This bipartisan bill would allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants to treat federal workers' compensation claims instead of just doctors.
Omar also questioned him about the importance of timely OWCP hearings. He said timeliness was "very important" and in the best interest of the workers, the Department of Labor and OWCP.
Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) started his questioning by thanking letter carriers for their service before detailing the importance of H.R 3170, the bill he co-leads.
Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) asked Renfroe if management had resistance to letter carriers taking a break when the temperature was extremely high. Renfroe explained that while USPS has a heat illness prevention program in place, it does not include all provisions recommended by experts. He added that OSHA's heat safety standard rule is the comprehensive solution to addressing heat safety for letter carriers and every worker who is exposed to extreme heat.
Rep Joe Courtney (D-CT), the co-lead of H.R. 3170, referenced the legislation. He also asked Renfroe if the union supported cracking down on "waste, fraud and abuse" in FECA. "One hundred percent," Renfroe said. He emphasized that NALC has worked for years with OWCP and past administrations to make the process as efficient as possible.
In her closing remarks, Omar said, "FECA is not just a program; it's a promise." She then voiced her support for the heat safety standard, saying it is "morally right and fiscally savvy."
President Renfroe's full testimony is available here.