To improve the Postal Service Health Benefits Program.

SA 2074. Mr. ROCKEFELLER submitted an amendment intended to be
proposed by him to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform
the United States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on the
table; as follows:

On page 14, strike line 15 and all that follows through
page 16, line 7, and insert the following:
(B) be available for participation by any officer or
employee of the Postal Service who is not a covered employee;
(C) provide benefits comparable to the Federal Employee
Health Benefits Plan, as determined by the Director of the
Office of Personnel Management;
(D) be administered in a manner determined in a joint
agreement reached under subsection (b); and
(E) provide for transition of coverage under the Federal
Employee Health Benefits Program of all officers and
employees of the Postal Service to coverage under the Postal
Service Health Benefits Program on January 1, 2013;
(2) shall include a program through which officers and
employees of the Postal Service may obtain dental benefits;
and
(3) shall include a program through which officers and
employees of the Postal Service may obtain vision benefits.
(d) Agreement and Implementation.--If a joint agreement is
reached under subsection (b)--
(1) the Postal Service shall implement the Postal Service
Health Benefits Program;
(2) the Postal Service Health Benefits Program shall
constitute an agreement between the collective bargaining
representatives and the Postal Service for purposes of
section 1005(f) of title 39, United States Code; and

[[Page S2516]]

(3) officers and employees of the Postal Service may not
participate as employees in the Federal Employees Health
Benefits Program.
(e) Government Plan.--The Postal Service Health Benefits
Program shall be a government plan as that term is defined
under section 3(32) of Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1002(32)).
(f) Report.--Not later than June 30, 2013, the Postal
Service shall submit a report to the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of
Representatives that--
(1) reports on the implementation of this section; and
(2) requests any additional statutory authority that the
Postal Service determines is necessary to carry out the
purposes of this section.
(g) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed as an endorsement by Congress for withdrawing
officers and employees of the Postal Service from the Federal
Employee Health Benefits Program.
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