Sen. Jon Ossoff wants to change how postmasters are hired and fired. Rep. Rick Allen wants to rid company retirement plans of environmental, social and corporate governance concerns.
Ossoff, Georgia’s senior U.S. senator, introduced Wednesday the Postmaster General Reform Act of 2024, according to a release.
The bill would make the position of postmaster general a presidential appointment subject to confirmation by the Senater and subject to a term limlit of two five-year terms.
Postmaster General Reform Act
“What we have seen in the State of Georgia over the last year has been abysmal performance by U.S. Postal Service leadership,” Ossoff said in a virtual news conference.
Ossoff has launched inquiries into Georgia incidents such as taxpayers being billed penalties and interest for IRS payments late or missing due to postal delays. Official court correspondence has been marked “return to sender” by the post office.
Bill to better DETECT fentanyl at border
Also Wednesday, Ossoff’s bipartisan bill to crack down on fentanyl trafficking at the southern border passed a key Senate committee.
The Detection Equipment and Technology Evaluation to Counter the Threat of (DETECT) Fentanyl and Xylazine Act passed the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee. The bill would strengthen DHS’ ability to detect and prevent fentanyl and zylazine from crossing the border.
Allen’s bill blocks investment in ‘woke’ policies
Augusta U.S. Rep. Rick Allen’s H.R. 5339 passed the Republican-led House Wednesday.
The Protecting Americans’ Investments from Woke Policies Act is intended to prioritize retirement plan financial returns over corporate environmental, social and governance factors.
“By empowering financial advisors to invest retirement savings in risky, climate-related ESG funds, the Biden-Harris Administration is hijacking Americans’ hard-earned money in favor of their widely unpopular rush-to-green agenda,” Allen said.
“It is common sense that financial institutions should only base investment decisions on economic factors, not irrelevant considerations, such as DEI,” he said.
H.R. 5339 is a package of bills that includes Allen’s Roll Back ESG to Increase Retirement Earnings (RETIRE) Act, intended to codify that Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 sponsors prioritize financial returns in investment decisions over environmental, social or governance concerns such as CEO salaries.
It also includes Rep. Erin Houchin’s Retirement Proxy Protection Act, which allows fiduciaries not to vote on every proxy or exercise every shareholder right if they don’t promote strictly financial interests.
Wilson returns after pacemaker implant
South Carolina 2nd District Congressman Joe Wilson took ill Sept. 10 according to a social media post. On Sept. 13, he received a pacemaker and was back at work Monday, according to his House page.
Warnock, Ossoff announce airport funding
Friday, Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock and Ossoff announced $63 million in federal funding for Georgia airports, including $8 million for taxiway construction and upgrades for Augusta Regional Airport.
The funds came from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which includes about $619 million for Georgia airports.
