Bill Overview
Title: Ensuring an Accurate Postal Fleet Electrification Act
Description: This bill prohibits the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) from procuring any delivery vehicle under the contract it entered into in February 2021 with Oshkosh Defense until the USPS issues a revised final environmental impact statement.
Sponsors: Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12]
Target Audience
Population: US Postal Service employees and US residents relying on postal services
Estimated Size: 331000000
- The bill targets the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), which employs hundreds of thousands of workers, directly affecting all postal workers involved in the management and operation of delivery vehicles.
- USPS serves hundreds of millions of individuals and businesses in the US who rely on timely postal services, who could be impacted by any delays or changes in fleet procurement.
- This bill might indirectly affect electric vehicle manufacturers and the industries involved in the supply chain of electric vehicle production, since it pushes towards environmental assessments and possibly more eco-friendly practices.
- Environmental impact statements affect policy decisions across federal and state levels, potentially influencing legislation about vehicle emission standards and environmental protections.
- An emphasis on accurate environmental impact assessment aligns with broader climate action goals, affecting policymakers and advocacy groups focusing on sustainable practices.
Reasoning
- We expect USPS employees to be directly impacted by this policy as it pertains specifically to their operational tools and processes. For some, this might lead to job security concerns or adjustments in daily routine, thereby affecting their wellbeing.
- US residents who rely on postal services might face no direct impact in terms of personal wellbeing but may have indirect effects based on changes in service efficiency or reliability.
- Individuals concerned with environmental policy or climate action might feel positively about the move for a revised environmental impact statement, aligning with their values for sustainable practices.
- Budgetary constraints mean that the policy's direct impact is limited due to significant costs in transitioning USPS fleet to electric vehicles, so noticeable changes might not be immediate.
- Considering the policy's indirect effects on industries involved in vehicle production, economic opportunities could arise from an increased demand for electric vehicles if the revised statement promotes their procurement.
Simulated Interviews
Postal Worker (Detroit, MI)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm supportive of the environmental aspects, but I worry about how this will affect my day-to-day work and job stability if the fleet changes are delayed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Environmental Advocate (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe this policy is a step in the right direction for sustainability. Accurate environmental impact assessments are crucial for policies that truly benefit the planet.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Farmer (Rural Georgia)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As long as the deliveries aren't too disrupted, I'm okay with waiting if it's for better environmental practices. Climate change is real to me. Package delays would be frustrating though.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Small Business Owner (Houston, TX)
Age: 56 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any delay in the USPS fleet could mean delays in shipping for my business. That worries me financially, but I can appreciate the intention for environmental diligence.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
College Student (New York City, NY)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's great to ensure environmental impact is considered carefully in procurement decisions. It's part of living sustainably.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Electric Vehicle Manufacturer (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If this leads to more EV orders for the postal fleet, it could be a boon for my industry. However, delays could stall that opportunity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired (Nashville, TN)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate that the USPS is considering its environmental impact, even if it means some temporary delays.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Logistics Manager (Miami, FL)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a logistics manager, delays are always a concern, but the environmental benefits might outweigh short-term setbacks—so I'm cautiously optimistic.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
USPS Admin (Chicago, IL)
Age: 61 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Ensuring accurate environmental statements is important, but working with delays and potential budget shifts can make planning stressful.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Policy Analyst (Denver, CO)
Age: 50 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This sort of policy is essential to ensuring environmental impact assessments are taken seriously and integrated into federal decisions, though we need to track economic impacts as well.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 2: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $15000000)
Year 3: $5000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $8000000)
Year 5: $2000000 (Low: $1000000, High: $3000000)
Year 10: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $1500000)
Year 100: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $1500000)
Key Considerations
- Potential contract penalties or renegotiation costs with Oshkosh Defense.
- Risks of increased maintenance costs of older vehicles due to delays.
- Environmental benefits from ensuring fleet is aligned with future standards.
- Potential shifts in USPS service efficiency and public perception.