Postmasters Equity Act of 2003
Public Law 108-86 · S. 678 · 108th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by George W. Bush (R) on Sep 30, 2003 · Government Operations and Politics
Sponsor: Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI)
Cosponsors (39): Sen. Susan Collins, Sen. Tom Daschle,
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 426 yea, 0 nay426–0
- SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Postmasters Equity Act of 2003 - Amends Federal law to authorize an organization (other than an organization representing supervisors) that represents at least 20 percent of certain postmasters to participate directly in the planning and development of pay policies and schedules, and fringe benefit programs, and other programs relating to supervisory and other managerial employees.
Grants the postmasters and postmasters' organizations the same consultation and other rights afforded to supervisors and supervisors' organizations.
Provides that if two or more postmasters' organizations exist such organizations shall: (1) be treated as if they constituted a single organization and in accordance with such arrangements as the organizations shall mutually agree to; and (2) in the case of any fact-finding panel convened by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service at the organizations' request, be jointly and severally liable for the cost of such panel, apart from the portion to be borne by the Service.
States that for purposes of the Employee Thrift Advisory Council's membership: (1) each of such two or more postmasters' organizations shall be treated as a separate organization; and (2) any determination of the number of individuals represented by each of those respective organizations shall be made in a manner consistent with this Act's purposes.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 108th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 426 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
426 yea0 nay9 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(200)
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-14
Rep. Jim McDermottD-WA-7
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-13
Rep. Maxine WatersD-CA-35
Rep. Barbara LeeD-CA-9
Rep. Bob FilnerD-CA-51
Rep. Jan SchakowskyD-IL-9
Rep. Dennis KucinichD-OH-10
Rep. John LewisD-GA-5
Rep. Lynn WoolseyD-CA-6
Rep. Michael CapuanoD-MA-8
Rep. Raúl GrijalvaD-AZ-7
Rep. John OlverD-MA-1
Rep. Alcee HastingsD-FL-23
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
Rep. Donald PayneD-NJ-10
Rep. Jesse JacksonD-IL-2
Rep. Maurice HincheyD-NY-22
Rep. Tammy BaldwinD-WI-2
Rep. Jim McGovernD-MA-3
Rep. John TierneyD-MA-6- Rep. Major OwensD-NY-11
Rep. Barney FrankD-MA-4
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
Rep. Diane WatsonD-CA-33
Rep. Nydia VelázquezD-NY-12- Rep. Stephanie JonesD-OH-11
Rep. Ed TownsD-NY-10
Rep. Hilda SolisD-CA-32
Rep. Wm. ClayD-MO-1
Rep. Mel WattD-NC-12
Rep. Bernie SandersD-VT
Rep. Mike HondaD-CA-15
Rep. Peter DeFazioD-OR-4
Rep. Sam FarrD-CA-17
Rep. Linda SánchezD-CA-39
Rep. Bill DelahuntD-MA-10
Rep. Jerrold NadlerD-NY-8
Rep. Danny DavisD-IL-7
Rep. Louise SlaughterD-NY-28- Rep. Julia CarsonD-IN-7
Rep. Carolyn KilpatrickD-MI-13
Rep. Bennie ThompsonD-MS-2
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-30
Rep. Lloyd DoggettD-TX-10
Rep. Sherrod BrownD-OH-13
Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeD-TX-18
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-15
Rep. Nancy PelosiD-CA-8
Rep. Luis GutiérrezD-IL-4
Rep. Bobby RushD-IL-1
Rep. Rush HoltD-NJ-12
Rep. Xavier BecerraD-CA-31
Rep. Tom UdallD-NM-3
Rep. Bobby ScottD-VA-3- Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
- Rep. Lane EvansD-IL-17
Rep. Eddie JohnsonD-TX-30
Rep. Rosa DeLauroD-CT-3
Rep. Frank PalloneD-NJ-6
Rep. José SerranoD-NY-16
Rep. Ed PastorD-AZ-4- Rep. Frank BallanceD-NC-1
Rep. Elijah CummingsD-MD-7
Rep. Diana DeGetteD-CO-1- Rep. Jerry KleczkaD-WI-4
Rep. Grace NapolitanoD-CA-38
Rep. Lucille Roybal-AllardD-CA-34
Rep. Jim ClyburnD-SC-6- Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonaldD-CA-37
Rep. John LarsonD-CT-1
Rep. Zoe LofgrenD-CA-16
Rep. Earl BlumenauerD-OR-3
Rep. Lois CappsD-CA-23
Rep. Richard NealD-MA-2
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
Rep. Marcy KapturD-OH-9
Rep. Patrick KennedyD-RI-1
Rep. Tom AllenD-ME-1
Rep. Betty McCollumD-MN-4
Rep. Corrine BrownD-FL-3- Rep. Ted StricklandD-OH-6
Rep. Mark UdallD-CO-2
Rep. Robert BradyD-PA-1
Rep. Gary AckermanD-NY-5- Rep. Marty MeehanD-MA-5
Rep. Tim RyanD-OH-17
Rep. Robert WexlerD-FL-19
Rep. Chris Van HollenD-MD-8
Rep. Anthony WeinerD-NY-9
Rep. Brad ShermanD-CA-27
Rep. Carolyn MaloneyD-NY-14
Rep. Peter ViscloskyD-IN-1- Rep. Karen McCarthyD-MO-5
Rep. Brian BairdD-WA-3
Rep. John DingellD-MI-15
Rep. Anna EshooD-CA-14
Rep. Neil AbercrombieD-HI-1
Rep. Loretta SanchezD-CA-47- Rep. Tom LantosD-CA-12
- Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-5
Rep. Bart StupakD-MI-1
Rep. Rahm EmanuelD-IL-5
Rep. William JeffersonD-LA-2
Rep. Howard BermanD-CA-28
Rep. Rob AndrewsD-NJ-1
Rep. Michael McNultyD-NY-21
Rep. Kendrick MeekD-FL-17
Rep. Jay InsleeD-WA-1
Rep. Eliot EngelD-NY-17
Rep. Mike ThompsonD-CA-1
Rep. Rick LarsenD-WA-2
Rep. Ciro RodriguezD-TX-28
Rep. Gregory MeeksD-NY-6
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-5- Rep. Denise MajetteD-GA-4
Rep. Jim LangevinD-RI-2
Rep. Bill PascrellD-NJ-8
Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5
Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-12
Rep. Timothy BishopD-NY-1
Rep. Brad MillerD-NC-13
Rep. Steven RothmanD-NJ-9
Rep. Bob MenendezD-NJ-13
Rep. Joe CrowleyD-NY-7- Rep. Joseph HoeffelD-PA-13
Rep. Adam SchiffD-CA-29- Rep. Chris BellD-TX-25
Rep. Nita LoweyD-NY-18
Rep. Michael DoyleD-PA-14
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-3
Rep. Gene GreenD-TX-29
Rep. Nick LampsonD-TX-9
Rep. Shelley BerkleyD-NV-1
Rep. Stephen LynchD-MA-9
Rep. Ellen TauscherD-CA-10
Rep. David WuD-OR-1
Rep. Joe BacaD-CA-43
Rep. Marion BerryD-AR-1
Rep. Jerry CostelloD-IL-12
Rep. Susan DavisD-CA-53- Rep. Albert WynnD-MD-4
Rep. Benjamin CardinD-MD-3
Rep. Carolyn McCarthyD-NY-4
Rep. Michael MichaudD-ME-2
Rep. Paul KanjorskiD-PA-11- Rep. Martin FrostD-TX-24
Rep. David PriceD-NC-4
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
Rep. Artur DavisD-AL-7
Rep. Bob EtheridgeD-NC-2
Rep. Jane HarmanD-CA-36
Rep. Rubén HinojosaD-TX-15
Rep. John SprattD-SC-5
Rep. Steve IsraelD-NY-2
Rep. Charlie GonzalezD-TX-20
Rep. Jim MoranD-VA-8
Rep. Darlene HooleyD-OR-5- Rep. Jim DavisD-FL-11
Rep. Alan MollohanD-WV-1
Rep. A. Dutch RuppersbergerD-MD-2
Rep. Ron KindD-WI-3
Rep. Mike RossD-AR-4
Rep. Silvestre ReyesD-TX-16- Rep. Max SandlinD-TX-1
Rep. Baron HillD-IN-9
Rep. Jim CooperD-TN-5
Rep. Leonard BoswellD-IA-3
Rep. Dennis MooreD-KS-3
Rep. Sanford BishopD-GA-2
Rep. Vic SnyderD-AR-2
Rep. Solomon OrtizD-TX-27
Rep. Adam SmithD-WA-9
Rep. John TannerD-TN-8
Rep. Dennis CardozaD-CA-18
Rep. Mike McIntyreD-NC-7
Rep. Ed CaseD-HI-2
Rep. Earl PomeroyD-ND
Rep. Rick BoucherD-VA-9
Rep. David ScottD-GA-13
Rep. Tim HoldenD-PA-17
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4- Rep. Jim TurnerD-TX-2
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12- Rep. William LipinskiD-IL-3
Rep. Chet EdwardsD-TX-11
Rep. Bart GordonD-TN-6- Rep. Cal DooleyD-CA-20
- Rep. Brad CarsonD-OK-2
Rep. Lincoln DavisD-TN-4
Rep. Gene TaylorD-MS-4
Rep. Jim MarshallD-GA-3
Rep. Allen BoydD-FL-2
Rep. Jim MathesonD-UT-2- Rep. Chris JohnD-LA-7
Rep. Collin PetersonD-MN-7- Rep. Charlie StenholmD-TX-17
- Rep. Ken LucasD-KY-4
Rep. Rodney AlexanderD-LA-5
Rep. Bud CramerD-AL-5
Republicans who voted yea(226)
- Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-2
Rep. Michael CastleR-DE
Rep. Christopher ShaysR-CT-4
Rep. Timothy JohnsonR-IL-15- Rep. Doug BereuterR-NE-1
- Rep. Rob SimmonsR-CT-2
- Rep. Sherry BoehlertR-NY-24
Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4
Rep. Heather WilsonR-NM-1
Rep. Frank LoBiondoR-NJ-2
Rep. John McHughR-NY-23
Rep. Fred UptonR-MI-6
Rep. Steven LaTouretteR-OH-14- Rep. Jack QuinnR-NY-27
Rep. Ray LaHoodR-IL-18- Rep. Sue KellyR-NY-19
Rep. Jim SaxtonR-NJ-3
Rep. Shelley CapitoR-WV-2- Rep. Ernie FletcherR-KY-6
- Rep. Curt WeldonR-PA-7
- Rep. John SweeneyR-NY-20
- Rep. Amo HoughtonR-NY-29
Rep. Pete KingR-NY-3
Rep. Jon PorterR-NV-3
Rep. Jim GerlachR-PA-6
Rep. Vernon EhlersR-MI-3
Rep. Jo Ann EmersonR-MO-8- Rep. Bill JanklowR-SD
Rep. Mike FergusonR-NJ-7- Rep. Nancy JohnsonR-CT-5
Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10
Rep. Phil EnglishR-PA-3
Rep. Jim WalshR-NY-25
Rep. Tom LathamR-IA-4
Rep. Richard BurrR-NC-5
Rep. Rodney FrelinghuysenR-NJ-11
Rep. Rick RenziR-AZ-1
Rep. Todd PlattsR-PA-19- Rep. Bob NeyR-OH-18
- Rep. George NethercuttR-WA-5
Rep. Mary Bono MackR-CA-45
Rep. Mark KirkR-IL-10- Rep. Clay ShawR-FL-22
Rep. Ed WhitfieldR-KY-1
Rep. Tom DavisR-VA-11
Rep. Greg WaldenR-OR-2
Rep. Ileana Ros-LehtinenR-FL-18
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
Rep. Dave HobsonR-OH-7- Rep. Tom OsborneR-NE-3
- Rep. Jim GreenwoodR-PA-8
Rep. Ralph HallD-TX-4
Rep. Tim MurphyR-PA-18
Rep. Candice MillerR-MI-10
Rep. Ken CalvertR-CA-44
Rep. Wayne GilchrestR-MD-1- Rep. Paul GillmorR-OH-5
- Rep. Jeb BradleyR-NH-1
Rep. John PetersonR-PA-5
Rep. Lincoln Diaz-BalartR-FL-21- Rep. Mark FoleyR-FL-16
Rep. Thad McCotterR-MI-11
Rep. Deborah PryceR-OH-15- Rep. Anne NorthupR-KY-3
Rep. Michael TurnerR-OH-3
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-41- Rep. Don SherwoodR-PA-10
Rep. Jerry WellerR-IL-11
Rep. Judy BiggertR-IL-13
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-10- Rep. Jim KolbeR-AZ-8
Rep. Mike RogersR-AL-3
Rep. Don YoungR-AK- Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
Rep. Joe KnollenbergR-MI-9
Rep. Mike SimpsonR-ID-2
Rep. Ander CrenshawR-FL-4
Rep. Dave CampR-MI-4- Rep. Doug OseR-CA-3
Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5
Rep. Frank LucasR-OK-3
Rep. Ginny Brown-WaiteR-FL-5
Rep. Rob PortmanR-OH-2
Rep. Kay GrangerR-TX-12
Rep. Henry BrownR-SC-1- Rep. Jim NussleR-IA-1
- Rep. Max BurnsR-GA-12
- Rep. Billy TauzinR-LA-3
- Rep. Porter GossR-FL-14
Rep. Darrell IssaR-CA-49
Rep. Elton GalleglyR-CA-24- Rep. Duke CunninghamR-CA-50
Rep. Roger WickerR-MS-1- Rep. Bill ThomasR-CA-22
Rep. Robert AderholtR-AL-4- Rep. Henry BonillaR-TX-23
Rep. Buck McKeonR-CA-25
Rep. David DreierR-CA-26
Rep. Jerry MoranR-KS-1
Rep. Zach WampR-TN-3
Rep. Devin NunesR-CA-21
Rep. Lamar SmithR-TX-21
Rep. Denny RehbergR-MT- Rep. Jennifer DunnR-WA-8
Rep. Mike RogersR-MI-8
Rep. John BoozmanR-AR-3
Rep. John MicaR-FL-7- Rep. Michael OxleyR-OH-4
Rep. Bill ShusterR-PA-9
Rep. Tom ColeR-OK-4
Rep. Thomas ReynoldsR-NY-26
Rep. Spencer BachusR-AL-6
Rep. Charlie BassR-NH-2
Rep. Kenny HulshofR-MO-9
Rep. Steve PearceR-NM-2- Rep. Cass BallengerR-NC-10
- Rep. Bill JenkinsR-TN-1
Rep. Jo BonnerR-AL-1
Rep. Ron LewisR-KY-2
Rep. Doc HastingsR-WA-4- Rep. Michael BilirakisR-FL-9
Rep. Robin HayesR-NC-8
Rep. Adam PutnamR-FL-12
Rep. Pat TiberiR-OH-12
Rep. Jim McCreryR-LA-4
Rep. Mark SouderR-IN-3
Rep. Duncan HunterR-CA-52- Rep. Richard PomboR-CA-11
- Rep. Jo Ann DavisR-VA-1
- Rep. Richard BakerR-LA-6
Rep. Steve BuyerR-IN-4- Rep. Katherine HarrisR-FL-13
Rep. Virgil GoodeR-VA-5
Rep. Randy ForbesR-VA-4- Rep. Charles TaylorR-NC-11
Rep. Todd TiahrtR-KS-4
Rep. Dave WeldonR-FL-15
Rep. John DoolittleR-CA-4
Rep. John BoehnerR-OH-8
Rep. George RadanovichR-CA-19- Rep. Ernest IstookR-OK-5
- Rep. Melissa HartR-PA-4
Rep. Roy BluntR-MO-7
Rep. Walter JonesR-NC-3
Rep. John ShimkusR-IL-19
Rep. Dan BurtonR-IN-5
Rep. Bob GoodlatteR-VA-6
Rep. Jim RamstadR-MN-3- Rep. Ed SchrockR-VA-2
Rep. Sam GravesR-MO-6
Rep. John KlineR-MN-2
Rep. Phil GingreyR-GA-11
Rep. Vito FossellaR-NY-13- Rep. Tom DeLayR-TX-22
- Rep. Mark GreenR-WI-8
Rep. Ric KellerR-FL-8
Rep. Terry EverettR-AL-2- Rep. Jim RyunR-KS-2
Rep. Eric CantorR-VA-7
Rep. Mario Diaz-BalartR-FL-25
Rep. John CarterR-TX-31
Rep. John SullivanR-OK-1
Rep. David VitterR-LA-1
Rep. Lee TerryR-NE-2- Rep. Scott McInnisR-CO-3
- Rep. Jim GibbonsR-NV-2
Rep. Donald ManzulloR-IL-16
Rep. Rob BishopR-UT-1- Rep. Bob BeauprezR-CO-7
Rep. Jack KingstonR-GA-1
Rep. Joe BartonR-TX-6
Rep. Pete HoekstraR-MI-2
Rep. Johnny IsaksonR-GA-6- Rep. J.D. HayworthR-AZ-5
- Rep. Mark KennedyR-MN-6
- Rep. Chris ChocolaR-IN-2
Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6
Rep. John CulbersonR-TX-7
Rep. John LinderR-GA-7
Rep. Gary MillerR-CA-42
Rep. Mac ThornberryR-TX-13
Rep. Randy NeugebauerR-TX-19
Rep. Michael BurgessR-TX-26
Rep. Joe WilsonR-SC-2- Rep. Gil GutknechtR-MN-1
Rep. Kevin BradyR-TX-8
Rep. Joseph PittsR-PA-16
Rep. Howard CobleR-NC-6
Rep. Steve ChabotR-OH-1- Rep. Christopher CoxR-CA-48
Rep. Paul RyanR-WI-1
Rep. Marsha BlackburnR-TN-7
Rep. Wally HergerR-CA-2
Rep. Pete SessionsR-TX-32
Rep. Chris CannonR-UT-3- Rep. Charlie NorwoodR-GA-9
- Rep. Phil CraneR-IL-8
Rep. Mac CollinsR-GA-8
Rep. Jim DeMintR-SC-4
Rep. Sue MyrickR-NC-9
Rep. Nathan DealR-GA-10
Rep. Sam JohnsonR-TX-3- Rep. John HostettlerR-IN-8
Rep. Steve KingR-IA-5
Rep. Marilyn MusgraveR-CO-4
Rep. Todd AkinR-MO-2
Rep. J. Gresham BarrettR-SC-3
Rep. Jimmy DuncanR-TN-2- Rep. Nick SmithR-MI-7
Rep. Scott GarrettR-NJ-5
Rep. Cliff StearnsR-FL-6
Rep. Mike PenceR-IN-6
Rep. Tom FeeneyR-FL-24- Rep. Joel HefleyR-CO-5
Rep. Jeb HensarlingR-TX-5
Rep. Tom TancredoR-CO-6
Rep. Ed RoyceR-CA-40
Rep. Roscoe BartlettR-MD-6- Rep. Butch OtterR-ID-1
Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-5
Rep. Jeff MillerR-FL-1
Rep. Pat ToomeyR-PA-15
Rep. John ShadeggR-AZ-3
Rep. Trent FranksR-AZ-2
Rep. Ron PaulR-TX-14
Rep. Jeff FlakeR-AZ-6
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 503 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Related bills
1 bill the Library of Congress relates to this one.
H.R. 2249Related bill
Postmasters Equity Act of 2003
Data notes
Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 20 actions.
- Sep 30, 2003Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 108-86.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Sep 18, 2003FloorFloor · Presented to President.
- Sep 16, 2003FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 426 - 0 (Roll no. 505).House roll call 505
- FloorFloor · Considered as unfinished business.
- FloorFloor · At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
- FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 678.
- FloorFloor · Considered under suspension of the rules.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Burton (IN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- Sep 3, 2003FloorFloor · Held at the desk.
- FloorFloor · Received in the House.
- FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Jul 29, 2003FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Jul 25, 2003CalendarCalendar · Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 235.
- CommitteeCommittee · Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Collins with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 108-112.
- Jun 17, 2003CommitteeCommittee · Committee on Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
- Mar 20, 2003CommitteeCommittee · Read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
- CommitteeCommittee · Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4175-4176)
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in Senate
Data notes
Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.
Amendments
No amendments to this bill are on record.
Data notes
Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.
Official record
The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.