CHARLESTON, W.Va. – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) joined their colleagues to introduce the bipartisan Postal Service Reform Act to financially stabilize the United States Postal Service and to support providing long-term reliable service across the country. The bill strengthens transparency and accountability for Postal Service performance, eliminates unnecessary financial burdens, and helps ensure the Postal Service can better serve the American people for many years to come. Senators Manchin and Capito were joined by 18 bipartisan Senators.
“The United States Postal Service is vital to our nation’s economy, small businesses, and the daily lives of many Americans. But in recent years, USPS has faced significant challenges in delivering reliable, timely service without skyrocketing the costs for the American people. Many of these issues were due to poor leadership at USPS and the onerous requirements imposed by Congress,” said Senator Manchin. “Our bipartisan bill addresses this instability at USPS while also seeking to provide long-term reliable service for every American, no matter where they live. I am proud of this bipartisan compromise and urge my colleagues to join this vital legislation.”
“I have heard from so many fellow West Virginians over the past several months with their thoughts about our current Postal System. It’s past time to address the frustration many have voiced to me about service and delivery times, which have only worsened during the pandemic,” Senator Capito said. “This legislation puts USPS on firm and more solid financial footing, provides better transparency and accountability given recent delays in service due to COVID-19 restrictions, and allows smaller postal facilities to provide additional services, like state hunting and fishing license, that serve local needs.”
The Postal Service Reform Act would eliminate the aggressive prefunding requirement imposed by Congress that has hurt the Postal Service financially, and integrate postal worker retirees’ health care with Medicare. Together, these two reforms would create $45.9 billion in savings for the Postal Service over the next ten years. The Postmaster General recently announced a 10-year reorganization that ignores these issues while compromising service, reducing hours at some post offices and closing others entirely, and increasing costs for Americans. Instead of making these drastic changes, the Postal Service Reform Act would require the Postal Service to maintain its standard of delivering at least six days a week. The legislation would improve transparency of Postal Service operations to both customers and Congress by requiring the publication of easily accessible weekly service data on the Postal Service website, as well as issuing a detailed report to Congress every six months on Postal Service finances and operations. The bill also includes bipartisan provisions for Postal Service accountability and growth.
To see the full text of the Postal Service Reform Act, click here.
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