WASHINGTON, D.C — Today, U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, as well as U.S. Representatives Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY-12) and James Comer (R-KY-01), Chairwoman and Ranking Members of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, issued the following statements after President Biden signed the historic Postal Service Reform Act into law:
“This historic, bipartisan law is a momentous achievement that shows when lawmakers put their differences aside and work together, we can deliver meaningful results for the American people. For nearly 250 years, the United States Postal Service has worked to deliver essential mail to businesses and households all across this nation. However, in recent years we saw how unfair policies forced this treasured institution to cut costs and delayed the delivery of medication, financial documents, and other critical mail,” said Chairman Peters. “These long overdue reforms will undo these burdensome financial requirements, save the Postal Service billions of dollars to help prevent future cuts that harm service, and ensure this public institution is accountable and transparent to the American people. I am grateful to my colleagues for helping me lead this legislation and securing significant support for these reforms on both sides of the aisle. Together, our efforts will ensure the Postal Service can continue to connect Michiganders and all Americans for years to come.”
“I am proud that our bipartisan Postal Service Reform Act has officially been signed into law. This historic piece of legislation, when coupled with the Postal Service’s transformative 10-year plan, will set the United States Postal Service on a more sustainable financial footing and support the goal of providing long-term reliable service across the country,” said Ranking Member Portman. “Our legislation will make the first major reforms to the Postal Service in nearly 15 years, and will help continue to bind Americans together and ensure the delivery of vital medicines, business documents, and personal correspondence that we, as a nation, depend upon.”
“Today, Congress and the Biden-Harris Administration saved the Postal Service and delivered for the American people,” said Chairwoman Maloney. “This historic law will finally get the Postal Service on sustainable financial footing after decades of decline. I am proud to have negotiated this bill across party lines and to have worked hand-in-hand with Ranking Member Comer, Chairman Peters, and Ranking Member Portman. As Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, I vow to continue using my gavel to conduct rigorous oversight over the Postal Service to ensure it remains financially stable and continues to serve the American people for generations to come.”
“The Postal Service Reform Act is the biggest bipartisan accomplishment this Congress and will strengthen USPS for the years to come. All Americans, whether they live in rural communities or big cities, rely on the Postal Service, so we all want this vital institution to continue delivering for the public,” said Ranking Member Comer. “The bipartisan Postal Service Reform Act, coupled with Postmaster General DeJoy’s reform plan, modernizes USPS to ensure it operates like a 21st century business that provides reliable service to the American people. I’m proud of the bipartisan work Chairwoman Maloney and I have accomplished and am pleased our bill is now the law.”
The Postal Service’s financial condition has been deteriorating over the past decade due to a number of factors. The provisions included in the Postal Service Reform Act are critical to helping the Postal Service remain financially viable and ensuring it provides the high quality of service Americans expect and deserve. These provisions include Medicare integration, repealing a requirement for the Postal Service to pre-fund retiree health benefits, increased transparency of delivery service, reporting on Postal Service operations and finances, a requirement that the Postal Service deliver mail six days per week, and other matters.
On February 8, 2022, the House of Representatives passed the Postal Service Reform Act in a bipartisan vote of 342-92.
On March 8, 2022, the Senate passed the Postal Service Reform Act in a bipartisan vote of 79-19.
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