WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement today applauding the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for holding a hearing to discuss much-needed reforms to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). In January, Senator Carper, the lead sponsor of the bipartisan Improving Postal Operations, Service, and Transparency Act of 2015 (S.2051) or “iPOST,” held a similar hearing to examine the status of the USPS.
“I want to commend Chairman Chaffetz and Ranking Member Cummings for holding a hearing today to discuss reforms urgently needed at the Postal Service, and also for their ongoing efforts to thoughtfully evaluate the steps that must be taken to get this critical institution back on the right track. Today’s discussion with Postmaster General Brennan, Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) Chairman Taub and stakeholders was a productive one. I hope that this dialogue bears fruit and helps Congress come together to enact much-needed postal reform legislation.
“The witnesses at today’s hearing made it clear: Congress can’t kick the can down the road any longer. The Postal Service is an important part of our everyday lives and a critical component of the U.S. economy, but without legislative intervention, it will continue to falter. I urge my colleagues in both the House and Senate to look carefully at the bipartisan, balanced reform proposals that have been offered and come together to pass comprehensive legislation that will address the Postal Service’s serious, but solvable challenges for the long-term.”