"As I read through the Commission's report, I was struck by what I considered your wake up call to Congress: your statement that, ‘an incremental approach to Postal Service reform will yield too little, too late given the enterprise's bleak fiscal outlook, the depth of current debt and unfunded obligations, the downward trend in First-Class mail volumes and the limited potential of its legacy postal network that was built for a bygone era,'" said Senator Collins. "That is a very strong statement, and one that challenges both the Postal Service and Congress to embrace far-reaching reforms."
James Johnson, Co-Chair of the President's postal commission testified in front of the committee today about findings and recommendations detailed in the commission's report. The full report is available at: .
"I greatly appreciate the Commission's strong endorsement of the basic features of universal service - affordable rates, frequent delivery, and convenient community access to retail postal services," said Senator Collins. "It is important to me that my constituents living in the north woods, or out on the islands, or in our many rural small towns, have the same access to postal services as the people of our cities. If the Postal Service were no longer to provide universal service and deliver mail to every customer, the affordable communication link upon which many Americans rely would be jeopardized… The preservation of universal service, and many more issues, must be examined in depth if we are to save and strengthen this vital service upon which so many Americans rely for communication and their livelihoods."
A follow-up hearing on the commission's recommendations is expected to take place in early November.