Postal Service Reform Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. GROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, I, as well, support this bill.

This is a bipartisan bill, and people have to realize it has to be a bipartisan bill. I don't think either party could get 218 votes for this bill, and of course, the same thing is true in the U.S. Senate. Therefore, it can't be a bill for extreme people.

There are probably some people who want to get rid of the post office and just see what happens. Those people are going to vote against the bill.

However, this is a bill in part negotiated by our current Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy. I think he has done a tremendous job.

For years, people have said we ought to run the post office like a business. Now, we have a businessman who doesn't need the job, and he has negotiated a package.

Admittedly, some people not normally known to sign have signed off. But it is a good package that will save money.

If this package doesn't pass today, we will probably deal with another package in 2 or 4 years that is not as good as this package.

We are including new machines, which will improve efficiency. We are going to switch to more full-time people, which will result in less overtime. We are going to align the distribution network, and there will be transportation savings there. These things may not happen in the future.

I think Mr. DeJoy has done a good job. I think we should stand with him. I think if we do not vote for this bill today, we are really sending a message that we cannot vote for something unless it is absolutely perfect.

I do believe there will be a substantial savings over the next few years, a savings which would not result if this bill would fail today. I strongly encourage my colleagues, including my conservative colleagues, to vote for this bill.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly), the distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations.

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