Postal Service Reform Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, Americans hold the United States Postal Service in extremely high regard, and that is for good reason. All rely on it for our paychecks, medications, news, magazines, and correspondence with loved ones. And now, more than ever, Americans enjoy the conveniences of e-commerce no matter where they live in this great Nation.

The United States Postal Service is truly one of our prized national assets. But, as we know, the Postal Service has faced financial trouble for many years. Service delays stemming from an unreliable and outdated delivery network, a drastic historical decrease in mail revenue, and a sustained surge in labor-intensive packages, have all contributed to the organization's struggles.

The rise and dominance of the internet has completely changed the way people shop, pay bills, and generally communicate. It has changed in ways that could not have even been envisioned in the 1970s, when Congress established today's independently operated Postal Service.

We need to face the music. The days of letters alone driving the Postal Service's revenue are not coming back. And with this national pandemic, we have seen what happens when the Postal Service is stressed to its operational limits.

The dual challenges of workforce shortages and a surge in package volume across its delivery network plainly exposed the inability for the Postal Service to adapt to modern challenges.

I stand here today, after more than a year of bipartisan work with my colleague, Chairwoman Maloney, to call for the House to pass the bipartisan Postal Service Reform Act of 2022. This targeted bill addresses the immediate needs of the Postal Service to help it succeed into the 21st century.

H.R. 3076 bolsters Postal Service-led operational reforms that are already showing success with better revenue and delivery performance.

For example, the Postal Service saw one of the busiest holiday seasons ever this past year. And even this current White House could not ignore the fact that nearly 99 percent of consumers received their packages on time or with minimal delays.

This was done under the leadership of Postmaster General DeJoy, and in the face of constant challenges brought about by the pandemic and the current political climate.

Coupled with the Postmaster General's ambitious and comprehensive 10- year reform plan are two legislative requests impacting the Postal Service's ability to operate profitably in the years to come.

First, the well-intentioned 2006 legislative requirement that the Postal Service prefund the retiree health benefits of all future potential costs has proven unworkable and counterproductive.

H.R. 3076 repeals this requirement, while continuing to require annual payments for what is owed to postal retirees. This helps alleviate immediate financial stresses, while still protecting the workforce's earned retirement health benefits.

Secondly, the Postmaster General has sought legislation to seamlessly transition the postal workforce into Medicare upon retirement, rather than continuing as the primary payer for retiree health benefits.

Congress has told the Postal Service it has to act like a business, and this is not something businesses do. Businesses offer secondary coverage to wrap-around Medicare benefits, and that is what Congress should allow the Postal Service to do as well. This is sensible policy in keeping with the practices of private-sector businesses.

Postal Service retirees have been paying into Medicare their entire careers and, next to the Federal Government itself, the Postal Service is the largest contributor to the Medicare Trust Fund in the Nation.

Together, these two legislative provisions requested by Postmaster General DeJoy are projected to help the Postal Service break even in the coming years.

However, I have made it clear that Republicans need to see solutions that would also allow the Postal Service to fundamentally improve its business model. Our reform bill is designed around the Postal Service's current operational reform plans.

Additionally, our bill makes sure Congress has key oversight tools. For instance, our bill establishes a public-facing, online dashboard with full local mail delivery performance data. This will provide necessary transparency into the on-time delivery of mail, and equip every House Member to conduct oversight of mail performance in their local communities.

Congress should not be caught off guard as we were in early 2020 as the pandemic accelerated performance problems in real time.

My colleagues should also consider what this targeted reform bill does not do. Our legislation does not include draconian cuts to service delivery, such as post office closures, or decreasing delivery to residences.

Our bill keeps the needs of rural Postal Service customers front and center. For instance, the bill codifies the 6-day delivery of mail and packages, which provides assurance to businesses and rural communities alike.

And importantly, our reform bill does all of this without taking the easy approach of a bailout or increasing the budget. In fact, the bill is projected to save over a billion dollars of tax funds over the next decade, over a billion dollars.

Chairwoman Maloney and I have worked closely on receiving the input from the Postal Service and industry groups large and small, and have come to an agreement that we believe will have a real impact. I am very proud of this product, this bipartisan work.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the majority leader of this Congress.

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Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx), who has worked steadfastly and been on board and had significant input in this bill from day one.

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Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis), the ranking member of the House Administration Committee.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I do want to reiterate congratulations and thanks to Chairwoman Maloney and Ranking Member Comer.

I am a little disappointed, though, because our colleague, Mr. Young, the dean of the House, is sitting right in front of my favorite microphone. But I will go here.

I do want to say, this is a great day. We see bipartisanship in action, bringing this bill to the floor.

I have been a strong supporter of the Postal Service throughout my time in Congress. The Postal Service is a lifeline to many rural communities across our country and many right in Illinois' 13th District that I am proud to represent.

For many families, the Postal Service delivers lifesaving medications, benefits, and messages from loved ones. Its services are critical. That is why I have been a leader in supporting it and its employees, like the letter carriers and the postmasters, who truly are essential.

Because of the Postal Service's importance to my constituents, I have worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to lead on initiatives to ensure it is not privatized, delivers mail on Saturdays, and retains strict service standards.

The Postal Service keeps us connected in ways electronic communication and other services cannot. Additionally, it finishes delivering packages for private companies in more rural regions of our country, like mine.

I am glad we are here today, voting on this vital piece of legislation that will provide more funding and resources to our postal employees.

This bill, importantly, makes the Postal Service financially viable for generations to come and implements efficiencies that will protect taxpayers and consumers alike. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy projects this legislation will save the Postal Service $58 billion over the next 10 years and correct the agency's long-term financial problems by 2030. Additionally, the Congressional Budget Office estimates this legislation will save the Federal Government $1.5 billion over 10 years.

For these reasons, I support this vital piece of legislation, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the distinguished chair of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this long-elusive, bipartisan legislation that has been years in the making. Congratulations to Chairwoman Maloney on her Herculean effort, along with Mr. Comer.

In the past 2 years, postal workers faced historic public health challenges to heroically provide a lifeline for all Americans. Just as they always deliver for us, this reform bill will deliver long-overdue reforms to allow our Postal Service to thrive.

No other entity, public or private, is required to prefund retiree health benefits for all its employees decades into the future. Only the Postal Service faces that fiscally untenable mandate, and this legislation eradicates that burden.

This reform also codifies 6-day mail delivery, which I am proud to have long fought for as an appropriator.

This consensus bill increases transparency; allows other services to be offered to its customers; and expands special rates for newspapers, to help these vital community watchdogs thrive. These are all commonsense reforms.

As we build on it, the next steps should require that Members be able to conduct oversight at postal facilities without prior notice and allow designation of single ZIP Codes for cities like Hollywood and Cooper City, Florida, in my district, where assigned ZIP Codes overlap jurisdictions.

Madam Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this critical legislation to help the Postal Service better serve the American people.

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Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman), who also serves as ranking subcommittee member on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

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Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bacon).

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Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Armstrong), who has been a strong supporter of reform from day one.
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Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Malliotakis).

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Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Tenney).

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Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Garbarino).

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Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Rouzer).

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Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick).

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Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time I have remaining?

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), the distinguished chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development.

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Mr. COMER.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York.

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Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I thank my House colleagues for their heartfelt remarks today.

Madam Speaker, America's most esteemed institution, the United States Postal Service, is in trouble. Since the 1970s legislative reform, Congress has expected the Postal Service to operate as an independent and self-sufficient organization. However, for years, the Postal Service has spent far more than it has brought in, and last year alone lost over $9 billion. Many of these challenges are beyond the control of prior Postal Service leadership.

The U.S. Congress has legally obligated the Postal Service to provide universal mail service delivery. Today, that means delivery to over 160 million addresses. This is a massive and expensive undertaking that cannot be glossed over. Additionally, as our Nation's population and economy continues to grow, so will the Postal Service's ever-increasing expenses.

H.R. 3076 does not change this universal service obligation, but we risk having that difficult national conversation if we do nothing. The price for inaction is a Postal Service that will eventually require drastic service reductions, especially in rural, remote parts of America, or continual taxpayer-funded bailouts, which no conservative and no taxpayer should want. Neither are desirable options.

We have an opportunity to pass targeted legislation to relieve the Postal Service of certain financial hardships and bolster its ambitious structure reform initiatives.

This moment, with a bipartisan bill and bold Postal Service leadership at the helm, may not be easily replicated in future years. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 3036.

Madam Speaker, before I yield back, I would be remiss if I didn't say my grandmother spent her whole career as a rural mail carrier. Her name was Maitred Witcher, and she had Route 1 in Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee. I grew up with an appreciation for our mail carriers and I appreciate all the hardworking employees of the U.S. Postal Service.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, as we have heard many times on the floor today, the Postal Service is vital to the United States. It is so important that the Founding Fathers put it in the Constitution, right there under Article I. They did this because they knew that the Postal Service would keep our people connected and would ensure that no matter where a person lives in this country, they can receive mail and other critical deliveries.

As the gentleman, the dean, from Alaska said, one stamp can take you from across the street in an urban area all the way to Alaska to some of the most remote areas. It is a critical, critical service.

Madam Speaker, this bipartisan bill will dramatically improve the financial situation of the Postal Service--and I would say the country that depends on it--and enable it to continue performing these essential services for the American people.

We all know firsthand the incredible job that the postal workers did during the COVID-19 crisis, risking their lives to deliver our mail every day. While many of us were quarantined and safe in our homes, they were out interacting with people every day providing the service. At times in my district, half the Postal Service was out sick with COVID because of the interaction that they did to save our lives.

Just as 9/11 was helped so dramatically by the police and fire, along with the healthcare workers, this COVID crisis was helped dramatically by the Postal Service. They are really the heroes and heroines of this crisis.

Madam Speaker, I share my thanks for the support of so many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who understand and support the necessity of these reforms. A vote for this bill is not only a vote for the post office, I would say it is a vote for yourself, for the services that we all receive, for America, for our institutions, and our values.

Madam Speaker, I include in the Record a letter that lists all the Members who reached out to indicate that they would have cosponsored the bill had they had the opportunity to do so. Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, February 8, 2022. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Ms. Johnson: As a result of a clerical error, numerous Members of Congress who had expressed interest in cosponsoring H.R. 3076, the Postal Service Reform Act, were not added to the bill before it was discharged from all committees and placed on the union calendar. Below is a list of the Members of Congress who would have cosponsored H.R. 3076 had they been able to be added.

Brad Sherman (CA), David B. McKinley (WV), Andy Levin (MI), Maria Elvira Salazar (FL), Mark Pocan (WI), Mariannnette Miller-Meeks (IA), Salud Carbajal (CA), Madeleine Dean (PA), Eric Swalwell (CA), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE), Veronica Escobar (TX), Jim Langevin (RI), Peter DeFazio (OR), Yvette D. Clarke (NY), Peter Welch (VT), Betty McCollum (MN), Bobby L. Rush (IL), Marc Veasey (TX), David Trone (MD), Nydia Velazquez (NY), Brendan Boyle (PA), Alma Adams (NC).

Raul M. Grijalva (AZ), Ann Kuster (NH), Jim Himes (CT), Robin Kelly (IL), Doris Matsui (CA), Rashida Tlaib (MI), Tom Malinowski (NJ), Barbara Lee (CA), Haley Stevens (MI), Jake Auchincloss (MA), Pramila Jayapal (WA), Greg Stanton (AZ), Judy Chu (CA), Gregory Meeks (NY), John Yarmuth (KY), Deborah Ross (NC), Colin Allred (TX), Antonio Delgado (NY), Jim McGovern (MA), Donald Payne Jr. (NJ), Diana DeGette (CO), William Keating (MA).

Sara Jacobs (CA), David Cicilline (RI), Andre Carson (IN), Kweisi Mfume (MD), Mark DeSaulnier (CA), Lizzie Fletcher (TX), Emanuel Cleaver (MO), Luis Correa (CA), Henry Cuellar (TX), Carolyn Bourdeaux (GA), Paul Tonko (NY), Adam Smith (WA), Suzan K. DelBene (WA), Danny K. Davis (IL), Chrissy Houlahan (PA).

Jared Golden (ME), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA), Mike Levin (CA), Matt Cartwright (PA), Sean Casten (IL), Vicente Gonzalez (TX), Suzanne Bonamici (OR), Michael Waltz (FL), Julia Brownley (CA), Jamie Raskin (MD), Ashley Hinson (IA), Glenn ``GT'' Thompson (PA), Mark Takano (CA), Adam Schiff (CA), Sheila Jackson-Lee (TX). Sincerely, Carolyn B. Maloney Chairwoman, Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I also include in the Record a list of over 200 diverse organizations across our country that support this bill. United States Postal Service, Washington, DC, June 28, 2021. Hon. Gary C. Peters, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. Hon. Rob Portman, Ranking Member, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. Hon. Carolyn P. Maloney, Chairwoman, Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. James Comer, Ranking Member, Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Peters, Chairwoman Maloney, Ranking Member Portman, and Ranking Member Comer: I want to salute your leadership in introducing bipartisan, bicameral legislation to restore the Postal Service to financial sustainability while advancing service and operational accountability. You have struck an important balance in the Postal Service Reform Act, evident by the impressive list of bipartisan original cosponsors. The American people and the men and women of the Postal Service will be the beneficiaries of this outstanding work for years to come.

The Postal Service supports the bill and has provided your staff with modest technical refinements that we hope will be adopted as the legislative process advances. We have provided similar feedback to the Office of Management and Budget at their request. Postal reform legislation has faltered in past Congresses when language is added that unsettles the kind of careful balance you have achieved in this bill. Accordingly, I would commend your collective resolve in advancing a reform bill limited to the current set of provisions.

I wanted to particularly comment on Section 202, the Integrated Delivery Network provision, which as introduced requires six-day delivery through an integrated delivery network for market-dominant and competitive products. This provision sets forth important principles that underlie the Postal Service's provision of universal mail and package delivery service and that therefore benefit the American people. I strongly urge you to retain the wording as introduced, despite what we consider to be a parochial and misguided effort to modify or eliminate it.

I have elaborated in an attachment on the reasons this provision is so essential to our mission.

I look forward to continuing to work with you to advance the postal reform legislation you have put forward to serve the interests of the American people. Each of you have already shown yourselves to be exceptional leaders to preserve this essential institution and its noble mission. Please let me how we can assist in your important efforts. Sincerely, Louis DeJoy, Postmaster General, CEO. ____ an integrated network enables six-day delivery

I offer the following context regarding the merit of the language proposed in Section 202 of your bill, which would amend how the Postal Service's universal service obligation is described in our enabling statute, Title 39 of the United State Code. Specifically, that provision would amend 39 U.S.C. 101(b) by adding the following: ``The Postal Service shall maintain an integrated network for the delivery of market-dominant and competitive products (as defined in chapter 36 of this title). Delivery shall occur at least six days a week, except during weeks that include a Federal holiday or in emergency situations, such as natural disasters.''

Initially, the Postal Service took the position that it was not necessary to codify in Title 39 the requirement to deliver six days a week. We argued the ``Delivering for America'' plan includes at its core the ``maintenance of universal six-day mail delivery and expanded seven-day package delivery reach.'' Recognizing, however, that it is Congress's prerogative to interpret and define the scope of the Postal Service's universal service obligation, we understand the policy goal of including a requirement to deliver six-days a week in Title 39, rather than continuing to include it as a rider to annual appropriations legislation. In particular, we understand that Congress wishes to make it clear in our enabling statute that it is appropriate public policy, and in the best interests of the American people, that the Postal Service provide at least six days of mail and package delivery as a central aspect of our universal service mission.

This same rationale applies equally to the language requiring the retention of the ``integrated network for the delivery of market-dominant and competitive products'' concept with any codified six-day delivery requirement. This language properly reflects that the unitary postal delivery network has delivered letters as well as packages at the same time and through the same delivery network for well over a century. American businesses and consumers benefit from the economies of scope and density resulting from the delivery of packages across the Postal Service's universal service network, which reduces the average cost of every mail-piece in the network and leads to more affordable prices for both mail and packages. These benefits accrue to other shipping companies as well, who can access the Postal Service's delivery network through our Parcel Select product. Overall, society as a whole benefits from these economies, and there is nothing unfair or inappropriate about them. Simply put, and just like 6-day delivery, an integrated network for the delivery of mail and packages is in the best interests of the American people.

The Postal Service also considers this language to provide the appropriate operational flexibility. It does not prevent us from structuring our delivery network in an optimal fashion, such as by running special parcel routes as a supplement to our normal integrated routes when business conditions warrant. It also does not inhibit our ability to structure our middle mile processing network in the manner that we see fit, as it only applies to the delivery of mail and packages, not processing.

an integrated network enables our universal service mission

Congress has recognized the importance of universal package delivery, and we see the inclusion of this provision as consistent with that fundamental principle. In this regard, the universal delivery of packages is a core component of the Postal Service's universal service mission. The Postal Service provides affordable, universal package delivery services to the American people in all communities whether urban or rural, and to American businesses of all sizes. This enables full participation by all Americans in the e-commerce economy. The importance of this public service mission has become even more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, more than ever, there can be no doubt that the Postal Service is part of the critical infrastructure of the country, providing an essential service to the American people, delivering packages with life-sustaining medications and other necessary consumable goods throughout the pandemic, and thereby shoring up the resilience of our nation.

Not only do competitive products themselves represent an important service, they also provide critical financial support to other universal services. Package delivery enables us to generate revenue that is absolutely necessary to support the provision of prompt, reliable, and affordable universal services in a self-sufficient manner, and therefore critical to our financial sustainability. Our package products generate an increasingly vital level of contribution to support the Postal Service's universal service network and thereby ensure the continued provision of reliable and efficient universal postal services to all American people and to all American businesses. Efforts that limit our ability to compete equally or chip away at our revenue generation capabilities are contrary to the public policy goal that we be self-funded while continuing to provide essential universal service to the nation.

Therefore, if Congress believes that six-day delivery is critical enough to the universal service obligation to codify it in Title 39, then as a matter of sound public policy, it should also recognize the equally critical importance of the Postal Service providing both mail and package delivery across an integrated postal delivery network.

I encourage you to retain the language of Section 202 of the Postal Service Reform Act of 2021 (H.R. 3076/S. 1720) as introduced.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. And I would again thank Ranking Member Comer for his partnership on this widely supported bill. It would not have happened without his partnership, and I am deeply grateful.

Madam Speaker, with that, I urge all of my colleagues to support this historic bipartisan bill. We rarely get a chance to vote for a bill that helps so many people, that actually saves taxpayers money, that reforms our government, doesn't cost anything. We are just reforming and making government work better to serve the people. That is what this bill is. It is a win-win-win in every direction.

Madam Speaker, I hope that this body would unanimously vote for it and send it to the Senate with a message that they should pass it as quickly as possible.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mr. Comer, for his leadership, his friendship, and for the long path we went through together to make this happen. I thank all my colleagues who participated in making this happen, particularly our Speaker and our leadership in this Congress.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the amendment.

Madam Speaker, as we have worked together on the Postal Service Reform Act over the past year, Chairwoman Maloney and I strove to fully incorporate the legislative feedback we received from the relevant agencies. This manager's amendment contains necessary technical fixes to ensure the bill's requirements are efficiently and effectively implemented.

For instance, it ensures that the U.S. Postal Service, and not the American taxpayer, fully cover the implementation costs of the Office of Personnel Management, Social Security Administration, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Madam Speaker, I thank the chairwoman and the Committee on Oversight and Reform staff for working diligently with me to make sure this bill is done right.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I urge passage of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

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