Introduction of the Fair and Equitable Postal Service Act

Floor Speech

* Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise with my colleague from Ohio, MARCIA FUDGE, to introduce the ``Fair and Equitable Postal Service Act.''

* We are all concerned about the fiscal crisis facing the United States Postal Service. This summer, the Postal Service released a list of some 3600 post offices, branches, and stations that are under review for closure or consolidation. According to recent testimony by the Government Accountability Office, as many as 12,000 Postal Service retail facilities may be on the chopping block in the next few years.

* While Congress gave the Postal Service authority ``to determine the need for post offices, postal and training facilities and equipment, and to provide such offices, facilities ..... as it determines are needed,'' that same charge also requires that postal services be established ``of such character and in such locations, that postal patrons throughout the Nation will ..... have ready access to essential postal service.''

* The legislation we introduce today would give the Postal Service guidance as it works to balance those obligations in a way that ensures that these closures don't fall on the backs of the most vulnerable. It would require the Postal Service, as it considers closures, to specifically examine the needs and impacts of its closures on low-income, elderly, and other populations that have the least means to access alternatives because of limited transportation options and internet access.

* For these populations, their local offices provide a range of services that they simply may not have the resources or ability to access elsewhere. The need for this bill was only reinforced yesterday with the release of a Census Bureau report which found that that the poverty rate increased in 2010. There were 46 million people in poverty last year. If you don't have enough money to pay for food and keep the lights on, what are the chances you have the income to pay for broadband to access postal services online?

* Further, this legislation would prevent any closures that would have a ``disproportionate, unreasonable, or undue burden on these populations.'' The impetus for this legislation was the proposal by the Postal Service to close 5 out of the 26 retail facilities in the Milwaukee area. Every one of the facilities under review are located in one portion of the city with high rates of poverty. If approved, these closures would effectively cut off postal services for residents in these communities.

* Too often decisions like these are driven by only one consideration: cutting costs. This bill sends a message to the Postal Service that it must consider the challenges faced by these populations when access to postal services is reduced.

* The Postal Service is a national service. It's trusted by the American public. It offers services that are a vital lifeline for all Americans at all income levels, ages, and stages in life. Congress mandated a nationwide postal service--not a two-tier system where post offices in high income areas are able to keep their lights on while those in inner-city and rural communities slowly fade away. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this legislation.

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