USPS Statement on Legislation Introduced by Rep. Darrell Issa

Posted on by postal

We thank House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) for introducing the Postal Reform Act of 2011 and look forward to working with him as the bill makes its way through the legislative process.

While there are several provisions in the bill that we agree with, the bill appears to be based on the assumption that the Postal Service’s challenges result from too little regulation. The opposite is true. Our financial instability is the result of dramatic loss in volumes, coupled with restrictions imposed by Congress that have prevented the Postal Service from adequately responding to those losses in a business-like fashion.

We strongly oppose a provision in the bill that provides for an additional $10 billion in borrowing authority from the U.S. Treasury. The Postal Service does not need to incur additional debt — we need the money back that is already owed to us. We also strongly oppose sections of the bill that would create more government bureaucracy and slow our progress on streamlining our operations.

Also, we are disappointed that Rep. Issa’s bill does not address core issues that Congress needs to address to enable the Postal Service to return to financial stability, including the need to:

  • Eliminate the current mandates requiring retiree health benefit pre-payments, which costs the Postal Service $5.5 billion annually.
  • Allow the Postal Service to access Civil Service Retirement System and Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) overpayments. The FERS overpayment is estimated to be $6.9 billion.

We are pleased that the bill recognizes the need for a change in delivery frequency. The bill’s provision to move to five-day delivery would save the Postal Service $3.1 billion annually.

The need for legislative change is urgent. Despite significant and ongoing cost cutting actions and progress on new revenue generation, the Postal Service is in danger of running out of cash as early as this October.

11 thoughts on “USPS Statement on Legislation Introduced by Rep. Darrell Issa”

  1. Only a general strike by Postal Service employees can redress the balance between the Postal Service and those powerful wealthy individuals in the government who are determined to destroy it.

  2. Really, this is a financial solution. Inhouse, the USPS largely must cut its management personnel salaries. Then it must down size to five (5) days mail delivery. To tap into employees’ retirement funding is illegal, per law requiring an emloyer pre-fund. The USPS must solicit financial management help. There are skilled accountants around the country. Why doesn’t the USPS get off its incompetence and solicit help in financial mgmt?

  4. Even though I understand there is a need for a change,I dont beleive cutting saturdays is the answer. What about the thousands of RCA and other postions that will be losing their jobs. Which in itself is not easy. Imagine day by day not knowing where your going to be working hoping someone will call and say their sick or need the day off. I have been currently covering three different routes for three years now. I tried maintaining another part- time job but was unable to do it twice now because the regular carrier went out for surgery. No employee wants to keep you if you constantly need to be changing schedules to accomadate another job. I really hope the reconsider this especially because I beleive we cannot collect unemployment and we to have families to support.

  5. Issa, Ross and ALL THE OTHER CLOWNS INVOLVED(read that US Congress) ALL KNOW WHAT THE ISSUES ARE.
    They KNOW that the USPS is GROSSLY OVER ASSESSED by OPM and by both CSRS AND FERS.
    They KNOW that USPS “Prefunding” is an ANOMOLY…and that NO OTHER AGENCY IS REQUIRED TO DO THIS KIND OF THING….EVERYONE ELSE IS ASSESSED AS A “CURRENT ACCOUNT”.
    Yet, with these FACTS KNOWN, they continue TO DO NOTHING TO CORRECT THEM.
    It is clear that these CRETINS IN CONGRESS could care less about fixing things and PREFER TO RUN THEIR OWN AGENDA when addressing the Postal Service.

    This is what the GOP IS DOING….NOTHING.
    What Issa and his minions want to do is CREATE ANOTHER COMMISSION, with MORE FLUNKIES TO GENERATE MORE IDEAS TO HELP SCREW THE STAFF AT THE USPS AND PERMANENTLY RUIN ONE OF THE MOST TRUSTWORTHY AGENCIES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

  8. More controls and oversight is what Issa wants. Goverment always want more control so they have all the power.

  9. First thing that should happen is to put that crooked bastard Issa in jail and let someone else do this.

  10. Trim the fat starting at the top. Stop moving managers around who gets a paycheck but actually provide no work which benefits the USPS. Sleeping around isn’t a benefit, the same service can be obtained on just about any street corner for twenty dollars and no health coverage is included.

    Cease protecting managers from sexual harassment complaints by allowing them to be sued as individuals ( their having sex with a USPS employee in no way benefited the USPS). In fact any manager and employee who engage in such conduct should be immediately removed from employment for the good of the USPS.

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