Postal Reform Measures Being Filed in the 113th Congress
by Alan Suskey, Capitol Insight
June 13, 2013
As we discussed at the convention, many new postal reform measures will be introduced this Congress. The measures described below have been filed, but no hearings have been held to date. The chances of these measures passing are relatively small, due to the position of leadership in both Chambers. However, they are useful to our efforts as they will likely come up for debate multiple times during the postal reform process.
Postal Service Protection Act of 2013 (S. 316/H.R. 630) - Sets forth rules for the recalculation of annuities for employees of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and for the redetermination of surplus or supplemental liabilities under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). Prescribes the 'average pay' to be used in calculating annuities and surplus amounts.
United States Postal Service Shipping Equity Act - Authorizes the mailing of wine or malt beverages by licensed wineries or breweries in accordance with the law of the state, territory, or district of the United States where the addressee or duly authorized agent takes delivery.
Postal Service Protection Act of 2013 Introduced in the Senate
June, 2013
Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) recently responded to former AUSPL President Terry Phillips regarding efforts to protect rural America's post offices in the midst of the Postal Service's financial crisis.
Rep. Peter DeFazio Files Online Petition To Require White House Response to Postal Reform Bill H.R. 630
by Alan Suskey, Capitol Insight
June 7, 2013
SALEM - With U.S. Postal Service cutbacks in Oregon expected to ramp up in coming months and Congressional inaction on potential agency reforms continuing, Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) is employing an unorthodox tool to get the Obama administration to weigh in on a proposal that he and 30 Oregon state lawmakers are backing.
How To Fix The Post Office: Keep The 'Last Mile', Outsource The Rest
June 3, 2013
A proposal to create a "hybrid" United States Postal Service would keep postal workers on their routes while allowing private companies to compete for mail collection, transportation, and processing. Now all it needs is a divided Congress and a reluctant postmaster general to sign off on it.
Survey Assesses Public Sentiment Regarding USPS
May 28, 2013
Most Americans still appear to value the role the U.S. Postal Service plays in their lives, according to research released this month by the Postal Service Office of Inspector General.
The OIG commissioned market research firm InfoTrends to conduct a 45-question web survey to get a better fix on how Internet-connected Americans view USPS, and to assess the role Americans they think USPS could play in their lives in the future.
Making Progress
May 14, 2013
Post Plan initiative reaches 1-year mark
One year after the date USPS announced its strategy for low-activity Post Offices, nearly 6,000 have been converted to reduced-hour facilities to generate cost savings. Under the plan, Post Offices may be transitioned to 2-hour, 4-hour or 6-hour periods of operation each day. So far, more than 800 Post Offices have been converted to two hours per day. Another 3,000 have been converted to four hours per day, and more than 2,000 have been converted to six hours daily.
State Of The Post office
April 3, 2013
A message to all employees of the United States Postal Service from Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe.
First-Class Dilemma For U.S. Taxpayers
June 12, 2013
Would you invest the Post Office? Sales volume and revenue has shrunk, and it lost $15 billion last year. But if you're an American taxpayer, you own it. Wall Street Journal economics editor David Wessel reports.
Americans Untrusting Of USPS Digital Services, OIG Survey Finds
June 5, 2013
Americans want the Postal Service to stick around, with most interested in continuing to receive physical mail but willing to consider more self-service options, according to a new report by the USPS Office of Inspector General.
Young people, in particular, were willing to consider a post office with expanded and digital services, the report says.
EMCOR
June, 2013
EMCOR is handling maintenance issues for USPS and contacting lessors when there is a problem at their post office. We have heard from many of you and would like to hear more.
Please call, email or write to us and tell us about your EMCOR experience.
Postal Reform For The Digital Age
June 3, 2013
"Postal Reform for the Digital Age", a new report by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) seeks to address the challenges the USPS faces by recommending a new paradigm for the mail system where USPS evolves into predominately a "final mile" mail delivery service, with private competitors assuming responsibility for other aspects of the production chain, including collection, processing and transport.
How Doomed Is the U.S. Postal Service?
May 28, 2013
Those who enjoy slow-motion disasters have spent years watching the travails of the gallant United States Postal Service, which is kind of like FedEx if it was run by the Three Stooges. Just how existentially challenged is our nation's mail service?
Don't Be Fooled! AUSPL is the Only Association Postal Lessors Will Ever Need
2013
Just a quick caveat to postal lessors. AUSPL is the only nationwide nonprofit association representing more than 3,100 postal lessors who lease approximately 30% of all facilities used to house postal services. And, our lobbying firm is working on behalf of AUSPL on legislation affecting postal lessors. Don't be fooled by imitators. The official Association of United States Postal Lessors (AUSPL) E-mail address is auspl@auspl
House Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) said on Wednesday that he was "close" to releasing postal reform legislation.
Issa said that he and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), the panel's ranking member, had been making progress on a bill, and that he hoped they could come together on something that could help negotiations with the Senate.
"The reason we're not putting one out right now is that we'd like to get even closer to what we need,' Issa said at a hearing attended by the Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe.
Are Your Records With the Postal Service Up To Date?
Go to the Members Only section if you need a change of ownership form for your post office. To update your information with AUSPL please click here.
