President Bush recently formed a Commission to study the Postal Service and make recommendations for its future. The final report was submitted to Congress July 31, 2003 and could have great impact on all citizens if accepted by Congress and the President. The recommendation that concerns us is the one regarding the future of rural post offices.

As President of the Association of United States Postal Lessors (AUSPL), I would like to call your attention to a matter of utmost importance to everyone who owns a post office.

Earlier this year, President Bush formed a Commission to study the Postal Service and make recommendations for its future. The final report was submitted to Congress July 31, 2003 and could have great impact on all citizens if accepted by Congress and the President.

The recommendation that concerns us as postal lessors is a proposal the Business Model Subcommittee submitted to the President's Commission regarding the future of rural post offices, which many of us own.

It states (in part): Post Offices: "The Subcommittee strongly supports efforts already underway by the Postal Service to expand access to retail postal services at venues other than post offices, such as banks, grocery stores and other convenient locations. When the Postal Service determines that a "low activity" post office is no longer necessary for the fulfillment of its universal obligation, the Subcommittee believes that the Postal Service should make every effort to maximize the proceeds from that facility...The Subcommittee also recommends that existing statutes limiting the Postal Service's flexibility with regard to the closing and disposition of post offices be repealed and that similar provisions in annual appropriation acts be avoided."

While small post offices are in peril, it is likely processing and distribution centers will be closed first.

Processing Facilities: "The Subcommittee recommends the creation of a Postal Network Optimization Commission (P-NOC), modeled in part after the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission, that would make recommendations relating to the consolidation and rationalization of the Postal Service mail processing and distribution infrastructure. The Business Model Subcommittee recommends the P-NOC be comprised of eight members appointed by the President with advice and consent of the Senate. Recommendations of the P-NOC, once submitted to Congress by the President, should become final, unless Congress disapproves them in their entirety within 45 days."

At AUSPL, we believe rural customers deserve access to postal services just like customers in metropolitan areas. Over 55 million people live in rural America and having a post office is important to them. "And, it's not a fair analysis that over half of the post offices are losing money — revenue is collected on one end of the service and delivered at another," says Steve LeNoir, President of the National League of Postmasters.

Postmaster General John Potter said it best: "Mail service in this country is a national treasure, and therefore a national responsibility. We all have a stake in maintaining and preserving universal mail service for every American, regardless of where they live, where they work or their economic circumstances."

WRITE YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES TODAY
The Commission will hold more hearings this fall. If and when the Commission's recommendations go into effect, it will mean the Postal Service can move out of your building with no accountability to the customers it serves.

We must act immediately to urge our state Senators and Congressmen and Congresswomen to oppose this matter. We believe it is important to let Congress know our feelings on the subject.

As advocates for postal lessors, we urge you to take advantage of this opportunity. We have provided three sample letters that you may use to send to your Congressional Representatives and Senators.

Simply choose one of the letters and use it "as is" or make changes or write your own letter entirely. What is important is that you write. You can fax, E-mail or mail letters to your representatives. We urge you to do so today!

AUSPL & NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POSTMASTERS ARE WORKING TOGETHER
We are working with the League and its legislative counsel to stop the wholesale closing of small and "unprofitable" post offices in towns and communities nationwide without due process. We understand it is necessary to streamline the operations of USPS, but it is only fair that postal lessors are informed and given reasons why their facility is being closed.

We believe in the 1970 Postal Reorganization Act, "The Postal Service shall provide a maximum degree of effective and regular service to rural areas, communities and small towns where post offices are not self-sustaining. No small post office shall be closed solely for operating at a deficit, being the specific intent of Congress that effective postal services be insured to residents of both urban and rural communities."

HERE ARE SOME OF THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Ease the restrictions on closing unnecessary post offices, but retain any office needed to assure service, even if it loses money. The Commission suggests offering mail services in banks, grocery stores and shopping malls.
• Simplify and speed up the system for changing postal rates, which is currently a year long.
• Take advantage of the expected retirement age of 47% of the postal work force by 2010 to reduce staff without layoffs, while increasing efficiency with more automation.
• Establish a new, corporate-style board of directors to oversee USPS.
• Establish an independent panel to recommend closings and consolidations of mail sorting and distribution facilities.
• Add new services, such as personalized stamps.
• Speed up collective bargaining and add pension and post-retirement health coverage.
• Create a pay-for-performance, or bonus, system for management and union workers to provide incentive.
• Set up a system to track mail and obtain sender identification for every piece of mail.

ACT NOW
We encourage you to mail letters to your legislator today. We can make a difference. For more information, read the Commission's report.

IMPORTANT LINKS:

Commission Report
Link to the President's Commission on the U.S. Postal Service.

www.postmasters.org
Link to the National League of Postmasters.

www.USPS.com
Link to the United States Postal Service.