Rep. Kaptur Moves to Protect Toledo USPS Facility for FY2016
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) proposed an amendment yesterday that would block any action to close USPS facilities during FY2016 under the U.S. Postal Service Network Rationalization Consolidation Plan. Currently those closures are only suspended through Spring of 2016. Rep. Kaptur offered the amendment to be considered as part of the financial services appropriations bill for FY2016. Her full statement:
There are few institutions mandated by our Constitution, but the USPS is one. It began modestly two centuries ago. As our nation grew in both geographic expanse and to a population of over 321 million, it has served every household, in every neighborhood, every town, every business, and every institution in our nation, without fail, 6 days a week, as neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays their couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.
Its carriers, over a third of whom are veterans, are a trustworthy and recognized presence on our streets, at our offices, and in the places we call home. They keep tabs on the elderly, and offer a friendly face to the meek and home-bound every day. Their services to our communities are more than just offering postal delivery.
40 percent of the world’s mail volume is handled by the Postal Service.USPS earns significant revenues annually, in 2014 alone, generating profits of $1.4 billion. During the last five years, revenues jumped from 34.7 billion up to $67.8 billion, doubling, while handling over 150 billion mail pieces a year—over 2,000% more than the total business for its competitors.
Let me remind my colleagues that the USPS funds its services entirely by Postal ratepayers, not taxpayers. The only money this Congress provides is for reimbursement for services they assist us in fulfilling-- providing services to the blind and voter registration abroad.
However, in recent years, the Executive Branch, the Congress, and the USPS Board of Governors have failed to execute their duties in a manner that respects the incredible effort the Postal Service puts forward every day but Sunday, to bind this nation together and serve its communication needs.
Incredibly, the Postal Service has not had a full Board of Governors since 2011. Even more stunning, a majority of the presidentially appointed seats have been vacant since then, lacking even a quorum necessary to work. Some recent nominees to the Board have a record of hostility to the idea of a United States Postal Service and even made past statements calling for its privatization. Surely we must question any conflict of interest that would complicate their service.
Most recently, these questionable appointments have remained stuck in a Senate drawer, long awaiting confirmation hearings, with no approval. This limping along at the highest level without firm governance is unsustainable. There should be little wonder why some call for closures.
Let me just say Mr. Chairman, it was Congress that struck the critically harmful bell toll to the USPS in 2006. When, on December 8th – quite late in the session-- ramming through a bill that forced the USPS to prefund pension benefits 75 years in advance. A day later the bill was rammed through the Senate under unanimous consent. No record votes were taken, without any record in either chamber to hold Members accountable. This mandated the USPS pay for prefunding retiree health benefits for 75 years by payments into a fund at $5.4-5.8 billion each year from 2007-2016. This requirement remains unique only to the USPS. Who ever heard of such a steep slope of payment for any retirement plan?
Now, due to ham-handed machinations, to meet the prefunding mandate, the USPS has already shut down 200 mail processing facilities through NO fault of its own. It is facing another 82 shutdowns on the chopping block. Each of these shutdowns makes the service less efficient
The solution for fixing and saving the USPS is not consolidate or close processing facilities.
The solution is to relieve the prefunding mandate and to appoint a capable board. The Executive Branch and the Congress have a responsibility to preserve the Postal Service. We must oppose moves that destroy this time-honored institution.
A record of Rep. Kaptur’s past efforts to protect the U.S. Postal Service and the Toledo sorting facility slated for closure can be found here: https://1.usa.gov/1GtkF4r.
Facts and figures about the U.S. Postal Service can be found here: https://1.usa.gov/1dKHgzy.
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