Federal-Postal Coalition letter on Postal Service Reform

Dear Representative,

On behalf of nearly 5 million federal and postal employees and annuitants represented by the member organizations of the Federal-Postal Coalition, we write in support of the Postal Service Reform Act, H.R. 3076, and urge you to vote in favor of it when it comes to the floor.

Without reliance on taxpayer funds, the Postal Service provides affordable, universal service to hundreds of millions of businesses and households across the country. In so doing, it provides essential communication and transportation infrastructure for our civil society and national economy. Unsurprisingly, Americans give the Postal Service overwhelmingly favorable reviews, according to regular surveys by the Pew Research Center.

Unfortunately, the Postal Service has faced fiscal challenges exacerbated by a restrictive legislative framework. While many have recognized this reality, a consensus legislative solution has remained just out of reach. Now, after more than a decade of deliberation and with some modifications, a bipartisan, consensus reform bill, H.R. 3076, has emerged.

H.R. 3076, as amended for House floor consideration, takes important steps to right the Postal Service’s fiscal ship. As it does so, the Postal Service will be able to focus on revenue growth, improving performance, and supporting a sustainable workforce.

Importantly, the bill would repeal the mandate to fully pre-fund retiree healthcare benefits. Neither private sector companies nor federal agencies comply with such an onerous requirement. Yet the mandate has continued to place undue financial burden on the Postal Service. Rather than protecting retiree health benefits, the requirement has undermined the financial stability the Postal Service needs to preserve them.

As an alternative to pre-funding retiree health benefits, the legislation would allow the Postal Service to realize cost savings for the provision of those health benefits through increased Medicare integration.

Finally, the legislation would also codify six-day delivery, safeguarding the service American households and businesses have come to expect. 

For these reasons, we urge you to vote “YES” on H.R. 3076. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Federal-Postal Coalition Chair, John Hatton, at [email protected], and/or Vice-Chair, Katie Maddocks, at [email protected]. 

Sincerely,