NNA press release, Jan. 26

Major Postal Reform Bill
Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, S. 662 is likely to reach Senate floor Jan. 26

The long-awaited postal reform bill—which would give the Postal Service the ability to initiate price increases without regulatory approval, but require them to remain within inflation index rates—is expected to be voted on in the Senate Jan. 26.

NNA has worked on this bill for 11 years. As in all legislation, there are some things we wish it did that it does not do, and others that we would rather not see. However, there is a lot in the bill that is worthwhile. Among the provisions:

· It preserves in-county postal rates, as a reduced rate subclass, and restores a reduced rate subclass of under 5,000 pieces outside the county;

· It requires the Postal Service to set service standards, and gives the Postal Regulatory Commission powers to measure whether standards have been met;

· It moves responsibility for paying military pensions of USPS employees back to the US Treasury.

In the past two weeks, the Postal Service has come out emphatically against this bill, arguing that it gives too much power to the regulatory commission.

NNA supports passage of S. 662. If you have questions, please contact Tonda Rush ( tonda@nna.org ) at NNA's tollfree number 800 829 4NNA.