WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement today applauding the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for advancing bipartisan legislation to make much-needed reforms to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). In September 2015, Senator Carper introduced the bipartisan Improving Postal Operations, Service, and Transparency Act of 2015 (S.2051) or “iPOST.”
“Today’s House Oversight and Government Reform Committee passage of postal reform legislation is real progress in our fight to stabilize the Postal Service and give this 200-year-old American institution the tools and resources it needs not only to return to solvency, but also to thrive in the 21st century. Advancing this bipartisan bill out of committee unanimously today is a significant step forward, and I want to applaud Chairman Chaffetz, Ranking Member Cummings, and Congressmen Meadows, Connolly, and Lynch for their continued efforts on this important issue and their commitment to finding a real solution to the Postal Service’s dire financial situation.
“Reliable service is at the core of what the Postal Service does every day. Unfortunately, too many postal customers have seen service erode in recent years as the Postal Service has been forced to significantly cut costs to keep its head above water. The American people deserve to know that they will get their mail on time, and we in Congress have a responsibility to ensure that the Postal Service has the ability to reach communities across the country in a timely manner. I am committed to continuing to work with the House sponsors to address the critical service problems that for many have only seemed to spiral further out of control. We must restore the public’s trust in the Postal Service and ensure that all consumers, regardless of their zip code, are receiving the fast, affordable, and dependable service they rely on. As this bill makes its way to the House floor and over to the Senate, I look forward to finding consensus on the critical issue of service performance as well as other measures that are needed to bring financial stability back to the Postal Service.”
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