June 15, 2016 Today, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Reps. Mark Meadows (R-NC), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), and Steve Lynch (D-MA) introduced a bipartisan discussion draft of postal reform legislation.
In releasing the draft, the members issued the following statement:
“The Postal Service is in dire financial shape. Without reform now, the problems will only worsen and reform will become far more difficult to accomplish. This bipartisan legislative solution provides the opportunity for the Postal Service to return to solvency.”
For more information, click here to view discussion draft and here for a one-page summary.
Background:
The Oversight Committee held a hearing on May 11, 2016, examining the need for timely and comprehensive postal reform legislation. During a press conference members discussed key details of the bill.
Key Highlights:
- Enhance Revenue and Improve Efficiency: The bill keeps mailing costs affordable and encourages innovation
- Medicare Integration: The bill requires Postal Service retirees to be enrolled in Medicare to remain eligible for federal health care in retirement
- Streamline Governance and Oversight: The bill reforms the current governance system to improve accountability by:
- restructuring the Postal Service Board of Governors and making the Postmaster General a Senate-confirmed position;
- strengthening the ability of the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) to hold the Postal Service accountable; and
- consolidating the Postal Service and PRC Offices of Inspector General into one body, with a Senate-confirmed leader.
Read the investment in the of the Postal Service retiree health benefits fund here.