[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 10, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1710-E1711]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 U.S. POSTAL SERVICE GLOBAL PACKAGE LINE IMPORTANT TO AMERICAN MAILERS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. TONY P. HALL

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 10, 1997

  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, soon my colleagues and I on the House 
Rules Committee will consider a rule for H.R. 2378, the Treasury, 
Postal Service, and General Government Appropriations bill for fiscal 
1998. At that time, the committee will determine whether to grant a 
waiver for a provision in the bill to limit the U.S. Postal Service 
from expanding its Global Package Line Service.
  Global package Link is a new approach using modern technology to ship 
packages from large mailers to overseas destinations. Today, companies 
like J.C. Penny, Land's End, L.L. Bean, and Neiman Marcus Direct can 
use this service to reach easily and economically consumer markets in 
Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom. 
Soon service will be extended to France, Mexico and Singapore.
  The U.S. Postal Service was created to provide a business approach to 
the business of moving the mail. Since that time, the Postal Service 
has lived up to its charge by introducing new products and services to 
keep pace with the ever changing market. Global Package Link is the 
latest innovative mailing option aimed at international business 
customers.
  The Postal Service makes available mail service nationally and 
internationally to every

[[Page E1711]]

American consumer and business. Global Package Link is an important 
part of the service provided to American businesses. Freezing the 
program will surely hurt American businesses trying to penetrate 
foreign markets. It will hurt all users of the Postal Service by 
limiting the ability to upgrade its services.
  Under the Rules of the House, the provision freezing the Global 
Package Link Service may not be considered on the House floor as part 
of the Treasury-Postal Service Appropriations bill. While it is within 
the authority of the Rules Committee to grant a waiver to this rule, 
the merits of this provision are insufficient for such special 
treatment. Moreover, the chairman and ranking minority member of the 
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight oppose a waiver for this 
provision.
  Mr. Speaker, the House should not approve legislation to interfere 
with the Postal Service's efforts to provide innovative, high quality 
service to American mail users. Certainly, we should not bend our own 
rules to make in order legislation which would do just that.

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