[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 17, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H7486-H7487]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




KEEPING COSTS DOWN: COMPETITION AMONG VENDORS FOR PROCUREMENT OF POSTAL 
                                UNIFORMS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Strickland] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor this afternoon to 
talk about an issue that is of great concern not only to myself but to 
other Members of this body.
  Under our current system, the United States Postal Service allows 
employees of the service to choose where to purchase their uniforms. 
Consequently, literally hundreds of small manufacturing companies and 
vendors from throughout this country are now supplying these needed 
uniforms on a choice basis to those who work for the Postal Service.
  My concern and the concern of many of my colleagues is that the 
Postal Service is contemplating a change of policy, and rather than 
working with these large number of vendors and manufacturers, they are 
contemplating the selection of a single large vendor that would take 
over the responsibility for the procurement of postal uniforms.
  Now, why does this concern me? The Postal Service contends that such 
a change in policy would save them money. My concern is that it would 
cost American jobs. I believe that the Postal Service should be 
required to purchase uniforms that are American-made, and that they 
should only purchase uniforms from companies which uphold and maintain 
certain high standards for the way they treat their workers and the 
fact that they are good corporate citizens.
  In my district, in the small town of Nelsonville, OH, we have Rocky 
Shoes, Rocky Shoes and Boots, and a significant percentage of Rocky 
Shoes and Boots' business goes to provide shoes for those who work for 
the Postal Service. It is a good deal for Rocky Boots, and I believe it 
is a good deal for the men and women who work for our Postal Service.
  So it troubles me that an institution, an agency such as the postal 
system which currently is very profitable and is realizing significant 
yearly profits, would in the name of cost savings take action which 
could cost my constituents and the constituents of many other Members 
of this body their livelihoods and their jobs.
  Now, nearly 70 Members of this body have signed letters to the postal 
system and the Postmaster General expressing our concern about this 
proposed policy. I am happy with the fact that the postal system has at 
least temporarily put a moratorium on this proposed policy change. I 
remain concerned, however, that in the name of cost savings and 
efficiency, an action could be taken and is currently under 
consideration that would be very, very damaging to working men and 
women and working families in this country.
  I believe that the best way to realize cost savings is to maintain a 
system where there is fair competition, where small manufacturers and 
vendors must compete for the business, rather than placing this 
responsibility in the hands of a single large vendor. Over 100 
manufacturers and over 800 vendors are at risk.
  So I come to the floor this evening to express in this venue my 
concern for this proposal and to ask Members of this body to join me as 
we request a

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face-to-face meeting with the Postmaster General of this country, so 
that as elected representatives of the people we can sit down and 
express directly to the Postmaster General what our concerns are, and 
to seek from the Postmaster General guarantees and assurances that the 
people that we represent, the small American companies and these 
American workers, will not have to pay this heavy price in terms of job 
loss. So I close my remarks by saying that it is my intention within 
the next few days to approach other Members of this body and to ask 
them to join me in this effort as we carry on these discussions with 
the Postal Service.

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