[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 132 (Monday, September 28, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1837-E1838]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN RECOGNITION OF UNIQUE PUBLIC-PRIVATE COOPERATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BARNEY FRANK

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 28, 1998

  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I was privileged last 
December to join with Vice President Gore and the Massachusetts 
Senators in a unique celebration to recognize an outstanding public-
private partnership between Targeted Marketing Solutions Incorporated 
(TMSI) of Newton Upper Falls, Massachusetts and the United States 
Postal Service. At this ceremony, TMSI and the Postal Service were 
presented with the National Performance Review's Hammer Award, which 
honors civil servants and private groups that have implemented 
innovative programs that improve government efficiency and save the 
government money.
  As we finish our work this Congress and look ahead to the turn of the 
century, I wanted to share with my colleagues part of the story of this 
innovative relationship, which I think exemplifies extremely well the 
power and potential of public sector-private sector cooperation. 
Indeed, I am hopeful that this model will serve to inspire other 
agencies and private groups to explore innovative ways to increase 
consumer satisfaction, in an efficient manner.
  In 1993, TMSI approached the Postal Service with a way to help the 
Postal Service further their goals of reducing costs, using sound 
business principles to increase efficiency, while increasing customer 
satisfaction. In order to facilitate the process by which millions of 
Americans fill out a change of address card

[[Page E1838]]

in order to get their mail forwarded when they move, TMSI proposed that 
they would print and distribute the Change of Address cards, making 
them more user-friendly, including moving tips and public service 
information. Moreover, their concept included the recruitment of move-
related advertisers in order to reduce costs. The Mover's Guide was 
launched in 1994 nationally and is now saving the Postal Service 
millions of dollars in direct costs, as well as mail forwarding and 
increased postage costs each year.
  This success was followed by the launch of the Welcome Kit in 1997, 
which is now sent to every mover at their new address to confirm change 
of address information, as well as public service information on motor 
vehicle registration, voter registration, federal moving related 
information, tips on settling in, and savings offers from move-related 
advertisers. Here again, this is all accomplished while saving 
taxpayers millions of dollars annually.
  I was proud to take part last year in the celebration of this unique 
business relationship, including visiting TSMI's headquarters, and to 
witness the enthusiasm the people of TMSI and the Postal Service bring 
to their work in this area. I congratulate TMSI and the Postal Service 
on their innovation and determination. I hope, as I've said, that other 
individuals, companies, and agencies will be able to draw strength and 
inspiration from this success story. I look forward to learning of many 
similarly effective public-private alliances, which will no doubt be 
forged in the coming months and years ahead.

                          ____________________