[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 79 (Monday, June 7, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1142]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            H.J. RES. 55, THE MAILBOX PRIVACY PROTECTION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, June 7, 1999

  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, because this is small business appreciation 
week I would like to remind my colleagues of the importance of enacting 
HJ Res 55, the Mailbox Privacy Protection Act. HJ Res 55 repeals 
recently enacted Post Office regulations requiring Commercial Mail 
Receiving Agencies (CMRAs) to collect personal information about their 
customers, such as their name, address, social security number, and 
photograph. These regulations not only force small businesses to 
intrude into their customer's privacy, they could impose costs as high 
as $1 billion on small businesses during the initial six-month 
compliance period. The long term costs of this rule are incalculable, 
but could conceivably reach several billion dollars in the first few 
years. Some small businesses may even be forced into bankruptcy.
  Businesses like Mailboxes, etc., must turn the collected information 
over to the Post Office. Mr. Speaker, what business in America would 
not leap at the chance to force their competitors to provide them with 
their customer names, addresses, social security numbers, and 
photographs? The Post Office could even mail advertisements to those 
who use private mail boxes explaining how their privacy would not be 
invaded if they used a government box.
  It is ironic that this regulation comes at a time when the Post 
Office is getting into an ever increasing number of enterprises not 
directly related to mail delivery. So, while the Postal Service uses 
its monopoly on first-class mail to compete with the private sector, it 
works to make life more difficult for its competitors in the field of 
mail delivery.
  Mr. Speaker, Congress must do more than talk about how it appreciates 
small business, it must work to lift the burden of big government from 
America's job-creating small businesses. Passing HJ Res 55 and 
protecting Commercial Mail Receiving Agencies from the Post Offices' 
costly and anti-competitive regulations would be a great place to 
start.

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