[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 12, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E432-E433]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     THE PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION ON THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 11, 2003

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to insert into the Record a 
letter from the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) sent to Mr. Dennis 
Shea, Executive Director of the President's Commission on the United 
States Postal Service (Commission). The President's nine-member 
bipartisan Commission was established to identify the operational, 
structural, and financial challenges facing the Postal Service; examine 
potential solutions; and recommend legislative and administrative steps 
to ensure the long-term viability of postal service in the United 
States. The Commission will submit its report to the President by July 
31, 2003.
  The letter outlines concerns the CBC and many of its constituents 
have with issues before the Commission. The CBC believes that:
  First, before we change the United States Postal Service to 
accommodate modem technologies (Internet, electronic transfers, 
electronic bill payments), it is important to bear in mind that 
millions of Americans do not have the access or ability to use these 
services, especially those who are economically disadvantaged, and 
older Americans;
  Second, considering the possibility of the privatization of the 
United States Postal Service, it seems clear that small rural and inner 
city markets will not support private business, thus leading to a 
reduction in the level of services and the ability of people living in 
these markets to communicate; and
  Lastly, drastic change to the structure of the United States Postal 
Service also has the potential of reducing employment opportunities for 
veterans (who enjoy preferential employment) and groups under-
represented in private industry (women and people of color).
  Thus, any effort to dismantle the United States Postal Service could 
serve to negatively impact those populations traditionally marginalized 
in our country. I urge the Commission to look into the concerns 
outlined in the CBC's letter. I urge the President to carefully 
consider the Commission's recommendations in light of these concerns.

                                   Congressional Black Caucus,

                                Washington, DC, February 21, 2003.
     Mr. Dennis Shea, 
     Executive Director, President's Commission on the U.S. Postal 
         Service, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Shea: On behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus, 
     we respectfully submit the following comments regarding the 
     extremely important issues before the Commission on the 
     United States Postal Service.
       President Bush established the Commission on the United 
     States Postal Service on the premise that modern 
     telecommunications, the Internet, electronic transfers and 
     electronic bill paying may justify or require changes in the 
     Postal Service. However, millions of Americans, especially 
     those who are economically disadvantaged and older Americans, 
     do not have access to these means of communication. For them, 
     the Postal Service continues to provide the only practical 
     and available means of communication and commerce. Any change 
     to the Postal Service that would affect the continued 
     availability of universal mail service at uniform rates would 
     threaten to further erode their economic security.
       Some advocates of changes in the Postal Service also 
     advocate privatization of the Postal Service. That movement, 
     too, is based on the false premise that we may be able to 
     dispense with the provision of universal service. For 
     Americans in our rural areas and for many in our inner 
     cities, a profit motive cannot support provision of essential 
     services. This has always been and must remain the 
     responsibility of our government. It is essential that there 
     remain a universal postal system that spreads the cost of 
     maintaining universal service among all those who use it. Any 
     change that would favor the efficiency of private markets 
     over the public interest in communications among all 
     Americans would further isolate Americans who are already 
     disadvantaged by economic circumstance or geographical 
     location. We urge you not to support any policy that might 
     permit that to happen.
       We also want to caution against any change that would 
     undermine the economic security of postal employees. In the 
     Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, Congress recognized that 
     employees of the former Post Office Department of the federal 
     government were severely underpaid and labored in very 
     unfavorable working conditions. In that Act, Congress 
     improved postal wages and provided for free collective 
     bargaining by unions representing postal employees. That 
     system has worked very well. In the more than thirty years 
     since Congress authorized the last wage increase for postal 
     employees, postal wages have kept pace with inflation, and 
     there has been no major work stoppage of the sort that 
     disrupted postal services in 1970.
       The Postal Service employs hundreds of thousands of women, 
     African-Americans and other racial minorities. For many of 
     these postal employees, the fact that the Postal Service 
     provides a living wage and adequate fringe benefits, 
     regardless of race or gender, has been critically important. 
     This is in contrast to the private sector of our economy, 
     where there remains an unfortunate disparity between the 
     employment opportunities and compensation available to white 
     males and the opportunities and compensation available to 
     women and racial minorities. Therefore, any effort to 
     dismantle the Postal Service would be a regressive step, 
     contrary to our national effort to provide equal employment 
     opportunities for women and racial minorities.

[[Page E433]]

       In the same vein, we are mindful of the large number of 
     veterans employed by the Postal Service. Our promises and 
     commitment to these veterans must not be forgotten or 
     diminished. In their military service, and in their postal 
     service, these veterans have served their country. It is 
     necessary and appropriate that we continue to recognize their 
     sacrifices by providing them preferential employment 
     opportunities in government positions, including positions in 
     the Postal Service.
       Thank you for your careful consideration of our comments.
           Sincerely,
     Elijah E. Cummings,
       Chair, CBC.
     Danny K. Davis,
       Ranking Member, Special Committee on Postal Services.

       

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