[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 13 (Tuesday, February 7, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S767]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             POSTAL REFORM

  Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I rise to engage the chairman of the 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in a colloquy 
regarding a provision contained within the manager's amendment to S. 
662, the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act.
  The manager's amendment offered by Senator Collins changes the 
language of section 3622 concerning rate and service complaints that 
are brought to the Postal Regulatory Commission. I ask the Senator to 
explain the purpose and intent of this change. I particularly want to 
be sure that this amendment to the bill is not intended to, and does 
not deprive the Postal Regulatory Commission of its power to consider 
complaints relating to rates and the provision of postal services.
  Ms. COLLINS. I thank the gentleman from Missouri. He is correct. The 
amendment I propose to section 3622 does not and is not intended to 
preclude any interested party from securing a hearing before the Postal 
Regulatory Commission if it believes that the rates being charged or 
the manner in which services being provided to that mailer or mailer 
group violates the act. It is my hope that in conference that we can 
work to assure that the Postal Regulatory Commission does not become 
embroiled in attempts to resolve disputes as to internal affairs or 
purely operational decisions of the Postal Service. This provision is 
intended to protect the rights of the mailing public against the 
potential for monopoly abuse or other unjust or unfair conduct by the 
Postal Service in terms of rates charged or the nature of service 
provided.
  Mr. BOND. I thank the chairman.

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