[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 186 (Tuesday, December 6, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H8174]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          SAVE THE POST OFFICE

  (Mr. COHEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, the other day the Postmaster General said 
that first class mail wasn't going to be first class anymore; it wasn't 
going to be overnight; it might be 2 or 3 days.
  Because of the problems we have with making the post office 
financially sufficient, there are ways they could accomplish this, and 
I've got a bill that allows them to go into other services to expand 
their revenue base, and there's also about $5 billion that's an issue 
concerning payments into a health fund that could be resolved.
  The post office is almost as American as apple pie. A lot of people 
will switch to using the Internet to pay their bills and they'll never 
go back to the post office. I'm afraid that what's been recommended is 
penny-wise and pound-foolish, and a great American institution that 
serves many rural people and others without a lot of connectivity and 
fortune will suffer.
  I wish the Postmaster General will reconsider his action. I have a 
``Dear Colleague'' being circulated. I hope people will sign on and 
that we will save the U.S. Postal Service.

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