[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 108 (Wednesday, July 6, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1051]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 OPPOSING THE POINT OF ORDER REGARDING THE MAIL-DELIVERY STANDARDS IN 
                               H.R. 5485

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 6, 2016

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I would like to clarify the meaning of the 
Point of Order.
  First, it means that the amendment the Appropriations Committee added 
to the bill, requiring the Postal Service to maintain highest quality 
delivery standards, is nullified. This amendment was passed for FY 2017 
without objection in our Committee and it was included in last year's 
bill and was passed as well. It stands as a strong measure of support 
for the US Postal Service in both rural and urban America. Those that 
neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays them from the 
swift completion of their appointed rounds--deserve our respect. It is 
our Constitutional responsibility in Article 1.
  Second, the Chaffetz point of order will actually cost our citizenry 
more money by in fact $66M due to the added transportation costs that 
results from drastically slowing down the processing and delivery of 
the nation's mail.
  The timely processing and delivery of mail is critical. The Postal 
Service delivers 154 billion pieces of mail annually to 155 million 
delivery points, accounting for 47 percent of the world's mail. This 
equals over 2,000 percent more than the total business for UPS or 
FedEx.
  Third, Mr. Speaker, it would not have been unusual or extraordinary 
for the Rules Committee to have protected from a point of order the 
mail delivery standards added to this bill.
  The Rules Committee actually voted to waive points of order on over 
30 partisan riders included in this bill, thereby protecting from 
removal controversial, legislative provisions impacting the SEC, IRS, 
CFPB, FCC, and District of Columbia.
  Finally, further the Ranking Member for the Appropriations 
Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (Mr. Serrano) 
has made it clear that the mail-delivery standards are off budget and 
do not impact scoring.
  The future of our public Postal Service is threatened by delayed 
mail. Delayed mail harms small businesses, rural America, and our 
economy in general.
  Representatives are hearing from their constituents that mail service 
has fallen off a cliff with late mail. In fact, a bipartisan majority 
(235 Republicans and Democrats) has cosponsored H.Res 54, calling upon 
the Postal Service to take all appropriate measures to restore service 
standards.
  The mail service standard language imposes no legislative mandate of 
specified action on the part of the Postal Service--let me repeat--no 
legislative mandate of specified action on the part of the Postal 
Service. The mail service standard language is direction from the House 
Appropriations Committee to the Postal Service that they must correct 
an administrative and operational situation that actually costs more 
money, and which undermines prompt reliable and efficient service to 
all Americans.
  When it comes to ensuring the timely delivery of mail for the 
American people and businesses, Congress holds the ultimate 
responsibility over postal operations. And now that the Postal Service 
is being wed to a plan that reduces service standards and slows down 
America's mail, it is crucial for Congress to exercise this authority.
  Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I would hope that my colleagues on the other 
side of the aisle would reconsider their point of order. Let us do 
everything in our power to protect the mail delivery standards 
provision that the Appropriations Committee with bipartisan support 
added to this bill.

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