[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13696]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             POSTAL REFORM

  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I would like to take a few minutes to make 
some remarks on S. 662, the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act 
of 2005. I have decided to support this legislation and I urge my 
colleagues to do the same. I have heard from Montana's postmasters, 
rural letter carriers, and customers that the U.S. Postal Service faces 
several long-term financial challenges that must be fixed.
  In the last 5 years alone, first class mail, which accounts for over 
half of all postal revenue, has dropped dramatically. As different ways 
of communicating emerge, like using e-mail, the Postal Service will 
continue to struggle in order to preserve delivery to every address. In 
other words, if something is not done, the Postal Service will struggle 
to maintain universal service. This bill guarantees universal service, 
and as a rural State, Montana relies on this assurance. The Postal 
Service is the only service provider available in many parts of Montana 
and allows residents to stay in contact with folks cross the country 
and the world.
  This bill helps resolve the problems with the escrow account. By 
releasing these funds, the Postal Service would be able to minimize 
rate increases, help pay off debt owed to the U.S. Treasury, and assist 
funding health care obligations for their employees.
  Recently, a Montanan called me saying, ``If something is not done to 
preserve the Postal Service, I, along with 3000 Postal employees in 
Montana, will lose our jobs. We will lose, Montana will lose and most 
of all, America will lose.'' Mr. President, I agree, and I urge my 
colleagues to vote in favor of the Postal Accountability and 
Enhancement Act of 2005.

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