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Washington, DC Office
2462 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
Tel: 202-225-2476
Fax: 202-225-2356
Directions / Hours

Fond du Lac Office
490 West Rolling Meadows Drive
Suite B
Fond du Lac, WI 54937
Tel: 920-922-1180
Fax: 920-922-4498
Toll-free in WI: 800-242-4883
Directions / Hours

Oshkosh Office
2390 State Road 44
Suite B
Oshkosh, WI 54904
Tel: 920-231-6333
Directions / Hours

 

 

 

 

 

 

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U.S. Postal Service

Although the delivery performance of the United States Postal Service (USPS) remains at extremely high levels, the Postal Service is facing serious financial straits and unprecedented operational challenges. Due in part to an increased reliance on electronic communications and stronger competition from private couriers, the overall volume of mail the Postal Service processes has dropped, but its operational costs continue to increase. Additionally, the Postal Service has been acutely impacted by the nation's economic slowdown as some of the most affected sectors -- housing, finance, and energy -- account for a significant amount of the Postal Service's mail volume. As the amount of mail the USPS processes declines, the revenue earned by the Postal Service will also fall.

These are troubling times for the United States Postal Service, which concluded the 2008 fiscal year with a net loss of $2.8 billion despite cutting billions of dollars in expenses. In recent years, Congress, in coordination with the Postmaster General, the Board of Governors, and postal employees, has taken a number of steps to modernize the Postal Service but it is clear more must be done. Looking forward, it will be important that these groups continue to work together to develop legislative and operational solutions that allow the Postal Service to remain a competitive, self-sufficient entity.

In 2005, Congressman Petri supported H.R. 6407, the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, which was the first comprehensive overhaul of the U.S. Postal Service in 35 years. H.R. 6407 was signed into law by President Bush on December 20, 2006. The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, Public Law 109-435, has brought extensive reform to the nation's postal delivery sector by creating a more flexible and predictable rate setting process, maintaining universal service, and expanding the authority of the Postal Regulatory Commission.

In the 111th Congress, Congressman Petri has supported a number of proposals which would improve the operation and the delivery service of the United States Postal Service. He is an original cosponsor of H.R 707, the Home Front to Heroes Postal Benefit Act. This bill would give members of the Armed Forces serving in combat operations a monthly postal voucher, which can be transferred to their families, so service members can receive mail from relatives as they serve our country. Congressman Petri also is a cosponsor of H.R. 336, the Peace Stamp for the Peace Corps Act. This legislation would create a semi-postal stamp which would sell at a slightly higher price than the standard first class rate. All additional revenue received from the sale of these semi-postal stamps would benefit the Peace Corps.

Given the financial difficulties of the USPS, leaders of the Postal Service and Members of Congress have offered a number of proposals which would improve delivery service and streamline operations. In an effort to lower costs, the Postal Service plans to reduce work hours and may consider consolidating underutilized processing facilities that are not operating at full capacity. The Postal Service has also offered certain classes of workers a Voluntary Early Retirement option and proposed a temporary freeze on new hires. In addition, the USPS has increased its use of new, innovative technologies to make mail operations more efficient. The Postal Service has expanded its use of equipment that scans addresses from pieces of mail and translates them into machine-readable bar codes, thereby reducing the volume of mail which must be processed by hand. There have been a number of other changes discussed by Postal Service leaders and members of Congress which may be addressed in the 111th Congress. Most notable among these are a proposal that would relax the Postal Service's requirements to pre-fund the health benefit premiums for future retirees and a proposal to eliminate a day of mail service.

For over two centuries, the United States Postal Service has performed the invaluable service of linking our nation's homes and businesses through the mail. Congressman Petri takes pride in being an ardent supporter of an efficient, cost-conscious Postal Service, and he remains committed to supporting initiatives that will not only increase delivery services but also improve the financial outlook of USPS in the long-term.

Related News

  • Rep. Petri Speaks at Public Hearing on USPS's proposal to close Oshkosh Mail Facility
    Rep. Petri talks about why he spoke at a public hearing about his concerns with the proposal to close the Oshkosh Mail Processing and Distribution Facility.
    (November 30, 2010) (View Release)
  • Concerned about the Future of the Oshkosh Mail Facility?
    The U.S. Postal Service has scheduled a public meeting to discuss proposals to consolidate the mail processing operations currently performed at the Oshkosh Processing and Distribution Center with those performed by the Green Bay P&DC; on November 23, 2010.
    (November 19, 2010) (View Release)