Saving the Postal Service

H.R. 2309, the Issa-Ross Postal Reform Act, is the only legislation that saves the Postal Service from financial collapse. H.R. 2309 will:

  • Mandate USPS cut costs in line with declining revenue, and give USPS the freedom to do it
  • Direct USPS through a comprehensive, nonpolitical realignment of its costly excess infrastructure, making sure it’s fair to small and rural post offices
  • Eliminate costly regulations and end Congressional micromanaging
  • Ensure taxpayers won't be left holding the bill if USPS leadership fails
  • Help USPS cut costs and structure payments, while not letting USPS default on any of its obligations

Postal Service Timeline: Growth, Decline, Collapse...or Reform?

1775 - Benjamin Franklin appointed first Postmaster General by the Continental Congress
1847 - U.S. postage stamps issued
1860 - Pony Express begins
1863 - Free city delivery begins
1896 - Rural free delivery begins
1918 - Scheduled airmail service begins
1950 - Residential deliveries reduced to one a day
1963 - ZIP Code inaugurated
1971 – United States Postal Service separates from government. The self-supporting USPS replaces the Post Office Department
1974 – Congress and USPS agree on plan to fund retiree pensions
2006 - Mail volume peaks at 213 billion pieces per year
2010 - USPS loses record $8.5 billion. Mail volume drops to 170 billion pieces, more than 20% off 2006 peak
2011 - Over 50% of all bills paid electronically
March 2011 - Postmaster General: USPS will default on September 30th
June 2011 - USPS fails to follow law, announces it will stop contributing to postal workers pension fund.
June 2011 - Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa introduces the Postal Reform Act to save the USPS
October 13, 2011 - House Oversight Committee Approves Postal Reform Act