LEGISLATIVE AND POLITICAL REPORT WASHINGTON UPDATE HOUSE MEMBERS INTRODUCE BI-PARTISAN ANTI-PRIVATIZATION RESOLUTION Robert Losi, Legislative and Political Director

en members of the U.S. House of Representatives Trump’s Task Force” reviewing the financial and operational introduced resolution (H.Res.993) on July 16, 2018, ask- issues surrounding Postal Service and expected to issue the T ing the entire House of Representatives to take all results of that review in early August, and with the recent appropriate measures not to privatize the Postal Service and release of the Office of Management and Budget’s plan called let it continue to operate as an independent establishment of the “Delivering Government Solutions in the 21st Century” the federal government. Congressman Stephen Lynch (D-MA) calling for the privatization of the Postal Service over the long and Congressman Rodney Davis (R-IL) are the lead spon- term. “At this point in time,” Hogrogian said, “we need all the sors. The additional cosponsors are Representative Paul Cook friends we can get on Capitol Hill.” Hogrogian continued: “The (R-CA), Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Congresswoman discussions should be about enhancing services, not privatiz- Marcia Fudge (D-OH), Congressman David Loebsack (D-IA), ing them, so that we can serve the American people into this Congressman Brian Mast (R-FL), Congresswoman Stephanie century and beyond.” Murphy (D-FL), Congressman Cedric Richmond (D-LA), and One way of improving services for the general public and Congressman Donald Young (R-AK). businesses would be by returning service standards to those President Hogrogian thanked both the lead sponsors and in effect on July 1, 2012 and passing comprehensive postal cosponsors for their support for this bi-partisan resolution reform legislation that grows USPS business does not restrict and for showing leadership and vision by being proactive or cut services. Such legislation has already been introduced in attempting to protect this 243-year-old constitutionally in both the Senate and House: the bill in the Senate is S. 2629 mandated institution. President Hogrogian went on to say and the bill in the House is H.R. 6079. that we are at a critical point in USPS history, with “President PLEASE SEE THE RESOLUTION BELOW:

115th CONGRESS 2nd Session independent establishment of the Federal Whereas the United States Postal Service H. RES. 993 Government and is not subject to privatization. is the Nation’s second-largest employer of Expressing the sense of the House of Whereas the United States Postal Service is military veterans; Representatives that Congress should take a constitutionally mandated service per article I, Whereas postal employees are dedi- all appropriate measures to ensure that section 8, clause 7 of the Constitution; cated public servants who do more than the United States Postal Service remains Whereas the United States Postal Service process and deliver the Nation’s mail, they an independent establishment of the is a self-sustaining, independent establish- serve as the eyes and ears of the Nation’s Federal Government and is not subject ment that does not receive taxpayer funding communities and often respond first in sit- to privatization. and relies solely on revenue derived from uations involving health, safety, and crime the sale of postal services and products; in their communities; IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Whereas the United States Postal Whereas privatization of the United July 16, 2018 Service and its more than 500,000 employ- States Postal Service would result in higher Mr. Lynch (for himself, Mr. Rodney Davis of ees are at the center of the $1.4 trillion prices and reduced services for its custom- Illinois, Mr. Young of Alaska, Mr. Cook, Mr. Mast, mailing industry, employing a total of ers, especially in rural communities; and Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mrs. Murphy of Florida, 7.5 million Americans; Whereas privatization of the United Ms. Fudge, Mr. Richmond, and Mr. Loebsack) Whereas the United States Postal Service States Postal Service would jeopardize the submitted the following resolution; which serves the needs of 157 million business and booming e-commerce sector and cripple a was referred to the Committee on Oversight residential customers at least six days a major part of the Nation’s critical infrastruc- and Government Reform week, maintains an affordable and universal ture: Now, therefore, be it network, and connects the country’s rural, Resolved, that it is the sense of the House RESOLUTION suburban, and urban communities; of Representatives that Congress should Expressing the sense of the House of Whereas the United States Postal Service take all appropriate measures to ensure that Representatives that Congress should take is consistently the highest-rated agency the United States Postal Service remains an all appropriate measures to ensure that the of the Federal Government in nonpartisan independent establishment of the Federal United States Postal Service remains an opinion polls; Government and not subject to privatization.

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