WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Postal Regulatory Commission
released its final Advisory Opinion on a proposal by the U.S. Postal Service
(USPS) to end mail delivery and other postal operations on Saturdays.
USPS proposed these and other changes to address over $2 billion in annual
losses.
“The Commission did an excellent job reviewing both the
potential cost benefits and impacts to Postal Service customers associated with
the proposal to end most Saturday mail services,” Murkowski said. “I am
pleased that the Commissioners have taken seriously the negative impact the
proposal could have on Americans who live in rural and remote areas of the
nation, including Alaska. I anticipate that the Senate will take their
findings and recommendations just as seriously.”
On September 16, 2010, Senator Murkowski testified before
the Postal Regulatory Commission to express Alaskans’ concerns about the
negative impact the proposal would have on rural residents who rely on the
Postal Service for such necessities as prescription medications that cannot be obtained
in the many communities that lack a local pharmacy. She also noted
increased costs to consumers who would be required to rent post office boxes or
pay extra for Express Mail to ensure necessary delivery on Saturdays, the loss
of jobs in an uncertain economy, and her concern that the proposal would yield
market share to for-profit companies.
The Commission’s Advisory
Opinion specifically referenced Senator Murkowski’s testimony and noted that
“Rural and remote communities, including those in the non-contiguous states and
territories, have unique mail requirements and arrangements with the Postal
Service” and determined that, “The Postal Service did not evaluate the impact
of the proposal on customers who reside or conduct business in rural, remote,
or non-contiguous areas.” Click
here for the Postal Regulatory Commission’s Advisory Opinion.
“I am
pleased that the Postal Regulatory Commissioners understood the serious
concerns that I presented on behalf of rural Alaskans,” Murkowski said. “The
Commission made clear its strong preference that
any changes must ensure equitable service to all Americans, no matter where
they live when Commissioners recommended, ‘the Postal Service, before
implementing five-day delivery, create a plan that provides an acceptable level
of service to rural, remote or non-contiguous areas that may be particularly
affected’.”
Also today, the Postmaster
General announced that the Alaska District, which supervises mail delivery
operations throughout the state, will not be among those Districts chosen for
consolidation. The Postmaster General also announced a plan to provide
early retirement incentives to eligible USPS employees in an effort to reduce
costs and overhead. Over the next year, the USPS anticipates laying-off
up to 7,500 administrative and executive employees nationwide.
Attached is Sen. Murkowski’s testimony to the Postal
Regulatory Commission in September 2010.