Sen. Tom Carper
Thomas (Tom) Richard CarperOvernight Energy & Environment — Presented by American Clean Power — Methane fee faces negotiations Senators weigh future of methane fee in spending bill Democrats say they're committed to reducing emissions in Biden plan MORE (D-Del.) on Monday latched on to a new federal report to try to spark momentum for a deal to overhaul the U.S. Postal Service after next week’s elections.
The report, from the Government Accountability Office, confirmed what lawmakers generally already knew – that recent cost-cutting moves by the Postal Service have slowed down mail delivery.
Carper, the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, has crafted a postal reform measure with Sen. Tom Coburn
Thomas (Tom) Allen CoburnBiden and AOC's reckless spending plans are a threat to the planet NSF funding choice: Move forward or fall behind DHS establishes domestic terror unit within its intelligence office MORE (Okla.), the panel’s top Republican. In a Monday statement, he urged his colleagues in both parties and on both sides of the Capitol to act to help USPS before the end of the year.
“These budget cuts, service changes and facility consolidations and closures have a real impact on communities across the country,” Carper said. “But, in the absence of reform, the Postal Service will be forced to continue these painful measures and others in order to keep the lights on. To create a service that Americans can rely on – a robust institution to serve generations to come - Congress must take action.”
Carper requested the GAO report with Sens. Heidi Heitkamp
Mary (Heidi) Kathryn HeitkampWashington's oldest contact sport: Lobbyists scrum to dilute or kill Democrats' tax bill Progressives prepare to launch counterattack in tax fight Business groups aim to divide Democrats on .5T spending bill MORE (D-N.D.) and Jon Tester
Jonathan (Jon) TesterDemocrats ready to put a wrap on dragged-out talks Providing affordable housing to recruit our next generation of volunteer firefighters The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Uber - Manchin, Sanders in budget feud; Biden still upbeat MORE (D-Mont.), both of whom represent rural states and have expressed concerns about the slower delivery times.
But while Carper is still pushing for postal reform action, other top lawmakers working on the issue have been more pessimistic that progress can be made this year. The bill from Carper and Coburn has also gotten a cool reaction from some key advocates for the Postal Service, including labor and businesses that frequently use the mail.
USPS has reduced its losses in recent years, after bleeding a record $15.9 billion in fiscal 2012.
