ALEXANDRIA, VA (April 3, 2003) – Benjamin Y. Cooper, Executive Vice President for Public Policy of the Printing Industries of America, praised the leadership of the House and Senate for acting promptly on legislation to correct an overpayment of the Postal Service’s share of the Civil Service Retirement System. The legislation passed by the Senate on April 2nd would likely mean the Postal Service will not need to increase postage rates until 2006. The House is expected to pass similar legislation prior to the Easter recess. “The action by the Senate is the best shot in the arm the printing and publishing industry could have had right now. Since the Postal Service had already begun the process of filing for a new rate increase for next year, we know how important the legislation is. Now we have to make sure the bill gets through the House and is signed by the President so the rate filing can be withdrawn. We are grateful to Sen. Susan Collins who sponsored this legislation in the Senate and led the charge for its passage,” Cooper said. Cooper also noted the strong efforts of the mailing community in making this legislation a reality. According to Cooper, “In the past, it was common to have different organizations in the mailing community at odds since the rate battles create winners and losers. This time, the entire community was organized around a single objective and was unified. If this same spirit can be taken to broader postal reform, we can achieve success.” He also said the strong leadership of R. R. Donnelley’s CEO Bill Davis made a significant difference in the outcome. “Bill Davis not only stepped in personally by making numerous trips to Washington, but also helped organize a group of CEOs in other mailing organizations. He has been very helpful to PIA in encouraging other printing company CEOs to get involved,” Cooper said. The Senate bill was sponsored by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). The House legislation (HR 735) was introduced by Reps. John McHugh (R-NY) and Tom Davis (R-VA).