Pittsburgh, Pa. – PIA is appreciative that the Trump Administration placed a high priority on the complex issues surrounding USPS performance and the future of mail. USPS remains a critical supply chain partner to thousands of PIA member companies and their customers. We were pleased to participate in formal meetings with the Task Force leading up to the delivery of yesterday’s report. However, many of the policy suggestions put forth in the report are recycled ideas, some of which have already been rejected by lawmakers who have long debated postal reform legislation in Capitol Hill.

Of particular concern to PIA and its member companies is the recommendation to lift postal rate caps for which we fought hard in the last major legislative overhaul of USPS. These rate caps have allowed printing companies and their customers to more successfully anticipate affordable and predictable rate increases with minimal disruption to business plans and advertising strategies. Additional concerns in the report are recommendations that would potentially harm the thriving package industry and adversely impact rural mailers and customers.

PIA maintains the best way that the Trump Administration can help advance postal reform is by supporting the swift advancement of bipartisan House and Senate bills currently pending in Congress. These bills call for initial financial modernization of USPS’ health care and retiree benefits structure. President Trump urging passage of this legislation and signing into law would stabilize the mail system, allowing the rate caps to continue working well, and would pave the way for a second look at innovative policy ideas to further bolster the future viability of USPS.

Printing Industries of America is proud to be a founding member of the Coalition for a 21st Century Postal Service. The coalition consists of public and private companies and industry associations representing newspapers, advertisers, catalogers, e-commerce, parcels, greeting cards, financial services, telecommunications, insurance, paper, printing, technology, envelope manufacturing, and mail services, which understand the essential role of USPS and want it sustained for the future. C21 broadly represents an industry generating $1.4 trillion in sales and supporting 7.5 million private sector jobs, and supports both versions of the Postal Reform Act (S. 2629/H.R.6076), which would stabilize USPS in the short-to-medium term. For more information about the organization, please visit 21stcenturypostal.org.