ALEXANDRIA, VA (December 19, 2002) — The Printing Industries of America, Inc. (PIA), a trade association that represents over 13,000 printers in the manufacturing sector, welcomed the naming of a Presidential Commission on Postal Reform which was announced by President Bush yesterday. Ben Cooper, PIA’s Executive Vice President for Public Policy said, “The health of the U. S. printing industry is tied directly to the health of a nationwide mail delivery system. We look forward to providing whatever assistance we can to the Commission.” The broad issue of Postal Reform was ranked by the PIA Board of Directors as a top priority for the 108th session of Congress. According to Cooper, reform can come in a variety of packages. “We are now looking at three distinct issues: the Commission, the Postal Service’s own Transformation Plan, and various actions by Congress. We will likely be working on all fronts at the same time,” Cooper said. Historically, printers have worked on postal issues primarily as a support to their customers; however, in recent years, it has become clear that while many customers have advertising and communications alternatives, printers are more directly tied to the Postal Service itself. Further, while large printers have been actively engaged in postal issues, smaller printers have not. The change in PIA’s priorities reflects a shift in that focus. PIA is also actively lobbying for passage of legislation that would adjust the liability of the U.S. Postal Service for overpayments to the Civil Service Retirement System. This overpayment, once corrected by Congress, should provide rate stability through 2006.