STAMFORD, Conn., July 23 -- Michael J. Critelli, Chairman and CEO of Pitney Bowes Inc. and chairman of the Mailing Industry CEO Council, issued the following statement in response to the recommendations announced today by the President's Commission on the United States Postal Service. The Commission held its final public meeting to receive and consider recommendations before it issues its final report to the President of the United States next week. "The Commission's recommendations encourage the U.S. Postal Service to actively partner with the private sector, and to leverage technology to increase the access, security and value of mail. "On behalf of Pitney Bowes, I would like to applaud President Bush and the President's Commission for their diligence and commitment to examining the vital public service the U.S. Postal Service provides the nation. As the leading provider of mail and document solutions, Pitney Bowes has welcomed the opportunity to participate in this process. We look forward to continuing to work with the mailing industry and the postal service to ensure it remains a healthy and vibrant institution." President George W. Bush established the nine-member, bipartisan President's Commission on the United State Postal Service in December 2002. The Commission was charged with identifying the challenges of the Postal Service, examining solutions to these challenges, and offering recommendations to ensure the long-term viability of the Postal Service. Pitney Bowes provided testimony to the Commission in March 2003 on the benefits of new technologies to the Postal Service and its customers. "The Commission's recommendations recognize and appreciate the value and viability of mail as communications tools and will help strengthen the $900 billion mailing industry. As the global leader in mailing technologies and solutions, Pitney Bowes has a history of applying technology to reduce the cost, improve the security and enhance the value of the mail stream. "Today's recommendations support the use of our intelligent mail technology, which allows each mail piece to be uniquely identified and tracked and traced through the use of data-rich, machine readable information. Encouraging the use of the next generation of mailing technology in the postal system will help ensure the long-term value and viability of the mail."