June 14, 2004 -- Landmark postal reform legislation awaits consideration by the full Senate and House of Representatives following unanimous approval by both the House Government Reform Committee and the Senate Committee on Governmental Reform. NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies commends the chairmen and members of both committees for their bipartisan efforts to bring postal reform legislation to fruition before the conclusion of the 108th Congress and stresses the importance of passing postal reform this year. NPES Government Affairs Director Mark J. Nuzzaco noted that "the U.S. Postal Service is the lynchpin of the mailing industry." Following the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee’s recent approval of the proposed legislation, NPES Chair Kathryn P. Marx, Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Planning of Flint Ink, commented, "The Committee’s action shows that Senators, as well as members of the House are aware of the pressing need to reform the postal system." NPES’ Nuzzaco was equally optimistic, stating, "The second unanimous approval by a congressional committee has further advanced the case for postal reform as it moves to the floors of the House and Senate." S. 2468, The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, was introduced by Chairman Susan Collins (R-ME) and Senator Thomas Carper (D-DE), along with co-sponsor Senators Ted Stevens (R-AK), George Voinovich (R-OH), John Sununu (R-NH), Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and Richard Durbin (D-IL). H.R. 4341, The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, is sponsored by Chairman Tom Davis (R-VA), Congressmen Henry Waxman (D-CA), John M. McHugh (R-NY) and Danny Davis (D-IL). Both bills address the structural, legal, and financial constraints that have burdened the U.S. Postal Service and its customers. The leadership of Chairmen Collins and Davis was instrumental in securing unanimous committee approvals of the legislative proposals. The proposed reforms incorporated in both measures, which are based on recommendations made by a bipartisan Presidential Commission on Postal Reform, will help assure a healthy, viable and affordable postal system. Both S. 2468 and H.R. 4341 would: simplify the rate making process, making it more predictable; guarantee a higher degree of transparency in the U.S.P.S; repeal the requirement that U.S.P.S overpayments into the federal Civil Service Retirement Fund be held in escrow; and return funding of military service costs of postal retirees to the Treasury Department.