The U.S. Postal Service must revamp its operations to stay financially viable, according to the Government Accountability Office.
According to news reports, the GAO report makes some of the same recommendations aimed at bringing about transparency that were outlined in postal reform bill H.R. 22, which was approved by the House Government Reform Committee last month.
Overall, the GAO recommends that the USPS establish criteria for evaluating "realignment" decisions –which can includes post office and processing plant closures—and setting up a mechanism for letting stakeholders know when a decision is made.
The GAO report comes on the heels of a 5.4% postal rate case, which may be settled soon but may be followed by an even larger one next year if postal reform does not pass this year (Direct Newsline, May 6).
At present, postal reform bills H.R. 22 and S. 662 are pending in both the House and Senate. Currently, H.R. 22 has been marked-up and reported out of the House Government Reform Committee. S.662 is still pending in Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
The GAO report was requested by Reps. John McHugh, R-NY, and Danny Davis, D-IL, co-chairmen of the Special Panel on Postal Reform and Oversight, during the last Congress.
