Republican representative John McHugh received the first Direct Marketing Association Nonprofit Federation Award. The member from New York includes chairing the House Special Panel on Postal Reform and Oversight among his congressional duties. McHugh is the inaugural recipient of the newly established award.
McHugh was commended for his efforts on behalf of non-profit postal-using organizations.IN acknowledging the award, the 11-year House member commented that in Washington, DC, old age is defined as having enough tenure to remember knowing the organizations that banded together to become the present organizations lobbying Congress.
McHugh noted that the district he represents, in rural upstate New York, covers 13,000 square miles, and includes 29,000 people. While many of them are on the Internet, “the USPS is an irreplaceable component to their survival,” he said, further noting that in some locations post offices serve as community centers and civic halls.
McHugh supports moving military retirement costs, which for postal employees are currently funded in part by the Postal Service, back to the Treasury Department. But, he cautioned, such moves would require expenditure offsets in the Government Reform Committee.
“If nothing else, I think the entire issue underscores the ludicrous side of budget scoring, and how we are frustrated in doing the right thing,” he said.
During a question period, McHugh was asked by a resident of rural Vermont whether the government had the right to get rid of one of his town’s two post offices.
“Yes, they do” McHugh replied. “I can say that because I don’t represent your district.”
He went on to clarify that post offices can’t be closed solely for economic reasons. “That has been translated to ‘they can’t close anything.’ No politician wants to have those things closed on him. I have said that postal service is overly structured, and that we probably will see some closings. But I want them minimized. I’d rather not see it happen to the extent they say it should.”
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