Unfavorable USPS Reform Bill Passed Down to Senate Floor

WASHINGTON, DC—The mailing and printing industries suffered a hard loss in early February when the Senate committee on homeland security and government affairs voted 9-1 to advance the Postal Reform Act of 2013 to the Senate floor.

A last-minute amendment from Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) to maintain the current pricing structure was soundly rejected by the committee. Thus, as currently constituted, the Senate reform bill makes permanent the 6 percent exigent rate increase, and also gives the U.S. Postal Service power to set future rates. The mailing industry has filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals; a process that could take months.

The reform measure is still very fluid, with ample time remaining to make changes to the bill before it reaches the Senate for a vote. Given the full Senate agenda, the process could take quite a while before an actual vote is taken.

The House of Representatives is also working on its own version of postal reform.