For Immediate Release                                                              Release No. 06-7

December 9, 2006                                                                          www.mailers.org

Contact:        Robert E. McLean                bmclean@mailers.org                   703-418-0390

Mailers Council Statement on Passage of Postal Reform Bill

WASHINGTON, DC, December 9, 2006— Mailers Council Chairman Laurel Kamen today released the following statement in response to the passage of HR 6407, a bill to reform the United States Postal Service:

“Thanks to bipartisan support, the Congress tonight passed HR 6407, historically significant legislation to reform the United States Postal Service. Passage of this bill, which caps a campaign lasting more than 11 years, is now up to President Bush, and we encourage him to sign the bill into law.

“The Mailers Council’s members, who represent more than 70% of all mail in this country, were intimately involved in the final negotiations of this bill, but we recognize that passage was due primarily to the remarkable spirit of cooperation displayed by many individuals and organizations that, by working together, achieved success. In particular we recognize the leaders on the postal oversight committees, Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Tom Carper (D-DE) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT);  Reps. Tom Davis (R-VA), Henry Waxman (D-CA), John McHugh (R-NY), and Danny Davis (D-IL); the talented and tireless staff members for each of these Members of Congress, the White House, and the postal employee unions and management associations.

“Postal reform legislation is important to every American who benefits from universal service, and thanks to this bill, affordable universal service can be maintained. But the bill is also important to more than nine million Americans whose jobs depend on a healthy mailing industry. Without reform legislation, the health of the Postal Service and those nine million jobs would be in serious jeopardy.

“The world has changed much since 1970, when the last major postal reform was approved. Despite those changes, the Postal Service remains an essential tool for many businesses, large and small—so long as postage rates are affordable. This bill will help achieve that goal

The Mailers Council is a coalition of corporations, nonprofit organizations, and major mailing associations. Collectively the Council accounts for 70 percent of the nation's mail volume. The Mailers Council believes that the USPS can be operated more efficiently, supports efforts aimed at lowering postal costs, and has the ultimate objective of containing postal rates without compromising service.

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