Statement by American Postal Workers Union President
Mark Dimondstein
on
Today’s Hearing on Legislative Proposals to Put the Postal Service on a Sustainable Financial Footing and the Nomination by President Biden to Fill Vacancies on the USPS’ Board of Governors

I want to thank the chair of the House Committee on Oversight Committee and Reform, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, for holding today’s hearing on legislation that will allow the United States Postal Service to uphold its mission under the law to provide prompt, reliable and efficient service to the country.  Congress has an important role to play and an opportunity to right the wrongs of past legislation by repealing the onerous prefunding mandate responsible for the bulk of the USPS’ recent financial losses.

Today’s hearing demonstrates bipartisan support for the USPS and is an important first step in ensuring the long-term sustainability of a public postal service. Any effort to reform the USPS must uphold the principle of universal service. Postal workers are pleased that many members of the committee share our view that now is the time to fix the problems plaguing the USPS. We cannot allow this service, vital to millions of customers, to further atrophy.

We also are encouraged by today’s announcement by President Biden nominating three new members to the USPS’ Board of Governors, Anton Hajjar, Amber McReynolds, and Ron Stroman. The American Postal Workers Union, along with other allied organizations, had petitioned the administration this week urging them to act quickly to fill the vacancies on the board with individuals, like these three nominees, 
who are committed to universal service and who will defend the vibrancy and sustainability of the public United States Postal Service.  We applaud President Biden's actions to fill these critical positions on the board, and we urge the Senate to quickly confirm these nominees.