Kaine Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation To Stabilize USPS And Promote Long-Term Sustainable Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine cosponsored the Postal Service Reform Act to set the United States Postal Service on a more sustainable financial footing and support the goal of providing long-term reliable service across the Commonwealth and our country. This bipartisan bill strengthens transparency and accountability for Postal Service performance, eliminates unnecessary financial burdens, and helps ensure the Postal Service can better serve the American people. The legislation was first introduced by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH), as well as Senators Tom Carper (D-DE), Richard Burr (R-NC), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Shelley Capito (R-WV), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Steve Daines (R-MT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Mike Rounds (R-SD).

“People from all across the Commonwealth depend on the Postal Service for reliable mail service—especially as Virginians continue to do all they can to stay safe during the pandemic,” said Senator Kaine. “I’m proud to support the bipartisan Postal Service Reform Act to help improve timely delivery of mail, paychecks, and lifesaving prescription drugs. This commonsense legislation would ensure transparency and accountability for the Postal Service, while saving billions of dollars.”

Specifically, the Postal Service Reform Act would:

• Eliminate the aggressive prefunding requirement that has hurt the Postal Service financially, and integrate postal worker retirees’ health care with Medicare. Together, these two reforms would create $45.9 billion in savings for the Postal Service over the next ten years.  
• Require the Postal Service to maintain its standard of delivering at least six days a week.
• Improve transparency of Postal Service operations to both customers and Congress by requiring the publication of easily accessible weekly service data on the Postal Service website, as well as issuing a detailed report to Congress every six months on Postal Service finances and operations.

The bill also includes provisions for Postal Service accountability and growth.

To see the full text of the Postal Service Reform Act, please click here. 

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