The Senate is considering a new commission that would review the Postal Service’s operations and recommend new ways for USPS to generate revenue.

The Senate voted on Tuesday not to debate postal reform legislation, but S. 1789 is expected to come back for consideration after the Senate returns from recess in mid-April.

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), chairman of the Senate’s Government Affairs Committee, said new measures were being added to the bill following discussions with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).

Sanders, who strongly opposes the closure of mail-processing plants and post offices, has become one of the loudest pro-postal reform voices in Washington as the Postal Service looks for more ways to save money.

The NALC continues to press for a bill that doesn’t jeopardize Saturday delivery two years from now, that doesn’t eliminate both USPS’s biggest competitive advantage and 80,000 jobs, that doesn’t phase out door-to-door delivery for 35 million households and businesses, and that doesn’t radically downsize the USPS and reduce service standards just to pay for unfair congressional mandates. These are the types of provisions contained within S. 1789.

In his efforts to develop a new business model for the USPS, Sanders has set up a blue-ribbon entrepreneurial commission and has appointed to it entrepreneurs and postal stakeholders.

Lieberman said on Tuesday that Sanders’ concept was being added to the bill.

“We will create an advisory commission,” Lieberman said, “a new commission which will be charged with the responsibility of not only reviewing the operations of the Post Office to make sure it’s being managed and run most efficiently, but for looking for a new business model and for new ways to use the great assets of the post office.”

NALC members have flooded Senate offices with demands to oppose the deeply flawed S. 1789 in an effort to encourage the Senate to carefully analyze the financial problems the Postal Service faces. We will continue these efforts across the country until the Senate resumes business in April and until our message is made clear to senators.

Visit the NALC Activist Alert