Deregulation in H.R.

2309 The Postal Reform Act of 2011

H.R. 2309 (Issa, Ross) will free the Postal Service from unfunded mandates and costly regulations. Key Deregulations: 1. Eliminates the mandate requiring 6-day delivery of mail. 2. Eliminates the prohibition on closing small post offices solely for operating at a fiscal deficit. 3. Relaxes other statutory provisions, thereby increasing USPSs ability to manage its own retail network. 4. Eliminates the cumbersome appeals process for post office closures if a contract postal unit is opened nearby, which would be much more cost effective. 5. Streamlines the existing appeals process for post offices by reducing the maximum time for regulatory review from 120 days to 60 days. 6. Streamlines Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) review of USPS proposals to substantially alter USPSs retail network to no more than 90 days. 7. Streamlines PRC review of any proposal that is substantially similar to a proposal that has already been reviewed by the PRC to no more than 90 days. 8. Eliminates prior regulatory review of similar negotiated service agreements with individual mailers of competitive products such as Priority Mail and Express Mail. 9. Eliminates the requirement for USPSs governing board to approve similar rate agreements, allowing the Postmaster General to act instead. 10. Exempts USPS from costly prevailing wage laws that drive up contracting costs including the Davis-Bacon Act and the Service Contracting Act. 11. Broadens USPS authority to offer non-postal services by allowing USPS to sell advertising and offer state government services in postal facilities.

12. Removes a statutory rate preference for national and state political committees that amounts to an unfunded mandate. 13. Reduces the amount of revenue foregone to USPS from statutorily mandated non-profit advertising rates. 14. Eliminates the statutory requirement that all collections of fringe benefits for USPS employees must be as generous as those available in 1971. Deregulations in Other Postal Bills Deregulation in the S. 1010 (Carper) Bill: 1. Eliminates the requirement that small post offices cannot be closed solely for operating at a deficit. 2. Changes some language that restricts USPS ability to manage its retail network. 3. Allows USPS to determine mail delivery frequency. 4. Streamlines advisory opinion process by eliminating current process requirements and limiting the process to no more than 90 days. 5. Allows USPS to offer state and local government services. 6. Allows the shipment of beer and wine where allowed under state law. 7. Allows USPS to offer non-postal services that do not create unfair competition. 8. Allows the Board of Governors to delegate every single power vested in it to the Postmaster General and to authorize further re-delegation. According to the text, this could mean the Postmaster General would be able to select the USPS IG. 9. Eliminates safeguards for negotiated service agreements for market-dominant products so each agreement can lose an unlimited amount of money as long as the entire class of mail (such as all of First-Class Mail) still covered its costs. Deregulation in S. 353 (Collins): None. Deregulation in H.R. 1351 (Lynch): None.