Chaffetz leads release of discussion draft of Postal Service reform bill

U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) recently released a discussion draft of bipartisan legislation that would reform the Postal Service’s governance system to promote accountability and efficiency.

Chaffetz, the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, convened a hearing in May that highlighted the need for comprehensive postal reform legislation. Earlier this month, Chaffetz joined U.S. Reps. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), the ranking member of the committee, Mark Meadows (R-NC), Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Stephen Lynch (D-MA) in releasing a discussion draft of the Postal Service Reform Act.

“The Postal Service is in dire financial shape,” the legislators said in a joint statement. “Without reform now, the problems will only worsen and reform will become far more difficult to accomplish. This bipartisan legislative solution provides the opportunity for the postal service to return to solvency and continue to provide universal service to all Americans.”

Under the discussion draft, postal service retirees would be required to enroll in Medicare to maintain eligibility for federal health care in retirement. The Postal Service and retirees have paid $29 billion into Medicare, but many retirees are not claiming the benefits they paid for.

The bill would also reform the current governance system to improve accountability, enhance the Postal Regulatory Commission’s (PRC) ability to hold the Postal Service accountable, and consolidate the Postal Service and PRC Offices of Inspector General into one agency.