U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) and more than a dozen of his colleagues called on the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to reassess and halt its rate increase strategy, which includes a recent fourth rate increase in the last 18 months.
“We write to express concern over the negative impact these frequent rate increases have had on mail volume, customer volume, the overall financial viability of the USPS, and the pocketbooks of our constituents,” wrote Rep. Graves and the members in a Jan. 19 letter sent to USPS Board of Governors Chairman Roman Martinez.
“While price increase may increase profit on one side of their ledger, USPS’s leadership has failed to acknowledge the adverse effects price rates have had on their bottom line,” wrote the 18 lawmakers who joined Rep. Graves in signing the letter, including U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO).
They wrote that the USPS rate increases directly threaten Americans who depend on a well-functioning postal service.
“We cannot ignore recent reports demonstrating that the USPS’s reliance on frequent and large rate increases has been misguided and destructive,” wrote the members. “As such, we urge the [board] to halt any further rate increases and to immediately reassess how the long-term viability of the USPS could be jeopardized by these persistent increases.”
Rep. Graves and his colleagues also pointed out that while the Delivering for America Plan (DFA) forecasted that the USPS would break even in fiscal year 2023, that hasn’t happened and, in fact, the USPS lost $6.5 billion during the last fiscal year, they wrote, and expects to lose another $6.3 billion in FY 2024.
“Given last fiscal year’s disastrous financial results and widespread service issues, we once again echo our concerns regarding the Delivering for America Plan,” Rep. Graves and the members wrote. “Since USPS management has indicated it does not intend to deviate from twice-yearly postal rate increases, at least through 2026, it is the responsibility of the USPS Governors to intervene before more damage is done to the financial viability of the U.S. mailing industry and the long-term sustainability of the USPS.”