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Congressman Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Sam Graves (R-MO) have introduced a bipartisan House Resolution to preserve six-day mail delivery, including Saturday delivery, by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).

The Connolly -Graves resolution (H.Res.12) expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the USPS should take all appropriate measures to preserve a vital component of our Nation’s long-standing Universal Service Standard, Saturday Mail Delivery.  A similar Graves-Connolly resolution introduced in the 113^th Congress had broad bipartisan support with 228 cosponsors.

“In attempting to stem revenue losses that result from declining first class mail volume by proposing to accelerate service cuts that will only exacerbate volume loss, the Postmaster General is acting like a doctor from a prior century who wrongly believed that bleeding patients could save them.” Connolly said. “The Postal Service’s misguided and nearly four decades old obsession with eliminating a critical competitive advantage, Saturday mail delivery, would kick off a vicious cycle of increasing volume reductions, service standard degradation, and customer alienation. Rather than attempt to bleed the Postal Service back to health, in the 21^stCentury era of E-commerce, the Postal Service must focus on innovating and expanding services to promote growth and prosperity.”

“There are still a large number of people – particularly in rural areas, like much of north Missouri – whose lifeline to the outside world is the Postal Service,” Graves said. “It’s no secret that the USPS is in a dire financial situation and needs to be reformed, but reducing core services like six day delivery is not the answer,” he continued. “Eliminating six day mail delivery would have a devastating effect on many rural communities and small businesses, forcing them to endure costly and prolonged delays in delivery just to pay bills or receive income.” 

The bipartisan Graves-Connolly H.Res.12 is already receiving support from key industry stakeholders, including endorsements from the Envelope Manufacturers Association (EMA), the Greeting Card Association, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), and the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA).  

“EMA has consistently supported the retention of six day per week of delivery,” said Maynard H. Benjamin, President and CEO of EMA. “Mail service is critical to this nation as it supports 8.1 million jobs and over $1.3 trillion in our economy. America is a wide spread and culturally diverse nation that needs an effective and efficient mail system to support our population. Increasing prices and reducing services has never been the path towards prosperity of any American business.”

“Maintaining six-day mail delivery is not only important to the American people and to the millions of small businesses throughout the country, but is also key to the future of the Postal Service itself,” stated Fredric V. Rolando, National President of NALC. “We call on all lawmakers to back the bipartisan efforts of Reps. Connolly and Graves to ensure the future success of this vital American institution, which is based in the Constitution and provides its customers with the world's most affordable delivery network.”

“The Greeting Card Association fully supports continued 6-day mail delivery. This important standard is vital in providing quality service to the citizen mailer and small businesses and service reductions will only exacerbate the Postal Service’s financial challenges. There are commonsense alternatives to stabilize the Postal Service without compromising service.”

“I applaud Congressmen Graves and Connolly for re-introducing this important resolution, their dedication to the Postal Service and its employees are second to none,” said Jeanette P. Dwyer, President of NRLCA. “Protecting six-day mail delivery should be a priority for this new Congress. For more than 30 years, Congress has achieved an unblemished, bipartisan history of supporting six-day mail delivery and universal service, encompassing every administration from President Reagan to President Obama. The introduction of House Resolution 12 is a strong signal that Members across the aisle remain committed to preserving six-day mail delivery.”