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2000 Highlights
Letter from
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2000 Year
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2000 Annual Report
- page 48 of 70
In this section we discuss
those issues that lie outside the scope of our financial discussion.
However, all of these issues are important to gain an understanding
of our business and they may significantly affect our financial
condition. We discuss postal legislation, the effects of classification
and rate changes and environmental matters.
Recent Legislative Activity
In December 1999, the President signed S. 335, the Deceptive Mail
Prevention and Enforcement Act (Public Law 106-168), which was sponsored
by Senator Susan Collins, Chairwoman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee
on Investigations. This act establishes new regulations and penalties
to curtail deceptive mailings featuring games of chance such as
sweepstakes and provides us with additional tools to combat deceptive
mailing practices by allowing the Postmaster General to issue administrative
subpoenas.
In June 2000, identical bills were introduced in both chambers.
Senators Thad Cochran, the Chairman, and Daniel Akaka, Ranking Minority
Member of the Senate Subcommittee on International Security, Proliferation
and Federal Services, cosponsored S.2686, followed by the introduction
of Congressman Chaka Fattah's H.R. 4636. The Senate Subcommittee
on International Security Proliferation and Federal Services reported
the Senate bill favorably to the full Senate by voice vote on September
27. Both bills would improve the process for establishing nonprofit
postage rates.
In July 2000, President Clinton signed H.R.
4437, the Semipostal Authorization Act (Public Law 106-253),
which was sponsored by Congressman John McHugh. This act allows
us to create and sell, without Congressional approval, specialized
postage stamps designed to raise money for causes we consider
appropriate and in the national public interest. The act also
extends the sale of the breast cancer stamp until July 29,
2002. The Breast Cancer Research stamp was the first semipostal
stamp and the first U.S. stamp whose net proceeds above the
cost of postage are designated for research organizations.
As of September, the stamp had produced revenues of over $95
million, with more than $16.8 million in donations.
In September
2000, the President signed H.R. 4040, the Long-Term Care Security
Act (Public Law 106-265), which was sponsored by Congressman
Joe Scarborough. This law provides long-term care insurance
to active and retired federal and postal employees, members
of the uniformed services, and civilian and military retirees,
if an employee or annuitant chooses to enroll.
Also in September 2000, the House passed the 2001 Treasury/Postal
Service appropriations bill, but the Senate has yet to consider
the measure. This bill would provide $29 million for revenue
forgone repayment and a payment of $67 million for free mail
for the blind and overseas voting, although the funds would
not be available until October 1, 2001.
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Every day we deliver to over 5,000 new addresses,
which is the equivalent of adding a city the size of Chicago
each year to our delivery system. And we provide universal
service without flexibility to change our rates.
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