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USPS News: Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 7, 2001
Release No. 01-096
POSTMASTER GENERAL MEETS WITH AMERICAN CEOs
ADVO adds $250,000 to reward for the capture and conviction of Anthrax terrorist
MAILING INDUSTRY REASSURES PUBLIC THEY CAN TRUST THEIR MAIL
ADVO adds $250,000 to reward for the capture and conviction of Anthrax terrorist
MAILING INDUSTRY REASSURES PUBLIC THEY CAN TRUST THEIR MAIL
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today in Washington, Postmaster General John E. Potter, and other postal executives met with American CEOs who represent the $900 billion dollar mailing industry in a united front against terrorism in the mail.
A very critical sector of the economy, the mailing industry accounts for nearly 8 percent of the domestic Gross National Product, employs 9 million workers and depends on the mail both as a conduit of commerce and as a vital communications link. Joined by a single purpose - to assure consumer confidence in the safety and integrity of the nation's postal system - attendees pledged their ongoing support of the U.S. Postal Service and their concerted effort to keep mail safe and viable.
"Despite the tragedies we have faced under attack by terrorists, despite the grief of losing some of our own employees, despite the challenge of uncertain economic times, the mail keeps moving," said Postmaster General Potter. "I am encouraged by the unwavering support of the mailing industry in helping us meet these challenges and welcome its ideas and input on how we move forward."
Speaking at the conference, Mark Holman, deputy director, Office of Homeland Security said, "With the calm and the resolve the Postal Service has exhibited during these times, we will get through this. The Postal Service is America. The President will do everything he can to help it meet today's challenges."
Emphasizing the fundamental right every American enjoys to exchange information and goods through the U.S. Postal Service, attendees agreed to work aggressively together to address the immediate challenges to the industry and the preservation of a hard copy delivery system.
"As we enter the holiday season, we want Americans to know they can send, open and read their mail, safely," said Michael Sherman of Fingerhut, Inc., a leading mail order company. "The Postal Service has proactively tested and sanitized affected postal facilities and has heightened mail security. We in the mailing industry are making changes in the way we prepare mail, and we are actively working with the Postal Service in the development of short and long-term solutions to protect the nation's mail system."
Industry leaders addressed long-range goals for creating a 'smart' envelope, standardizing mail preparation, including package design and other strategies that could be used to enhance mail security.
Since the events of September 11 and the recent anthrax cases, roughly 30 billion pieces of mail have been processed. Responding to the direct attack on the mail system, the Postal Service has mobilized an aggressive internal campaign to keep the mail safe by testing more than 260 facilities nationwide; remediating facilities where even trace spores of Anthrax were detected; educating postal employees, business customers and citizens; and purchasing protective masks and gloves for postal employees as well as purchasing machines to sanitize the mail.
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