DMA applauds creation of presidential postal reform commission

The Direct Marketing Association (The DMA) today applauded the Administration’s empanelling of a commission to study the role of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in the 21st century.

“We are pleased that the President is now engaged on the critical issue of postal reform,” said H. Robert Wientzen, president & CEO, The DMA.

Wientzen had written the President earlier this year requesting the creation of a commission to examine the financial and structural underpinnings of the USPS after legislative reform efforts reached an impasse.

“The commission should focus on constructive recommendations that will guarantee the continued viability of the Postal Service, which is a vital cog in our nation’s economy,” said Wientzen.

“The DMA looks forward to working with the new commission, the Postal Service, and others in the mailing community to achieve those near-term objectives of the Service’s Transformation Plan available under current law and enactment of legislation correcting an error in the current formula for funding employee retirement, as well as addressing the need to modernize the Service’s thirty-plus year old business plan,” Wientzen said.

Wientzen also noted that the corrective legislation could delay the next round of postal rate increase from 2004 until 2006. “Such a delay would do much to encourage growth in the $900 billion, nine million job mailing industry,” said Wientzen.