Now that the USPS has filed for a proposed August 29, 2021 price increase, using almost the full additional pricing authority granted in January of this year, the mailing industry can see just how devastating these increases will be.
There are two ways for you to make your voice heard about these crippling increases.
1. File your comments with the Postal Regulatory Commission.
One way is to file your comments with the Postal Regulatory Commission. To do this, use the link below and reference R2021-2, Notice of Rate Adjustment/Market Dominant Products. In your comments, you should briefly identify your company, the types of mail produced, and how the mail impacts your business. Provide a summary of what impact the proposed increases will have on your business. Please note that any comments submitted become public record.
https://www.prc.gov/filingonline/login
2. Contact your congressional representatives.
Another way to voice your concerns is to contact your congressional representatives. The Collation for a 21st Century Postal Service (C21) has provided a web link to make easy messaging to the appropriate members of Congress and Senate as well as the chairwoman and ranking member of the House Oversight and Reform Committee. The web form, based on your address will direct an email to the appropriate representatives.
We encourage you, and your organization to make your voices heard by our lawmakers through this messaging platform.
Sample text below can be used, with personalization added identifying your company and the impacts you will experience if the proposed second rate increase goes through this year:
The "Postal Service Reform Act of 2021" is absent a crucial element, addressing the additional rate authorities granted to the USPS by the Postal Rate Commission. The PRC has given the USPS the ability to increase rates in excess of the inflation-based cap instituted by PAEA in a way that will compound over the next five years to be upwards of a 30% increase over today's rates.
We need the PRC to be remanded to open the docket on rate-making rules and consider all objectives and factors enumerated in PAEA, such 'to create predictability and stability in rates.'
Without this consideration, we forecast significant mail volume losses and considerable industry job cutbacks."
