October 2019 As part of its exploration into the viability of drones or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for mail delivery, the USPS recently posted a request for Information on the FedBizOps.gov website. USPS is asking for “information from UAS operators and developers interested in providing aircraft and aircraft operations for delivery of mail and to…
The largest ever increase by the USPS in first class postage rates took effect in January 2019 when the price of a Forever stamp went from $.50 to $.55. Shortly thereafter, Doug Carlson went to court to challenge the legality of the increase in Carlson v. The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). In September 2019…
October 17, 2019 – Representative Elijah Cummings of Maryland passed away this morning from complications from long-standing health issues. He was 68. Rep. Cummings represented the 7th District of Maryland in the House of Representatives for 22 years. Since 2018 he had served as the Chairman of the House Oversight Committee after many years as…
AUSPL Insurance is ready to assist you should you have a claim from Hurricane Dorian. Call 1-877-642-8775 to report claims during business hours (M-F 8am – 5pm CST). You can report the claim after hours via the 24 hour emergency number – (800) 315-6090, option 8 or call Rick Austin at 901-351-4599 Members are authorized…
According to an August 9, 2019 Wall Street Journal article, package delivery volume at the US Postal Service dropped in the USPS’s most recent quarter for the first time in nine years. The article attributed the volume reduction in part to the fact that delivery competitors such as UPS and FedEx appear to be keeping…
Taking action that is long overdue, the U.S. Senate on August 1, 2019 unanimously confirmed three new members of the USPS Board of Governors. Roman Martinez IV, John McLeod Barger and Ron Bloom will join David Williams and Robert Duncan and raise to five the number of sitting members of the Board of Governors. Both…
From the time in the second half of 2017 that the USPS adopted new standard lease forms, the USPS has encountered problems putting them into general use. Because the 2017 lease forms are much less favorable to lessors than prior lease forms, postal lessors have resisted their use. Since the adoption of the new lease…
If H.R. 3333 is passed into law, relocation of a US Post office will require written approval of local governments. Representative Doug Collins (GA-9) introduced “The Community Post Office Act,” in the House of Representatives on June 19, 2019. Current law requires community input when Post Office locations are closed or consolidated. But the law…
Note: On June 4, 2019, President Trump announced his intent to nominate Ashley Poling to be Commissioner. Recently: Senior Counsel at Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate (2017 – 2019)
PRESIDENT’S TASK FORCE ISSUES REPORT ON THE USPS In April of 2018, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order establishing the Task Force on the United States Postal System (the “Task Force”) and charged the Task Force with the tasks of evaluating the operations and finances of the United States Postal Service…