In response to the recent USPS changes in delivery standards for first class mail, the House Appropriations Committee in House Report 117-79, has directed the Postal Regulatory Commission “to analyze the feasibility of restoring service standards for market-dominant products that were in effect on July 1, 2012, including an examination of the resources and structural and operational changes needed, and the impacts on market growth and revenue.“ In addition, if service standards are reduced from their January 2021 levels, “the PRC shall also conduct a similar analysis of the costs and benefits of restoring USPS service and performance levels to their January 1, 2021, levels.”
The report from the House Appropriations Committee accompanies H.R. 4345, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill, 2022.
The closing date for submitting proposals is October 19, 2022. The PRC is to report to the Committee one year after the enactment of the appropriations bill.
There has been an ongoing interest in returning to 2012 delivery standards for many years. In fact, Rep. David McKinley of West VA. has submitted a House Resolution for returning to 2012 delivery standards in every session of Congress since 2014.