The five-day mail delivery proposal has been revived by the U.S. Postal Service this week, with the postmaster general speaking to Congress about getting rid of first-class deliveries on Saturday.
“The Postal Service continues to face systemic financial challenges because it has a business model that does not allow it to adapt to changes in the marketplace and it does not have the legal authority to make the fundamental changes that are necessary to achieve long-term financial stability,” Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said at the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, reported Reuters.
His comments come months after the Postal Service decided to keep first-class mail delivery on Saturday after a push from lawmakers and industry groups.
Donahoe told reporters Wednesday that the move would save $2 billion per year. The agency lost nearly $16 billion last year and lost $5.1 billion in 2011.
“We believe the timing is right to implement this change, especially in light of overwhelming continued support for five-day mail delivery by a vast majority of the public,” Donahoe said, reported Fox News.
Rep. Darrell Issa, a Republican who is in charge of the Oversight Committee, indicated on Wednesday that he would seek to complete a postal overhaul.
“Our commitment is bipartisan,” Issa said, according to the Federal Times. “Our need for a bill is urgent and we intend to do this in the coming weeks.”
