My Letter to Congress: S.1789 Workers' Compensation Reform Act of 2011

I am writing as your constituent in the 2nd Congressional district of West Virginia. I oppose S.1789 - Workers' Compensation Reform Act of 2011, and am tracking it using OpenCongress.org, the free public resource website for government transparency and accountability.

I oppose this bill as it is currently written.

I would like to see support for amendments to:

Set strict service standards. (This is crucial, because the Postal Service is planning to degrade delivery standards in order to eliminate more than half of all mail processing facilities.)

Allow the USPS to recover overpayments the Postal Service made to its retiree pension funds.

Adequately address the requirement that forces the USPS to pre-fund future retiree health benefits. (This mandate is the primary cause of the agency’s financial crisis. No other government agency or private company bears this burden, which costs the USPS approximately $5.5 billion annually.)

Prevent the closing of small post offices by giving the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) binding authority to prevent closures based on the effect on the community and employees.

Protect six-day delivery.


Sincerely,
Chris Smith

Dear Chris,



Thank you for contacting me about postal reform legislation in Congress.
It is always good to hear from a fellow West Virginian, and I appreciate
the opportunity to be in touch on this important issue.



As you know, the Postal Service has been experiencing serious financial
difficulties in recent years. Although it receives some federal funding
to provide mailing for the visually impaired and for overseas voting, it
generates nearly all of its own funding through the sale of its products
and services. In an effort to become financially stable, the Postal
Service has taken several steps, including offering early retirement to
some employees, consolidating some operations, and recommending the
closure of thousands of post offices.



Several bills have been introduced in the Senate and House of
Representatives with the goal of improving the Postal Service's
financial condition. The Senate may soon consider legislation known as
the 21st Century Postal Service Act of 2011 (S. 1789), and throughout
this process my top priorities will continue to be making sure that
postal jobs are protected in our state, that all West Virginians have
access to the mail services they need and deserve, that current and
retired postal workers are treated fairly, and that the Postal Service
is placed on a sustainable financial track. I firmly believe that the
Postal Service is a vital resource for individuals and businesses
throughout West Virginia and the nation, and I look forward to your
input as this process moves forward.



Thank you again for being in touch. I wish you the very best.




With Warm Regards,

Jay Rockefeller