Peters’ USPS reforms signed into law
Peters says the move will save USPS billions. He also discusses the pending confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to SCOTUS and Ukraine.
A roughly 15-year effort to reform the United State Postal Service is now law. President Joe Biden signed the legislation on Wednesday at the White House.
Biden says the measure will ensure that USPS “can continue to serve all Americans for generations to come.”
“Just those two areas alone will save the Postal Service over the next 10 years roughly $49 billion. That’s money that can be put into efficient delivery of mail for customers.” — Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI)
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan is the bill’s lead sponsor in the Senate. He says the new law will put the postal service on “much more stable financial footing.”
Listen: Sen. Gary Peters talks about his postal reform legislation and more.
“They were saddled with some very onerous requirements,” says Peters. “One of those requirements was to pre-fund all retiree healthcare for all of their employees regardless of their age, even ones coming in, in their 20s. I want to be clear, there’s no company in America that’s required to do that. There’s no other government agency that’s required to do that. No one does that. It’s a huge financial burden that was just put on the Postal Service.”
He also says the new law would also allow USPS retirees to be integrated into Medicare when they retire.
“Just those two areas alone will save the Postal Service over the next 10 years roughly $49 billion. That’s money that can be put into efficient delivery of mail for customers,” he says.
Related: Sen. Peters Opens Investigation Into Postal Service Cost-Cutting, Election Concerns
Peters also talks about the expected upcoming Senate vote to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“This a major historic event. I’m excited to be a part of it,” he says. “She’s just going to be an outstanding Supreme Court justice.”
He also says that evidence of Russian troops killing civilians in Ukraine must be met with an international response and accountability.
“There’s no question there’s overwhelming evidence that the Russians have been acting in a brutal way,” says Peters. “There have definitely been war crimes committed. And without question, Mr. Putin and others who are engaged in those war crimes need to be brought to justice.”
Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.
WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
