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United States Postal Service

The U.S. paper industry and the United States Postal Service (USPS) are highly dependent upon one another. Over 10 million tons of paper is distributed through the Postal Service each year.

The recession along with the events of 2001, combined to significantly erode volumes of mail. For these and other reasons the USPS was compelled to increase the price of stamps on four separate occasions in a two-year period, thus further reducing the volume of mail sent through the system. While a recovery of the economy will bring back much of the lost volume, the Postmaster General has been compelled to create a program of transformation of the Postal Service. The objective of the plan is to stabilize the financial structure and as a consequence hold prices at a level that will better protect volumes, in the long run.

In addition Senator Susan Collins of Maine has introduced a bill in the U.S. Senate which calls for the establishment of a Presidential Commission to investigate the USPS and to determine what legislative changes are necessary to provide stability and long term viability for the Postal Service.

AF&PA is working with all interested parties in the paper industry to ensure that they are fully engaged on these issues and have a meaningful voice in the future shape of the USPS.

For more information please see www.usps.com/strategicdirection/transform.htm.