Delaware Senator Says The Time Is Now For Action On Postal Reform

By Mark Abrams

DOVER, DE (CBS) --- When the US Senate returns for its fall session, a Delaware senator plans to press legislation to reform the Postal Service.

The Postal Reform Act of 2014 co-sponsored by Sen. Tom Carper and Republican colleague, Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, already has been passed out of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

But, Carper says the Senate's leadership has failed to schedule it for a debate and a floor vote.

He says the legislation makes the postal service financially viable and strong going forward.

"Essentially eliminate a 45 or 50 billion dollar health care obligation for the retirees, enables them to reduce their worker's compensation liabilities, enables them to really fully re-capitalize the postal service and replace a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles that are 25 years old or older," he explained.

Carper says if nothing is done before year's end, postal management already has told Congress it will be forced to close another 80 to 85 mail processing centers across the country.