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1 1 (June 2, 2021)

handle is hein.crs/govedmn0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional SResearch Service Changes to Postal Regulatory Commission Administration in the Postal Service Reform Act of 2021 June 2, 2021 The Postal Service Reform Act of 2021 (HR. 3076 and the similar, but not identical, S. 1720) includes a number of provisions that would alter the authority and operations of the U. S. Postal Service (USPS) and the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). The chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, Representative Carolyn Maloney, a co-sponsor of H.R. 3076, has described the legislation as crucial to help the Postal Service get on a sustainable financial path for the future and ensure that the Postal Service is transparent with Congress and the American People. Discussion of the legislation has focused on the finances of USPS but has also highlighted other changes, such as the provision of paid leave for postal employees. This Insight discusses two provisions of the legislation that would affect the operations of the PRC and certain aspects of its relationship to USPS. The Insight begins with a brief summary of relevant aspects of the PRC's organization and authority and then proceeds to describe and analyze Sections 205 and 209 of the Postal Service Reform Act, as introduced in the House. Postal Regulatory Commission The PRC (previously named the Postal Rate Commission) was established by the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 as an independent agency with oversight authority and reporting obligations covering certain aspects of USPS including rate setting and performance. This role often puts the PRC at the center of discussions about USPS services, finances, and sustainability. The authority of the PRC was changed in 2006 by the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA; P.L. 109-435), which adjusted PRC's role in the ratemaking process and granted it additional authority, including the power to issue subpoenas. The PAEA also established additional independence for the PRC by ensuring that the agency's budget request is included in a transparent manner in the President's budget and providing the agency with its own inspector general (IG) to conduct USPS audits, investigations, and other oversight. Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov IN11685 CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Membersand Committeesof Congress