In addition, it would provide a new avenue for our for-profit detractors to financially cripple the Postal Service. Postmasters applaud your efforts to permit the Postal Service to execute negotiated service agreements with its customers. Postmasters also appreciate your recognition that communities should have greater involvement in decisions to close post offices. A post office is the anchor of many communities throughout the country. It's ironic that the Postal Service was more concerned about the public's view of which graphic version of Elvis Presley would grace that stamp than it is about a community's view about the continued presence of its post office.
Postmasters continue to be concerned about contraction of the double-postage rule.
In addition, revenue attributable to this product will be lost by the Postal Service, reducing financial support for universal service. Lastly, Postmasters respectfully request you consider the suggestions made by the Postal Service to modify your legislation. We believe that many of the agency's proposed amendments would help improve on the trail-blazing work that you have completed. I know that each and every postmaster appreciates the long hours you, your fellow Subcommittee members and your staff have put into this effort. The road that this Subcommittee has traveled has been a long and difficult one.