Office of the City Clerk - Record #: R2014-714

• Record #: R2014-714
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Adopted
• Intro date: 10/8/2014
• Current Controlling Legislative Body: Committee on Budget and Government Operations
• Final action: 11/5/2014
• Title: Call for hearing(s) on issue of postal reform and U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk urged to support postal reform legislation
• Sponsors: Emanuel, Rahm, Austin, Carrie M., Dowell, Pat, Harris, Michelle A., Graham, Deborah L., Thompson, JoAnn, Burnett, Jr., Walter

Date	Journal Page Number	Action By	Action	Result
11/5/2014	95689	City Council	Adopted	Pass
10/31/2014		Committee on Budget and Government Operations	Recommended to Pass	Pass
10/8/2014	89002	City Council	Referred

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RAHM EMANUEL
MAYOR


October 8,2014








TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO


Ladies and Gentlemen: I
i
I transmit herewith, together with Aldermen Austin, Dowell, Harris, Graham, Thompson, and Burnett, a resolution concerning the U.S. Postal Service.

Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.

Veryj truly yours,

Mayor
i t
I




RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The U.S. Postal Service is a vital component of our country's economic and communications infrastructure, handling and delivering 160 billion pieces of mail and generating more than 65 billion dollars in revenues annually, all without receiving a cent of taxpayer funding; and
WHEREAS, The U.S. Postal Service is the second largest employer of veterans in the country, with over 22% of its employees having served in the armed forces; and
WHEREAS, Inner city and rural communities, many of which do not have access to the Internet, remain dependent on the U.S. Postal Service for vital communications and for the shipment of goods; and
WHEREAS, Small business owners depend on the U.S. Postal Service for their livelihoods, as do many Americans, particularly seniors, for receipt of their prescription drugs; and
WHEREAS, The private mailing industry, which employs eight million Americans, generates over one trillion dollars annually, and represents approximately seven percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), heavily relies on the U.S. Postal Service's mail processing, retail, and last-mile delivery networks six days a week; and
WHEREAS, The U.S. Postal Service is the only private company or federal agency required by Congress to pre-fund future retiree health benefits for 75 years, at a cost of five-and-a-half billion dollars annually. However, these health benefit plans are not only fully funded, they carry a surplus of billions of dollars. The annual five-and-a-half billion dollar payments are therefore not needed, and the recen...