PRINTING United Alliance Applauds the Introduction of the 'USPS SERVES US Act'
by Stephanie Buka, Government Affairs Manager May 2, 2025

PRINTING United Alliance is pleased to support legislation introduced by Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO-6) to restore fiscal stability and public accountability to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). H.R. 3004, the USPS Services Enhancement and Regulatory Viability Expansion and Sustainability for the U.S. Act (USPS SERVES US Act) would give the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) the authority to intervene and correct decisions that have undermined USPS service to the American public and have contributed to its financial decline.

Specifically, the USPS SERVES US Act is intended to limit the negative effects of former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s 10-year Delivering for America Plan (DFA). Launched in 2021, the DFA has caused the essential U.S. mail network to become prohibitively expensive for consumers and businesses, slower, and unreliable — all while USPS slips further into debt.

Since August 2021, the USPS has implemented six unprecedented postage increases—one every six months—significantly outpacing inflation and negatively impacting print service providers, newspapers, nonprofit mailers, and everyday Americans. With each price hike, demand for mail, which is still the biggest revenue-generator for the USPS, declines, access to our postal network is threatened, and the USPS slips further into financial ruin.

Despite help from Congress with the passage of the Postal Service Reform Act (PSRA) of 2022, USPS has racked up losses of over $16 billion and counting in just two years. The PSRA eliminated the requirement for the USPS to fund its retiree health benefits 75 years in advance. This change saved the USPS $27 billion over 10 years. While the intent of the law was to prevent the need for twice-per-year postage hikes, immediately after the bill was signed into law, the USPS announced that the postage hikes proposed in the DFA Plan would continue unabated.

While the PRC has questioned the amount of rate increases and the recent decision to degrade mail service, it claimed it does not have the authority to stop these decisions. That means we need Congress to pass the USPS SERVES US Act and defend the USPS, which has delivered for the American public since July 26, 1775.

Among the provisions in the bill are requirements to ensure the USPS improve efficiency and service and limit its rate increase authority if it fails to do so. It would encourage postage rates at levels that preserve mail volume and would give the PRC the power to block service changes it determines are not justified.

Currently, the PRC can only issue "advisory opinions" which USPS has ignored. The bill would also allow the USPS to invest existing assets in private investment funds to earn a greater return.

The USPS SERVES US Act contains the following key reforms:

  • Holds the USPS accountable for improving efficiency by imposing an X-factor reducing rate authority if productivity is not improved each year.
  • Prohibits the PRC from creating a rate system with no price cap.
  • Holds the USPS accountable for service performance by reducing rate authority if it fails to meet established service targets.
  • Makes the PRC’s nature of service evaluations binding decisions, not just advisory opinions.
  • Limits rate increases to once per year.
  • Limits the imposition of “underwater surcharges” if service performance and cost efficiency are not maintained for the relevant products.
  • Requires the PRC to apply each objective for rate setting in every proceeding.
  • Creates a new volume-encouraging objective for evaluating rate increases.
  • Establishes an autonomous Office of Customer Advocate within the PRC to represent monopoly customer concerns with the power to initiate proceedings on their behalf.
  • Streamlines the PRC’s consideration of complaints.
  • Empowers the PRC to reduce rates for affected parties if it finds a rate is unlawful.
  • Requires the PRC to develop its own volume estimation model independent of the USPS.
  • Enables the USPS to invest retirement assets in private index funds such as those used by the Thrift Savings Fund.

In conclusion, the Alliance strongly supports the USPS SERVES US Act as a critical step toward restoring accountability, affordability, and reliability to the USPS. By empowering the PRC with meaningful oversight and ensuring postal rates and service levels are aligned with the needs of American businesses and consumers, this legislation offers a sustainable path forward for the USPS. We urge Congress to act swiftly in passing H.R. 3004 to protect the nation’s vital mail infrastructure and preserve the essential role the U.S. Postal Service has played in American life for 250 years.

In this article, Stephanie Buka, Government Affairs Manager, PRINTING United Alliance, discusses the USPS SERVES US Act. More information can be found at Business Excellence-Legislation or reach out to Steph should you have additional questions specific to how these issues may affect your business: sbuka@printing.org.   

To become a member of the Alliance and learn more about how our subject matter experts can assist your company with services and resources such as those mentioned in this article, please contact the Alliance membership team: 888-385-3588 / membership@printing.org.        

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Stephanie Buka Government Affairs Manager
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Stephanie Buka is the Government Affairs Manager for PRINTING United Alliance. In this role, she supports Ford Bowers, CEO, the Government Affairs team, and coordinates efforts with contracted lobbying firm, ACG Advocacy. Buka is the chief editor of the Industry Advocate newsletter. She is responsible for advocacy campaigns, policy analysis, strategy development and team leadership, all aimed at promoting the Alliance's legislative agenda. She is also responsible for the administration of the Alliance's political action committee, PrintPAC.

Prior to joining the Alliance, Buka served as a senior legislative researcher, and later as a constituent services coordinator, for the 15-member legislative body representing 1.3 million residents of Allegheny County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In addition to drafting legislation and addressing constituent concerns, Buka cultivated strong relationships with appointed and elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels of government.

Buka holds a master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA). She also earned a master's degree in Criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, along with a Certificate in Forensic Science and Law from Duquesne University.

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