THE DMA URGES CONGRESS TO TACKLE POSTAL REFORM
Presidential Commission Report Provides a Historic Opportunity to Move ForwardNEW YORK, July 31, 2003 – The Direct Marketing Association (The DMA) today commended the President’s Commission on the United States Postal Service (USPS) for submitting its formal report to the President and urged Congress to seize this opportunity to enact much-needed postal reform legislation.
"The independent Presidential Commission has added its imprint to much of the work done previously under the leadership of Rep. John McHugh, as well as the path charted by Postmaster General Jack Potter," said Jerry Cerasale, senior vice president, government affairs, The DMA. "With this, Congress now has an even stronger basis from which to enact reforms that will secure the viability of the U.S. Postal Service for many years to come. We urge lawmakers to seize this moment and start the process today."
"We are pleased that many aspects of the Commission’s report reflect suggestions made by The DMA and contained in the February 20th testimony of DMA President and CEO Bob Wientzen," said Cerasale. "Not everyone will agree on every specific recommendation, but we are eager to work with all parties involved to resolve our differences in order to secure meaningful and necessary reforms as quickly as possible.
"The Commission’s message is clear – the U.S. Postal Service must make changes in order to remain an affordable business communications channel in the rapidly evolving communications and delivery marketplace. Now it’s up to Congress to ensure that the President’s Commission’s hard work wasn’t done in vain."
The DMA is the leading trade association for businesses interested in interactive and database marketing, with nearly 4,700 member companies from the United States and 53 other nations. Founded in 1917, its members include direct marketers from every business segment as well as the nonprofit and electronic marketing sectors. Included are catalogers, Internet retailers and service providers, financial services providers, book and magazine publishers, book and music clubs, retail stores, industrial manufacturers and a host of other vertical segments, including the service industries that support them. According to a DMA-commissioned study, direct and interactive marketing sales in the United States are projected to have surpassed $2 trillion in 2002, including $126 billion in catalog sales and $34 billion in sales generated by the Internet. The DMA's Web site is
www.the-dma.org, and its consumer Web site is www.shopthenet.org.###