I hope to get that benefit in the future.

I must say, Mr. Chairman, that I'm experiencing a sense of deja vu in attending today's hearing on this topic.

I just wanted to make sure that was very clear for the record.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let me begin by expressing my appreciation to you for holding this important hearing to discuss the dire and declining financial condition of the Postal Service, an institution that is critical to our economy and…

Mr. Potter, it's my understanding that the OPM and the GAO both strenuously disagree with the inspector general's conclusion.

I'm confident that you're going to lose volume.

I know, but let me switch----

The GAO also says that the Postal Service pays a considerably higher percentage of the employees' health insurance and life insurance, compared to the average Federal agency.

What I don't want to see is another year like this past year... where the payment is significantly reduced.

I believe for Federal employees it's about one-third of the premium.

Approximately every 3 years--in 2003, in 2006, and again last year, in 2009--the Postal Service has come to Congress seeking relief from its financial obligations in exchange for promises of future profitability.

The GAO says that 80 percent of the Postal Service's costs are employee related.

In 2008, we acted to strengthen the laws governing the safety of goods entering this country and to provide much-needed additional resources to intercept unsafe products by passing the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.

But, it is----

Well, I can tell you, you're encouraging them to move faster.

That's correct----

This is such a complex and important issue. We clearly need more transparency.

I think that needs to be addressed, and I would encourage you to do that.