Steve Daines: “article I, section 8, clause 7, of the U.S. Constitution specifically provides for the establishment of the U.S. Postal…”

“article I, section 8, clause 7, of the U.S. Constitution specifically provides for the establishment of the U.S. Postal Service. However, the Postal Service currently teeters on the brink of insolvency. In fact, a January 2015 Congressional Research Service report states that the Postal Service has reached its statutory borrowing limit of $15 billion and has run up more than $40 billion in deficits since fiscal year 2007. However in the midst of the Postal Service's financially tenuous circumstance, State and national political committees are granted postal discounts which can amount to as high as a 26-percent reduction in the standard rate paid by nonprivileged users. Congress would do well to put State and national local committees on the same playing field as ordinary Americans. The Postal Service would certainly benefit from these groups paying the ordinary postage rate. Particularly in rural States like Montana, the Postal Service plays an important role in the vitality of our communities, and it connects people. Accordingly, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting budget amendment No. 387, which would signal the Senate's willingness to address the postage discount it provides to State and national political committees. I thank the Chair. I yield back my time. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Minnesota.”