{"id":20090,"date":"2015-09-18T13:31:03","date_gmt":"2015-09-18T13:31:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/uncategorized\/2015\/09\/18\/bill-would-allow-usps-to-deliver-alcohol-reshapes-finances\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T04:42:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T04:42:36","slug":"bill-would-allow-usps-to-deliver-alcohol-reshapes-finances","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/management\/leadership\/2015\/09\/18\/bill-would-allow-usps-to-deliver-alcohol-reshapes-finances\/","title":{"rendered":"Bill would allow USPS to deliver alcohol, reshapes finances"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In an effort to make the U.S. Postal Service stronger financially, Sen. Tom Carper, D.-Del., has introduced a bill that would reduce its pension pre-funding obligation and change its health benefits plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also would allow the USPS to ship beer, wine and distilled spirits, opening a potentially significant new line of business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carper debuted the Improving Postal Operations, Service, and Transparency Act of 2015<\/a>, or iPOST on Sept. 17, offering a host of reforms in an effort to make the USPS more sustainable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“For years, the Postal Service has worked hard to compete in the digital age \u2013 keeping prices as low as possible, reducing costs, and innovating where it can,” Carper said, in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Despite these efforts, the Postal Service’s longstanding financial and legislative burdens coupled with the ongoing decline in the volume of First Class mail make this American institution’s current business model unsustainable and its future uncertain.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To fix what ails the postal service, iPOST proposes wrangling the cost of its health and retirement benefits with the following reforms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n