Mail  n [from Middle English male ,bag] 1:  letters and other material carried between post offices by a public authority 2:  it's what every home and business in America relies on — and it's brought to you by the United States Postal Service — 670 million times each day.

Through a year of tremendous challenges, the Administration and Congress were extremely supportive of the Postal Service. Postmaster General John E. Potter testified at numerous hearings in October and November 2001 about the consequences of bioterrorism and the Postal Service’s response. Members of both houses of Congress spoke highly of employees who faced unknown dangers yet continued to serve America.

Due to the need for immediate response to the anthrax incidents, the Administration transferred $175 million to the Postal Service. Congress also appropriated funds for the purchase of biohazard detection and prevention equipment recommended in our Emergency Preparedness Plan. The Postal Service received $500 million through the Department of Defense Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, Public Law No. 107-117. Another $87 million was received through the Supplemental Act for Further Recovery From and Response To Terrorist Attacks on the United States, Public Law 107-206.

Congress also passed and the president signed Public Law 107-225, to rename Washington, DC’s Brentwood mail processing facility in honor of Joseph Curseen, Jr. and Thomas Morris, Jr., two Brentwood employees who died tragically as a result of bioterrorism.

The Postal Service has neither requested nor received a public service appropriation for operations since 1982. While Congress passed and the President signed the Treasury, Postal Service and General Government Appropriations Act, Public Law 107-67, this reimburses the Postal Service for Congressionally mandated services such as free mail for the blind and handicapped and voting materials for Americans overseas.

In April, the Postal Service delivered its Transformation Plan to Congress. It defines the short- and long-term strategies that will enable the Postal Service to successfully carry out its long-standing mission of providing affordable, universal service. At a May hearing of the Senate’s Governmental Affairs’ Subcommittee on International Security, Proliferation and Federal Services, Postmaster General Potter testified about the Plan. The Postal Service regularly updates Members of Congress and their staffs about the progress made toward transformation and the preservation of our universal service obligation.

In June, the House of Representatives’ Committee on Government Reform considered postal reform legislation. While the bill did not move out of Committee, the effort provided many legislators with information on postal issues and the need for reform — a key element of our Transformation Plan. We will continue our efforts to explain to policymakers how the current regulatory model, created in 1970, is outdated and fails to address the realities of today’s marketplace, as well as other issues facing the Postal Service.

In August, Public Law 107-210 was signed by the President. It allows the Customs Service to open outbound international mail weighing more than 16 ounces. A search of letters of domestic origin weighing less than 16 ounces still requires a warrant. We are working closely with the Customs Service, the Transportation Security Administration and other agencies in this new environment to ensure the safety of our employees and the mail — without disrupting service.

Despite a busy legislative year, many members of Congress were able to participate in postage stamp dedication ceremonies. Notable were ceremonies on Capitol Hill for the United We Stand flag stamp and in New York City for the Heroes of 2001 stamp. The Heroes stamp generates funds to assist families of emergency workers killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty in connection with the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.