Government affairs

Today, President Trump announced his intent to nominate (link) Michael Kubayanda to be a Commissioner of the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) for the remainder of a six-year term expiring November 22, 2020. While the nomination is not yet official, it is expected to be formally sent to the Senate at any time. As is customary, following the official nomination, the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee will schedule a hearing and a committee vote.

Mr. Kubayanda currently serves as a board member and privacy officer for a digital health startup. He previously worked with the USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG), ending as director of government relations. Prior to the OIG, he served as counsel to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

The PRC is the independent body that exercises regulatory oversight over USPS and its responsibilities include preventing anticompetitive practices, promoting accountability, adjudicating complaints, setting postal rates and helping oversee delivery service standards. Composed of five commissioners, with no more than three of the same party, each commissioner is nominated for a six year term of office and confirmed by the Senate.

The intent to nominate is good news from the White House considering that the PRC would benefit greatly as it works to create a new postage rate-setting system, and hopefully enact sensible postal pricing. USPS is constricted in its ability to adjust rates by no more than the Consumer Price Index, but the CPI is an economy-wide measurement of consumer goods and services that doesn’t fit a transportation and delivery provider. The PRC has the ability to correct this mismatch and relieve the resulting financial pressure.

NALC will closely monitor the nomination as it is made official.