Bill Overview
Title: To require the Postal Service to establish a website providing information on post offices experiencing emergency suspensions, and for other purposes.
Description: This bill requires the U.S. Postal Service to establish a public website providing information on post offices experiencing emergency suspensions. Information on the website shall not be considered as providing notice to any person that the post office's operations have been temporarily suspended.
Sponsors: Rep. Axne, Cynthia [D-IA-3]
Target Audience
Population: users and stakeholders of the US Postal Service
Estimated Size: 331000000
- The bill affects individuals who utilize postal services, as they would potentially rely on the established website for updates regarding emergency suspensions.
- Postal workers who operate in affected post offices could be impacted by the organizational changes required to update and maintain the website.
- Individuals living in areas prone to emergency suspensions, such as areas affected by natural disasters or infrastructure issues, may be frequent users of the website.
- Businesses that depend on postal services for communication, shipping, or receipts might be impacted by the increased accessibility to information on service suspensions.
Reasoning
- The primary users of the website will be those who frequently interact with their local post offices, including residents in rural or disaster-prone areas.
- For most individuals, the creation of a website might have little impact on their daily lives, unless they have specific concerns about postal service interruptions.
- Postal workers could experience some operational shifts but are unlikely to see major impacts on their personal wellbeing.
- Businesses might see a moderate impact depending on their reliance on postal services for their operations, especially if located in areas with frequent service interruptions.
- The total target population is large, but the portion that will engage regularly with this particular informational resource may be small.
- Budget constraints mean the service must be efficient but limited in scope to handle only the essential parts of the problem.
Simulated Interviews
retired farmer (rural Kansas)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's a good idea to know what's going on with the post office. They close up sometimes, and it gets hard to find out why.
- As long as I have someone help me with the internet, I wouldn't mind checking if my local post office is closed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
small business owner (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to this information online would save my time on call waits and provide more certainty for my shipments.
- If the site is reliable, it helps in planning and customer communication.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
postal worker (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 51 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It seems more like a management thing, and I hope it makes our work scheduling easier.
- Knowing and communicating these suspensions better can help manage customer expectations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
student (New York City, NY)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't really use the post office much, so I doubt I would notice any changes.
- It's probably more relevant to people who depend on mailing services frequently.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
IT consultant (Houston, TX)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If the website is well-designed, it could be a case study for tech solutions in government services.
- I expect it will not affect my daily life, but it would streamline our support for business clients.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
freelance journalist (Miami, FL)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This website could be a useful tool for verifying facts on USPS service changes in my reporting.
- It's another source, but not necessarily a game-changer for my work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
retired educator (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It seems helpful for people who use the post office a lot, especially in emergencies.
- I can see myself teaching people how to use this website at the community center.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
logistics manager (Chicago, IL)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could help optimize our logistics operations during postal disruptions.
- It's important to have reliable, readily accessible information for planning purposes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
postal union representative (St. Louis, MO)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A clear website could help us understand suspension reasons and address employee safety concerns.
- It's a part of a larger puzzle of improving postal services.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
subsistence hunter-gatherer (remote Alaska)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any improvements in communication help, although we struggle with even basic internet access.
- Hope it doesn't just stay online; phone updates would be great too.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $3000000 (Low: $2500000, High: $3500000)
Year 2: $1500000 (Low: $1000000, High: $2000000)
Year 3: $1500000 (Low: $1000000, High: $2000000)
Year 5: $1500000 (Low: $1000000, High: $2000000)
Year 10: $1500000 (Low: $1000000, High: $2000000)
Year 100: $1500000 (Low: $1000000, High: $2000000)
Key Considerations
- The primary cost is associated with establishing and maintaining a reliable public-facing website.
- Ensuring data accuracy and integrating with USPS systems is vital for functionality and reliability.
- Customer service impacts must be considered regarding support for website users.