Postmaster General John Potter will testify before the House Committee on Government Reform tomorrow regarding his actions to safeguard the more than 800,000 U.S. Postal Service employees from biological or chemical attacks.
The committee, which is chaired by Rep. Dan Burton, R-IN, will examine the steps being taken by the postal service to ensure the safety of postal workers and the mail in light of the recent anthrax attacks in New York, New Jersey, Washington, DC, and Florida. The hearing will also focus on the impact of terrorist attacks on the processing and delivery of the mail.
The committee will hear testimony from Potter on his proposal involving the purchase of irradiation machines that will sanitize the mail, protecting both postal employees and the general public from exposure to anthrax or any other biological agents.
The committee will also ask questions regarding the status of the investigation into the anthrax attacks. Representatives from the four postal employees unions are also expected to testify about the concerns of their members.
The Senate Committee on Government Affairs has also scheduled a hearing to examine the significant challenges the USPS is facing right now.
