[Senate Hearing 106-324]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S. Hrg. 106-324
NOMINATIONS OF LeGREE DANIELS AND JOHN WALSH
=======================================================================
HEARING
BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE ON
GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED SIXTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
ON THE
NOMINATIONS OF LeGREE DANIELS, OF PENNSYLVANIA, AND JOHN WALSH, OF
CONNECTICUT, TO BE GOVERNORS OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE U.S.
POSTAL SERVICE
__________
OCTOBER 21, 1999
__________
Printed for the use of the Committee on Governmental Affairs
U.S.GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
61-295cc WASHINGTON : 2000
_______________________________________________________________________
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Sales Office
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402
COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
FRED THOMPSON, Tennessee, Chairman
WILLIAM V. ROTH, Jr., Delaware JOSEPH I. LIEBERMAN, Connecticut
TED STEVENS, Alaska CARL LEVIN, Michigan
SUSAN M. COLLINS, Maine DANIEL K. AKAKA, Hawaii
GEORGE V. VOINOVICH, Ohio RICHARD J. DURBIN, Illinois
PETE V. DOMENICI, New Mexico ROBERT G. TORRICELLI, New Jersey
THAD COCHRAN, Mississippi MAX CLELAND, Georgia
ARLEN SPECTER, Pennsylvania JOHN EDWARDS, North Carolina
JUDD GREGG, New Hampshire
Hannah S. Sistare, Staff Director and Counsel
Dan G. Blair, Senior Counsel
Joyce A. Rechtschaffen, Minority Staff Director and Counsel
Peter A. Ludgin, Minority Professional Staff Member
Darla D. Cassell, Administrative Clerk
C O N T E N T S
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Opening statements:
Page
Senator Cochran.............................................. 1
Senator Lieberman............................................ 3
Senator Specter.............................................. 7
Senator Akaka................................................ 8
WITNESS
Thursday, October 21, 1999
Hon. Christopher Dodd, a U.S. Senator from the State of
Connecticut.................................................... 1
LeGree Daniels, of Pennsylvania, to be a Governor of the Board of
Governors of the U.S. Postal Service........................... 5
John Walsh, of Connecticut, to be a Governor of the Board of
Governors of the U.S. Postal Service........................... 5
Alphabetical List of Witnesses
Dodd, Hon. Christopher:
Testimony.................................................... 1
Daniels, LeGree:
Testimony.................................................... 5
Biographical and financial information....................... 13
Pre-hearing questionnaire.................................... 22
Walsh, John:
Testimony.................................................... 5
Biographical and financial information....................... 29
Pre-hearing questionnaire.................................... 35
APPENDIX
Senator Rick Santorum, a U.S. Senator from the State of
Pennsylvania, prepared statement............................... 4
NOMINATIONS OF LeGREE DANIELS AND JOHN WALSH
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1999
U.S. Senate,
Committee on Governmental Affairs,
Washington, DC.
The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:03 a.m., in
room SD-628, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Senator Thad
Cochran presiding.
Present: Senators Cochran, Specter, Lieberman, and Akaka.
OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR COCHRAN
Senator Cochran. The Committee will please come to order.
This morning we are meeting to have confirmation hearings for
two nominees for the Board of Governors of the U.S. Postal
Service, Mrs. LeGree Daniels and Mr. John Walsh. We welcome you
to the Committee.
We are also pleased to have with the Committee this
morning, the two distinguished Senators from Connecticut. One
is the Ranking Minority Member of the Committee. The other is
Senator Chris Dodd.
Senator Dodd, we appreciate your being here. We understand
that you are here to introduce Mr. Walsh.
Senator Dodd. I am.
Senator Cochran. You may proceed.
TESTIMONY OF HON. CHRISTOPHER DODD, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE
STATE OF CONNECTICUT
Senator Dodd. Thank you very much. I am pleased to be able
to do so, and pleased to be sharing the table with Mrs. Daniels
as well. I congratulate you, Mrs. Daniels, on this nomination.
Mrs. Daniels. Thank you.
Senator Dodd. Mr. Chairman, this is a labor of pleasure and
love to be able to introduce John Walsh, who is a wonderful
friend. His lovely wife, Anne, is here with us as well, from
New Haven, Connecticut.
I must tell you though at the outset, this nomination was
submitted in 1996, in November 1996. The President made the
submission in October 1998. This is not just here in this
Committee. This is something we need to look at in a broader
way. We ask people to consider these positions, and then for 2
or 3 years we leave people waiting. I called John Walsh a
couple of years ago when the word came his nomination was going
to be accepted, I said, ``Well, start licking stamps.'' If he
had started licking stamps, we would have lost him a year or so
ago. [Laughter.]
So as a broader matter, I sit on the Rules Committee, and
every time I am faced with a nomination, I look at the length
of time we make people go through a process here. We need to do
something around here to be able to expedite a process for
asking people to serve and then moving the process along in
some way. And I know you share those thoughts as well.
But anyway, I am pleased to introduce to the Committee,
John Walsh. Joe Lieberman, my good friend and colleague, would
share these thoughts with you, but every State, I guess, finds
these niches and claims. But William Goddard, a founding member
of the U.S. Postal Service, Mr. Chairman, was from New London,
Connecticut. His father was actually the postmaster in New
London, Connecticut, two centuries ago. And his son decided he
would take the concept a bit further, and formed in the mid
1770's the constitutional post, which was the forerunner to the
U.S. Postal Service. And in 1774 he had 30 offices all across
the United States, from Portsmouth, New Hampshire to
Williamsburg, Virginia, operating a postal service prior to the
establishment of our Nation. The Continental Congress, in July
1775, they formed the U.S. Postal Service. Ben Franklin, of
course, became the first Postmaster General, which we all know
from our history books. A different time in history, because it
was his son-in-law, Richard Bache, who was named the Deputy
Postmaster General. But William Goddard was named surveyor of
the Post Office. So this fellow from Connecticut joined
Franklin and Bache as really the triumvirate or troika, if you
will, that started the U.S. Postal Service. But it was a New
London fellow who really predated a national postal service
with a constitutional post.
So there is a longstanding tradition of our interest in
this subject matter, and John's nomination to the Postal Board
of Governors is something that would follow in that tradition.
He has had a wonderful record of service, and New Haven,
Connecticut has given this country some wonderful leaders, not
the least of which is the person who sits to your right, my
colleague and dear friend, Joe Lieberman; and Rosa DeLauro, who
sits in the House of Representatives. Roger Sherman, who
created the U.S. Senate, was from New Haven, Connecticut, who
came up with the concept of the Connecticut Compromise, which
offered big States and small States a compromise in
representation in the Federal Government.
So a wonderful, rich tradition coming out of this city, and
John Walsh carries on in that tradition. He has been a
wonderful, committed citizen in that community with 35 years of
service to the people of New Haven, one of the quiet leaders,
who just day in and day out gets the job done for average
citizens.
So it is truly an honor to watch this quiet pillar, if you
will, of New Haven be presented to this Committee for this
prestigious position for which he is well suited and highly
qualified, and I am confident that we will all be proud of his
service in the U.S. Senate if we confirm him for this position.
Senator Cochran. Thank you very much, Senator, for an
excellent history lesson.
Senator Dodd. Always a little history is nice.
Senator Cochran. And eloquent statement in support of Mr.
Walsh.
Senator Lieberman.
OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR LIEBERMAN
Senator Lieberman. Well, thanks, Mr. Chairman. I am glad to
welcome John Walsh here, and I appreciate the kind words of my
colleague and the educational words of my colleague. I continue
to learn from the senior senator.
Senator Dodd. Thank you, Joe. Even early in the morning.
Senator Lieberman. Even early in the morning. And this is
not even on Don Imus's show.
Senator Dodd. No, it is not.
Senator Lieberman. It is an honor to welcome John Walsh and
Governor LeGree Daniels.
You know, it struck me that if Mr. Walsh gets confirmed for
this in the due process of all of this, you and I will have to
refer to him as Governor Walsh.
Senator Dodd. Governor, that is true. Well, maybe we will
amend that. [Laughter.]
Senator Lieberman. Mrs. Daniels, let me just say first that
I know that you have served on the Board of Governors since
1990 with great distinction. I am pleased that the President
has chosen to renominate you and that you have accepted this
public responsibility once again. The Board has acted on many
really remarkable, in some ways, revolutionary initiatives
during your term, and I think you deserve credit for overseeing
that, and I know that the Board will benefit by your serving a
second term. So I appreciate that you have been willing to
continue in this service.
As Senator Dodd indicated, John Walsh has really been a
great citizen of Connecticut, of the greater New Haven area. He
is a friend to both of us. I have known him for the better part
of the 40 years or so that I have spent in the city of New
Haven. He is a great public and private citizen. He has the
extraordinary advantage, which all of us on this panel, and
Senator Dodd, share, which is that he has a wife who is much
his superior in most everything, and even at moments when we
think harshly of John, the benign and beautiful face of Anne
Gorrick Walsh mollifies our concerns. She is a member of a
great New Haven family, Mr. Chairman. Her dad was just one of
those classic family doctors who were there for people when
they needed them, with not only great medical skill, but with
great personal honor.
As Senator Dodd indicated, John has a great record, both in
his private life and public life, graduate of Quinebaug
College, active in business, then went on to serve, chairman of
the New Haven Parking Authority, director of support services
for the New Haven Police Department, purchasing agent and
deputy controller for the City of New Haven, and now for a good
part of this decade, the president of a very exciting and
important project called the Ninth Square Association, which
was established to take a central part of old New Haven which
had deteriorated, and to revive it for both residential and
commercial purposes. And today I can say that it is once again,
this Ninth Square of New Haven, vibrant and teeming with
activities.
It took a long time to get to this morning, but I am
delighted, and I have great confidence that John will serve in
this position with effectiveness and with honor.
In your pre-hearing questions, you stated that, ``The
Postal Service faces the challenge of improving service to the
public as it enters a new millennium.'' I could not agree with
you more in that statement, and I could not have higher
confidence that you, together with Governor Daniels and your
other colleagues, will do just that.
Thanks to both of you, and thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Cochran. Thank you, Senator Lieberman.
We understand that Senator Specter is expected to come to
the Committee to introduce Mrs. Daniels. Senator Santorum has
indicated, because of proceedings on the floor of the Senate,
he is unable to personally be here. But he sent over a written
statement, which he asked that we make a part of the record,
introducing and supporting Mrs. LeGree Daniels. That statement
will be made a part of the record at this point.
[The prepared statement of Senator Santorum follows:]
PREPARED STATEMENT OF SENATOR RICK SANTORUM, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE
STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, I would like to thank
you for extending me the opportunity to offer testimony on behalf of
Mrs. LeGree Daniels, nominee for the U.S. Postal Service Board of
Governors. Over the years, I have worked closely with Governor Daniels
and am impressed with her demeanor and work ethic. I come before you
this morning to recommend her continued service on the Board of
Governors.
As you know, the Board is the governing body of the U.S. Postal
Service. the Board directs the exercise of the powers of the Postal
Service, directs and controls its expenditures, reviews its practices,
conducts long-range planning, and sets policies on all postal matters.
The Board takes up matters such as service standards, capital
investments and facilities projects exceeding $10 million. It also
approves officer compensation. With each of those important
responsibilities in mind, the importance of having the best-qualified
candidates serving as members of the Board is clear.
Mr. Chairman, I believe that Governor Daniels has the experience
and skill to continue in her valuable contribution to the deliberations
and actions of the Board. Governor Daniels, who has already served one
full term on the Board, has had a long and impressive career, working
with non-profit entities, the Federal Government, and the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania. For instance, Governor Daniels is a member of the Penn
State Board of Advisors for the Harrisburg Campus, a member of the
Board of Directors of the Center for International Private Enterprise,
which is an arm of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and member of the John
Heinz Harrisburg Senior Center. Moreover, Governor Daniels has been
Vice Chairman of the National Electoral College on two occasions. She
is a former member of the President's Commission on White House
Fellows, the Army Science Board, the National Endowment for Democracy,
and the Middle Atlanta Advisory Board of the U.S. Civil Rights
Commission. She has also been Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania and Commissioner of Election for the Pennsylvania
Department of State. Currently, she is a member of the U.S. Postal
Service Board's Audit Committee.
Mr. Chairman, in closing I would like to thank you once again for
allowing my comments to be included in the record of this hearing, and
I urge the Committee to expeditiously consider, and fully support, Mrs.
Daniels' nomination.
Senator Cochran. Senator Akaka, did you have any opening
statement or comments you would like to make before we proceed?
Senator Akaka. When I ask my questions, I will make a brief
statement.
Senator Cochran. OK. The rules of the Committee require
that an inquiry be conducted into the experience,
qualification, suitability and integrity of each nominee to
serve in the position to which he or she has been nominated.
The Committee has received all of the required information that
it needs for this hearing.
In addition, each nominee has responded in writing to
questions submitted by the Committee. Copies of each nominee's
biographical information and pre-hearing responses will be made
a part of the record of this hearing, and will be available
upon request. The financial statements of the nominees are
available for inspection by the public in the Committee Office.
The Committee has reviewed all of this information. The
staff has examined the financial disclosure reports submitted
by the Office of Government Ethics. And the Committee's Ranking
Minority Member and I have reviewed the FBI background
investigation reports.
The rules of the Committee require that all nominees be
under oath while testifying on matters relating to their
suitability for office, including the policies and programs
which the nominee will pursue if confirmed.
Would the nominees please stand and raise your right hand
for the oath?
Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth, so help you, God?
Mrs. Daniels. I do.
Mr. Walsh. I do.
Senator Cochran. Thank you.
At this time we will be happy to recognize you for any
statements or comments that you would like to make, Mrs.
Daniels.
TESTIMONY OF LeGREE DANIELS, OF PENNSYLVANIA, TO BE A GOVERNOR
OF THE BOARD OF THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE
Mrs. Daniels. Thank you.
I am not sure this morning. I got up with mixed feelings.
Although I have been here before, I just felt this morning how
important this is and what an important step I am still taking.
And coming over here I thought, ``Well, what do I need to
do that is any different from what I have been doing?'' So the
only thing I could think of is just say, pray a little harder
that we do a better job, and continue to do what this Congress
expects us to do, and I am sure that we will.
Senator Cochran. Thank you very much. Mr. Walsh.
TESTIMONY OF JOHN WALSH, OF CONNECTICUT, TO BE A GOVERNOR OF
THE BOARD OF THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE
Mr. Walsh. Yes, Mr. Chairman, Senators, Governor Daniels,
and guests here in the room.
I am honored to be here today. To serve the people has
always been one of my ambitions. I am deeply grateful to
Senator Dodd, for his kind remarks, and for recommending me for
a position on this board, and for his kind words and for over
25 years of friendship; and to my good friend, Senator Joe
Lieberman, for his kind remarks, and for his support and
friendship for over 40 years in the city of New Haven.
It is a very humbling experience to know that a person such
as myself, with experience both in the public and private
sector, can fulfill an ambition such as this.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Senators, for letting me appear
here this morning.
Senator Cochran. Thank you, Mr. Walsh.
Let me ask you a few standard questions we ask of each
nominee appearing for confirmation before the Committee. Is
there anything you are aware of in your background which might
present a conflict of interest with the duties of the office to
which you have been nominated? Mrs. Daniels.
Mrs. Daniels. Not that I can think of.
Senator Cochran. Mr. Walsh.
Mr. Walsh. None.
Senator Cochran. Do you know of any reason, personal or
otherwise, that would in any way prevent you from fully and
honorably discharging the responsibilities of the office to
which you have been nominated? Mrs. Daniels.
Mrs. Daniels. No.
Senator Cochran. Mr. Walsh.
Mr. Walsh. No.
Senator Cochran. Do you agree without reservation to
respond to any reasonable summons to appear and testify before
any duly constituted committee of Congress if you are
confirmed? Mrs. Daniels.
Mrs. Daniels. Yes.
Senator Cochran. Mr. Walsh.
Mr. Walsh. Yes.
Senator Cochran. Thank you. Senator Lieberman.
Senator Lieberman. Thanks, Mr. Chairman, I have just really
a few questions.
In testimony that Postmaster General Henderson gave before
one of the subcommittees here, he said that he does not think,
``there is any question that the Postal Service of the future
will be different than it is today.''
So, in general terms--and I know, Governor Daniels, you
have been there, Mr. Walsh, you are hopefully coming to it--I
wonder what either of you think about what the Postal Service
of the future may look like, or in a more limited way, what
challenges do you think will face the Postal Service in the
future? Governor Daniels.
Mrs. Daniels. I think the challenges that we will be facing
first thing is this Internet, as we get into the electronics.
But you know, I have so much faith in the employees of the
Postal Service. I have worked with them. I have walked through
the Postal Service. And I just believe, like all Americans,
whatever that challenge is, we will face it, overcome it, and
we certainly will conquer it. I think they have the knowledge,
and that they will do what needs to be done for the American
people.
Senator Lieberman. Thank you. Mr. Walsh.
Mr. Walsh. I certainly agree with Governor Daniels and her
remarks. And I guess I would follow in the same line, that the
Internet, as we go into the new millennium, is here to stay,
not going away. I think the Post Office, just like every other
business, has to gear up for it, and I am assuming that the
Post Office has already taken steps. I know that you can buy
stamps on E-mail on the computer now. And I think down the line
this is going to be the biggest area of change that the Post
Office will see in the future.
Senator Lieberman. Thank you.
Let me mention one other piece of testimony before the
Governmental Affairs Committee. Richard Moe, who is president
of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, testified that
the issue of Post Office closings is one of the top priorities
of his organization. He is concerned about whether the Postal
Service is giving sufficient consideration to communities'
input related to preserving historic Post Offices. Now, I do
not know whether you have had any time to think about that. I
wanted to mention it to you because it is testimony before this
Committee, and just generally ask you if you have any thoughts
about the Postal Service's policy regarding the preservation of
Post Offices that are located in historic buildings. Mr. Walsh,
do you have any thoughts on that?
Mr. Walsh. Not knowing any of the procedures that the Post
Office has to maintain these buildings, I would just like to
say that I think that in any changes in a community, the
community should be involved in the decision-making process.
Ultimately it will be the decision of the Postal Service, but
you need to bring in the people in the community to look at
these buildings and see if it is feasible to keep them.
Senator Lieberman. Thank you. Governor Daniels.
Mrs. Daniels. I feel that it is critical that we keep these
Post Offices open where we can, especially in small towns, in
order for the rural customers to have access to the same goods
and services of customers in the cities. So I honestly feel
that if it is financial feasible, that we should work with the
people in those areas to keep them open where we can.
Senator Lieberman. I thank you both. I note that our
colleague, Senator Specter is here.
And I look forward, Mr. Chairman, to working with you;
appreciate the speed--although it took a long time for these
two nominations to get here. Actually, Mr. Walsh had no gray
hair at the time he was nominated. [Laughter.]
Well, I may be exaggerating a bit.
Once the nominations got here, you moved--and I thank
Senator Cochran--very quickly, to get them before us, and I
hope we can move with equal dispatch to get both of them
through the Senate. Thanks very much.
Senator Cochran. Thank you, Senator Lieberman.
Senator Specter, we welcome you to the hearing. We know you
are interested in the nomination of Mrs. Daniels, particularly,
and you are recognized at this time for any comments you would
like to make.
OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR SPECTER
Senator Specter. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, Senator
Lieberman, and Senator Akaka. It is a great pleasure to appear
before this very distinguished Committee, because I am a Member
of this Committee. [Laughter.]
So I have an option of seating arrangements today, but I
choose to sit next to Mrs. LeGree Daniels, who is a friend of
some 30 years. We are called upon very frequently to introduce
constituents, but infrequently to introduce one whom I have
known as long as I have known Mrs. Daniels.
She has an extraordinary record, and was a member of the
Senate family going back to 1974 when she was a staff assistant
for Senator Hugh Scott. Her career has included being Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights in the Department of Education in
the 1987 to 1989 time frame. She has been an examiner and
supervisor with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Motor Vehicles. She
attended Temple University and the Lincoln Business School. She
is a member of the Harrisburg Branch of the NAACP and the
Dauphin County Urban League. She has been very active in
Republican State politics, and I might say, with great
discretion in that position, former Secretary of the Republican
State Committee and Director Emeritus and member of the Policy
Committee of the Pennsylvania County of Republican Women.
She has a very distinguished family background, married to
Oscar Daniels, two stepdaughters, Octavia Duncan and Gwendolyn
Daniels.
She has served on the Postal Service Board of Governors,
and now she is up for a renewed term, and I am delighted that
LeGree has been willing to re-enlist, because she is
experienced and dedicated and competent. You cannot ask for
much more than that.
I appreciate the opportunity to appear here, Mr. Chairman,
and Members of the Committee, and I would ask leave to be
excused to go back to the Appropriations Committee, where we
are trying to get out a Bill on Labor, Health, Human Services
and Education.
Senator Cochran. Without objection, that leave request is
granted.
Senator Lieberman. Thank you. [Laughter.]
Senator Cochran. And thank you for your kind comments and
your excellent statement in support of Mrs. Daniels.
Senator Lieberman.
Senator Lieberman. Well, I was just going to ask Senator
Specter to make sure he did not forget all of those requests
for Connecticut projects before his Appropriations
Subcommittee. [Laughter.]
Senator Specter. As usual, Connecticut is over-represented.
[Laughter.]
Senator Cochran. Senator Akaka, do you have any questions
of the nominees?
OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR AKAKA
Senator Akaka. Thank you very much, my friend, Mr.
Chairman, and my friend and colleague, Senator Lieberman. I am
glad to be a part of this hearing.
And I join them in welcoming you to the Committee, and also
your families and friends that are gathered here.
Mrs. Daniels, I would like to take this opportunity to
thank you for your willingness to serve for another term.
Sometimes it is a question after you serve a term, whether you
should continue. But you chose to do just that, to continue as
a Governor of the Postal Service. I am aware of the time it
takes to be a member of this Board, and I am also aware of how
seriously you take your responsibility. Since 1990 you have
represented the public's interest before the Board in much the
same way that a member of a board of directors of a private
corporation would represent the stockholder's interest. We
certainly appreciate what you have done.
Since your confirmation 9 years ago, the Postal Service has
made significant progress. This is history. Customer
satisfaction is up. Revenue is strong. And on-time delivery of
first class mail is at an all-time high. And so we are at the
best we have ever been, and thanks to you and others who have
been serving thus far, we owe a big debt of gratitude to you.
I have several questions I would like to ask you, and then
I will do the same with Mr. Walsh.
Mrs. Daniels, are there specific steps that the Board has
taken that you believe have contributed to these successes?
Mrs. Daniels. Well, the one step we have taken is the fact
that we have set up committees so we are on top of everything
usually, and we work very closely with management. And I think
not only that has helped us, but some of the Governors make it
a part of their duties to visit the Post Office to see what our
postal employees are doing. We know it is a part-time job, but
most of us have felt it is a full-time job, because we owe it
not only first to our postal employees, but also second, to our
customers, which are our outside customers. So we felt when we
took--at least I have--when I took this oath, that it was for
real, and that I owed it not only to myself but to the American
people to do a good job, and that is what we have tried to do,
and with that help and the help of our employees. We have the
best in the country. And you ask them to do something, 9
chances out of 10, they will come through for you, and this is
why the success. It has not been us. It has been those postal
employees on whose shoulders we are all standing, and they have
come through for us, and will continue to do so.
Senator Akaka. Well, you speak so highly of postal
employees, and I know you are interested in how the postal
employees are treated. Are you satisfied with how labor
relations have progressed for them?
Mrs. Daniels. No, I am not totally satisfied, but both
sides are trying to work it out. A case in kind has been the
last labor meeting we have gone through, and it has been much
better than it has been in the past. It is something we all
have to work with, not only labor, but management as well. And
you know when people talk and get together, eyeball to eyeball,
it usually works because we are all Americans, and there is
always a way that you can find an answer, the correct answer.
Senator Akaka. You and Mr. Walsh commented on the Internet
and the place that it will be playing in the future of the
Postal Services, and I am sure you have been able to witness
what has been happening. How do you envision the Postal Service
responding to these changes? For instance, there was a
criticism that the Postal Service was not receiving enough
resources to move in these areas, but I am asking how you
envision the Postal Service responding to these changes?
Mrs. Daniels. Exactly what we are now doing. The Postmaster
General, along with us, we have had a conference that we called
together for the Governors as well as postal management, to see
how we envision the year 2000. The Postmaster General now is
working on those appointments, and things that he thinks we
need to change this Postal Service, so we can go into the year
2000 and 2001. He will be presenting that to the Governors, and
I am sure those rules and regulations he has changed will be
presented to you all.
It is hard for me to explain today exactly what we are
going into, but we are looking at all of it to make sure we go
into it so that we can continue to deliver mail every day,
everywhere, for all Americans.
Senator Akaka. I understand that like most Governors, you
have not taken a position on H.R. 22, the Postal Reform Bill in
the House. However, as you probably know, there are provisions
in the bill that could privatize certain aspects of mail
delivery. Would you care to comment on this issue?
Mrs. Daniels. I would not like to get into it totally,
because I do not have it with me. I am not for privatization of
the Postal Service, but there are some things in there that
perhaps would help us. I have not gone through it totally, and
when I have, I will give it to you in writing at another time.
Senator Akaka. Mr. Walsh, I wish to express my appreciation
for your interest in serving the public as a member of the
Board of Postal Governors. The journey on which you are about
to embark, if confirmed as a governor--will be exciting, but it
will be time consuming also, as you probably know. I thank your
family in advance for their willingness to have you serve as a
member of the Board. I am sure that Mrs. Daniels can attest to
the many responsibilities and activities beyond the monthly
meetings that take up her time, and that will be taking up your
time as well. And I hear from my colleagues that you are a busy
person in New Haven, so this is an additional responsibility.
Mr. Walsh, you have had a distinguished career, which my
colleagues from Connecticut have recounted eloquently. You do
not appear to be afraid of tackling large-scale projects
involving significant financing, nor dealing with contract and
personnel issues. Obviously, there is a great deal of
information that a new Board Governor has to learn, and I am
not sure where I could start if I were in your position at this
moment; however, I am sure that you have given this much
consideration.
I would be interested to know how you will undertake this
tremendous challenge.
Mr. Walsh. Thank you for your kind words, Senator.
First of all, I have to be a learner. I have to listen. I
have to get involved. I have to listen to my colleagues on the
Board. I imagine I have to do a lot of reading. I have to visit
postal offices. I think in any new venture that you go into,
there is a learning process. I have programmed myself for a 6-
month learning process. I hope I can learn as much as I can in
those 6 months that will help me to be a contributor to the
policy of the Board. But I think I have to get up to speed real
quick.
Senator Akaka. Well, with the experiences you have had
already in the community, and capitalizing on your years of
experience with strategic and long-range planning in government
and the private sector, have you had an opportunity to think
about how you would integrate this experience with your
responsibilities as a Governor?
Mr. Walsh. Well, I think I would leave that up to the
Chairman of the Board, whatever committee he would want to put
me on, but my experience is in labor negotiations, contracts,
leasing, purchasing, development, that whole area. So I would
hope that is where I might have a fit in those areas.
Senator Akaka. I think you would assume very well the
responsibilities of a Governor. The Postal Service has come a
long way in improving labor/management relations, but there
remains much to do, as we all know. Do you have any suggestions
as to how postal management and labor unions can find a common
ground in this area?
Mr. Walsh. Well, whenever you start the negotiation
process, there has to be honesty, integrity on both sides of
the table. I think once you develop that, then I think other
things begin to fall into place, but you have to have honesty
and integrity to be the main focus when you start off in
negotiation. But I think every problem can be solved.
Senator Akaka. My last question, Mr. Chairman.
Because, Mr. Walsh, you have not been confirmed as a member
of the Board, and have not had an opportunity to review Postal
Reform legislation, I feel that it would be unfair of me to ask
you about this issue. However, you would probably know that the
bill has the potential of privatizing mail delivery. Do you
have any general comments--and again, I leave it to whether you
care to answer or not--comments on privatization, and any
specific thoughts on how privatization of certain postal
functions could impact delivery of mail?
Mr. Walsh. I really do not feel qualified to answer that
directly, but I will answer the privatization, that companies
all over, and cities and States all over the country are
getting into. They are looking at this: Is it feasible? What
are the cost factors? There is a whole list of items to be
looked at. So I think the Post Office, just like any other
major business, will look at these avenues, and then make a
decision which will affect the future of the Post Office.
Senator Akaka. Well, I thank you so much for your
responses, and those of Mrs. Daniels. I welcome you here and
wish you well.
Mr. Walsh. Thank you very much, Senator.
Senator Akaka. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Cochran. Senator Akaka, thank you for your
contribution to this hearing.
We appreciate very much the cooperation that each of you
have shown to the Committee and the confirmation process. We
congratulate you, Mrs. Daniels, on your excellent and exemplary
service previously as a member of the Board of Governors of the
Postal Service, and we look forward to working with you in the
years ahead, as you embark upon your second term.
Mr. Walsh, it is good to meet you, and I congratulate you
again on your nomination, and wish you well in your period of
service as a member of the Board of Governors.
Mr. Walsh. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Cochran. The record will remain open for any
additional statements Members may wish to place in the record.
We have no other questions at this time, but if additional
questions need to be submitted, we hope you will respond to
them in a timely fashion.
Mr. Walsh. I certainly will.
Senator Cochran. The hearing is adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 10:39 a.m., the Committee was adjourned.]
A P P E N D I X
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