PERFORM Act

Summary#

This bill changes section 3686 of title 39, United States Code. It adds a rule that the Postmaster General cannot receive a bonus, incentive award, retention payment, or other performance-based pay in a fiscal year if, during the previous fiscal year, either: (A) the Postal Service’s total costs were greater than its total revenue; or (B) the Postal Service failed to meet nationwide service performance targets, received a material weakness, adverse opinion, or disclaimer in its financial audit, or failed to submit a required annual report to Congress. The bill also requires the Postmaster General to send Congress, within 30 days after each fiscal year ends, a report listing any senior executive bonuses paid, the performance metrics used to justify them, the Postal Service’s financial performance for the prior year, and national and district-level service performance data. The Postal Service Inspector General must review that report and determine whether the Postal Service followed these rules.

What it means for you#

• The rule directly affects the Postmaster General’s eligibility for performance-based pay and increases reporting about senior executive pay and performance.
• Congress will receive a yearly report with financial and service-performance details for the Postal Service.
• The Postal Service Inspector General will check that the Postal Service followed the reporting and bonus rules.
• No publicly available information on any other changes to mail service, delivery, staffing, or customer costs is included in the bill text.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

The bill text and title show it would limit performance-based pay for the Postmaster General when the Postal Service had financial losses or missed required performance or audit standards, and it would require annual reporting and an Inspector General review to provide fiscal oversight and results-based management.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.