HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS DELAYS CUSTOMS/POSTAL HEARING TO MARCH 14

HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS DELAYS CUSTOMS/POSTAL HEARING TO MARCH 14       The U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service and General Government has postponed its hearing to review Customs’ enforcement over international shipments handled by the U.S. Postal Service.
      Customs was sharply accused by the Air Courier Conference of America this week for its 'lack' of enforcement of postal shipments. The group, which represents express carriers such as FedEx and UPS, said Customs failed to collect duties and fees from the USPS amounting to over $1 billion a year.
      Customs says the problems stem from the Postal Service’s lack of automated systems for managing data about mail shipments. The agency would also like to have the authority to review outbound mail to catch money launderers and illegal shipments.
      The hearing has been rescheduled for March 14 at 9:30 a.m. Scheduled to testify is Customs Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly. Treasury’s Undersecretary of Enforcement James E. Johnson is also expected to attend.