[Excerpt] During the 110th Congress, three measures, H.Res. 282, S. 1457, and H.R. 4236, have been introduced to address the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS’s) use of private contractors to deliver mail. This report provides information on USPS’s authority to contract and data on USPS’s use of private contractors to deliver mail. It notes that USPS has statutory authority to contract, although the extent of that authority has been contested. It also shows that USPS has increased its use of contractors in recent years, but that USPS employees continue to serve more than 98% of all U.S. homes and businesses. This report will be updated to reflect major legislative action.