shawn riley is a reporter for "the federal times," and mike kazi is senior correspondent for federal news radio. and now please, give them your round of applause. [ applause ] popular lure tells us of the u.s. postal service, neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. but what weather might not prevent a financial storm could. the fact is, the united states postal service has been woven throughout the tapestry of american life. since the birth of this country, it has been part of our community and our communication. but that tradition, that service is very much at risk. the postal service is an organization in need of a new business model, it seems. as it stands, it cannot simply fold. it is under a legal mandate to serve all americans, no matter where they live. the letter carrier who goes door to door in downtown washington has the same responsibilities as the one who travels by boat to remote villages in alaska. it is one of the few government agencies authorized by nothing less than the united states