From the National Association of Postmasters of the United States (NAPUS) newsletter

Senator Daniel Akaka to Retire

This week, Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) announced that he would not seek re-election, in November 2012. Senator Akaka was honored as NAPUS Champion, at the 2004 NAPUS Leadership Conference. In addition, he has addressed numerous NAPUS gatherings over his thirty-five year tenure on Capitol Hill. Akaka was Senate author of the Postmasters Equity Act (Public Law 108-86). In 2001, upon introducing the bill Sen. Akaka noted:

Our nation’s postmasters have helped fuel the infrastructure that boosted performance ratings to an all-time high… They are on the front line to ensure that our mail is delivered in a timely manner.

Currently, Sen. Akaka chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia, and serves on the postal subcommittee. Moreover, Sen. Akaka is the third-ranking Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. With the previously announced retirement of Committee Chair Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and second-ranking Democrat Carl Levin (D-MI) serving as chair of the Armed Services Committee, Sen. Akaka would have been next in line to succeed Lieberman, if the Democrats retain their Senate majority in the 2012 elections. With Akaka’s retirement, Sen. Thomas Carper (D-DE), who presently chairs the Senate postal subcommittee, would be next in line. If the GOP regains the majority, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) will chair.