Hoeven, Peters, Collins Call on Postmaster General to Pause Mail Processing Changes, Ensure No Harm to Local Mail Delivery

Hoeven, Peters, Collins Call on Postmaster General to Pause Mail Processing Changes, Ensure No Harm to Local Mail Delivery

WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today joined an effort led by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) calling on Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to pause the implementation of the U.S. Postal Service's (USPS) Mail Processing Facility Review (MPFR). The senators outlined the potential impact of moving mail processing out of local communities, like Grand Forks and Bismarck, on timely mail delivery. Accordingly, the senators called on DeJoy to:

• Pause all planned alterations to the USPS mail processing and delivery network.
• Restore service in areas where changes have already been implemented.
• Conduct a comprehensive, nationwide study to understand the full impacts of the proposed changes on local communities.

This comes as part of Hoeven's ongoing efforts to address concerns regarding delayed delivery of mail, packages and newspapers, as well as concerns about proposed changes to mail processing facilities. Earlier this year, Hoeven and the North Dakota delegation:

• Secured a commitment from the USPS Inspector General (IG) to expand its postal audit of the Minnesota-North Dakota District to include Dickinson, Grand Forks and Fargo, in addition to Bismarck, Mandan and Minot.
  • The interim results of the audit were released in March, with the full audit expected to be completed later this month.
• Were informed by the IG that it is reviewing the USPS' nationwide effort to relocate mail processing at certain facilities.
  • Hoeven also secured a commitment from DeJoy for USPS to meet with local stakeholders and answer questions following the USPS decision to proceed with the MPFRs in Grand Forks and Bismarck.

"USPS is moving forward swiftly with plans to consolidate and alter its facilities across the country, making irrevocable changes to its processing and delivery network which links all communities. This plan includes moving mail processing further away from local communities, by transferring operations out of local facilities and into more distant hubs," wrote the senators. "We are concerned about the impacts these changes have had so far, and the potential impacts that further changes could have. In regions where USPS has implemented significant changes, on-time mail delivery has declined. In addition, it is not clear these changes will improve efficiency or costs. Despite these concerns, USPS has moved forward with announcing and approving additional facility changes across the country."

"The Postal Service must promptly request a comprehensive Advisory Opinion to study the impacts of its full plan. USPS should pause all changes, including administrative approvals and on-the-ground changes, until the Postal Regulatory Commission completes this study and USPS incorporates the results. USPS must improve service immediately in areas where changes have been implemented, and restore status quo operations as much as practicable," concluded the senators.

In addition to Hoeven, Peters and Collins, the letter is co-signed by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Kyrsten Sinema, (I-Ariz.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Angus King (I-Maine) Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas). The full text of the letter can be read here.

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