Letter to Majority Leader Reid, Minority Leader McConnell, Chairman Inouye, and Ranking Member Cochran

Letter

U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., and 19 fellow senators have sent a letter to the Senate leadership requesting that a moratorium be enacted to prohibit the United States Postal Service (USPS) from closing or consolidating area mail processing facilities or post offices for the next six months. Such a moratorium would allow Congress to continue its work on postal service reform.

"Unfortunately, we are concerned that the postal service may preempt Congress on this matter by closing or consolidating nearly 3,700 mostly rural post offices, over 250 mail processing facilities, and eliminating overnight delivery for first class mail before postal reform legislation is enacted," the letter states. "While some of these changes may be needed, we believe that it is very important to give Congress the opportunity to reform the postal service in a way that protects universal service while ensuring its financial viability for decades to come."

On Nov. 9, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee passed the 21st Century Postal Service Act, S.1789, by a vote of 9-1. Sen. Landrieu -- a member of the committee -- co-sponsored several amendments to the bipartisan legislation, including one to require the USPS to consider alternatives to full closure of facilities, including downsizing and reduced operating hours. The House is also moving forward with postal reform legislation.

In addition to her work on the committee, Sen. Landrieu has joined with Sen. David Vitter, R-La., and U.S. Reps. Charles Boustany, R-La., Cedric Richmond, D-La., and Steve Scalise, R-La., in fighting to keep the New Orleans Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC) and the Lafayette P&DC open. On Sept. 30, they sent a letter requesting that the USPS provide details on its proposal to close the facilities and consolidate them with the Baton Rouge facility. Sen. Landrieu also encouraged Louisianians to attend public meetings in New Orleans and Lafayette to voice their opinions regarding USPS studies that evaluated the potential results of consolidation.

Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Mark Begich, D-Ark., Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., John D. Rockefeller IV, D-W.Va., Ben Nelson, D-Fla., Tim Johnson, D-S.D., Mark Udall, D-Colo., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Jon Tester, D-Mont., Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., Max Baucus, D-Mont., Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, Al Franken, D-Minn., Tom Udall, D-N.M., and John Kerry, D-Mass., also signed the letter.

Dear Majority Leader Reid, Minority Leader McConnell, Chairman Inouye, and Ranking Member Cochran:

Everyone understand that the United States Postal Service (USPS) is experiencing significant financial problems today and that changes need to be made as the USPS adjusts to a digital world.

To address this serious problem, Congress is in the midst of significantly reforming the postal service. Several bills have been introduced in the Senate and the House on this issue. On November 9th, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee passed the 21st Century Postal Service Act, S. 1789, by a vote of 9-1. The House is also moving forward with postal reform legislation.

While we may have very different views on how to financially improve the postal service, we all believe that democratically elected members of the Senate and the House have the responsibility to make significant changes to the postal service.

Unfortunately, we are concerned that the postal service may preempt Congress on this matter by closing or consolidating nearly 3,700 mostly rural post offices, over 250 mail processing facilities, and eliminating overnight delivery for first class mail before postal reform legislation is enacted. While some of these changes may be needed, we believe that it is very important to give Congress the opportunity to reform the postal service in a way that protects universal service while ensuring its financial viability for decades to come.

Therefore, we respectfully ask that you include language in the next appropriations bill to prevent the USPS from closing or consolidating area mail processing facilities or rural post offices for the next six months. This six month moratorium will give Congress the time needed to enact reforms necessary for the postal service succeed in the 21st century.

We look forward to working with you on this important issue. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Bernard Sanders
Patrick Leahy
Ron Wyden
Kirsten Gillibrand
Mary Landrieu
Mark Begich
Jeff Merkley
John Rockefeller
Ben Nelson
Tim Johnson
Mark Udall
Michael Bennet
Amy Klobuchar
Jon Tester
Claire McCaskill
Max Baucus
Tom Harkin
Al Franken
Tom Udall
John Kerry