Northwest Lawmakers Speak Out Against Consolidations

Oregon’s congressional delegation sent a letter to Postmaster General Megan Brennan, requesting a meeting, “as soon as possible,” to discuss consolidation plans and the future of mail delivery standards.  

Mail processing facilities in Bend and Pendleton are slated to close by the end of April, and the Eugene facility is scheduled to close by the end of July – leaving just two mail processing facilities in the entire state.

“We would like to better understand how USPS intends to meet the timely needs of our constituents, if mail processing facility consolidations continue and service standard times are extended,” said the April 20 letter. The legislators also noted that moving forward with consolidations would hurt local businesses and eliminate middle class jobs.

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D), Sen. Ron Wyden (D), Rep. Peter DeFazio (D), Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D), Rep. Greg Walden (R), Rep. Kurt Schrader (D) and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D) signed the letter.

Seattle Seeks Postal Reform Legislation

Seattle’s City Council and its mayor are sounding the call for postal reform legislation.

The city’s leading lawmakers sent letters to Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) this month, requesting legislation that would:

• Stabilize Postal Service finances by reforming or eliminating the unique requirement of pre-funding future retiree health benefits;
• Secure the continuation of six-day mail delivery;
• Retain door-to-door service for over 30 million households and businesses, and
• Restore service standards that would provide for next-day delivery of local, first-class mail.

The April 6 letters – signed by all nine council members and Mayor Edward Murray – outline why postal services are so important to the nation, especially Seattleites.  They note that Seattle residents vote almost entirely by mail and many – especially senior citizens – rely on the Postal Service for prompt delivery of prescription medication.

The Postal Service also provides approximately 4,000 living-wage jobs in the area, “comprising an important part of our local economy in the Puget Sound Region.

“If no legislative action is taken to restore service standards, mail sorting operations in Redmond, Tacoma and Wenatchee will be closed this year, impacting over 300 jobs and making it more difficult to return to previous delivery schedules,” the letters said.