Bills Look to Halt USPS Closing a State’s Only P&DC

Lawmakers want to prohibit USPS from closing a processing and distribution center (P&DC) if it would leave that area without a facility. 

The bipartisan Postal Operations Stay Timely and Local (POSTAL) Act, introduced April 17 by Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.), is in response to New Hampshire’s singular P&DC being closed with operations moving to Boston, along with plans for both of Wyoming’s P&DCs to be moved out of state. 

The act would stop facility closures under two criteria: if it would leave the area without a P&DC or negatively impact mail delivery. 

A companion bill was introduced in the Senate April 18 by Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.). Both bills were referred to a committee. 

“If fulfilled, the USPS modernization plan threatens the promise of timely, secure mail delivery by transporting the bulk of Wyoming’s mail out of state, while also forcing many USPS P&DC employees to either relocate or lose their jobs,” stated Hageman.