50 Senators Tell Appropriations Committee: ‘Stop Postal Service Cuts and Plant Closures’
08/14/2014 – Half of the U.S. Senate has called for a one-year moratorium on Postal Service plans to close mail processing plants and slow down mail delivery.
An Aug. 14 signed by 50 senators said Congress should block a proposal by Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe to close as many as 82 mail processing plants; slow mail service, and eliminate up to 15,000 jobs. The letter urged leaders of a key committee to include a one-year ban on the cuts as part of must-pass legislation to keep the government running into the new fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.
“This one-year moratorium will give Congress the time it needs to enact the comprehensive postal reforms that are necessary for the Postal Service to function effectively into the future,” the senators wrote in a letter to Sens. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Richard Shelby (R-LA), the chairwoman and ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Dear Chairman Mikulski, Ranking Member Shelby, Subcommittee Chairman Udall, and Subcommittee Ranking Member Johanns:
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is facing many serious challenges. While a number of reform proposals have been introduced in both the Senate and the House to tackle these problems over the past several years, we have yet to enact legislation. In the absence of Congressional compromise, the Postal Service has proposed more sweeping changes to its operations.
The Postmaster General has announced that the Postal Service will consolidate up to 82 more mail processing facilities and eliminate up to 15,000 more jobs in 2015. This wave of closures will directly impact 37 states across our nation, and more importantly, the citizens who count on their Postal Service to be reliable. At a time when our middle-class is disappearing, the loss of 15,000 good-paying Postal Service jobs will harm our local communities and economies.
The Postal Service has already consolidated 141 mail processing facilities since 2012. As the postal network has been weakened, service delivery has suffered. Since the Postal Service slowed down the delivery of First-Class Mail over two years ago by revising its service standards, it has been more difficult for the American public and small businesses to receive mail in a timely manner. Slowing down mail delivery even further will hurt senior citizens on fixed incomes, small businesses and the entire economy
To address this immediate problem, we respectfully request that you include language in any omnibus appropriations legislation or continuing resolution that would prevent the USPS from closing or consolidating any more area mail processing facilities during Fiscal Year 2015.
In addition, we would ask that you include language to maintain and comply with service standards for First-Class Mail and periodicals effective on July 1, 2012. This one-year moratorium will give Congress the time it needs to enact the comprehensive postal reforms that are necessary for the Postal Service to function effectively into the future.
We look forward to working with you on this important issue. Thank you for your consideration.
APWU President Mark Dimondstein praised the senators’ action. “Few people seem to be aware of the devastating effect the plant closures would have on the nation’s mail system,” he said. “If the plants are closed or consolidated, it will mean the end of overnight mail delivery in this country.”
He also praised APWU members and supporters at the local and state level who contacted their senators to explain the significance of the Postmaster General’s plans. “We must make sure the American people also understand that PMG Donahoe’s reckless cuts in service are jeopardizing the future of a public Post Office.”
The letter – drafted and circulated by Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jon Tester (D-MT) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) – also was sent to Sens. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Mike Johanns (R-NE), leaders of a subcommittee on Postal Service finances.
“At a time when our middle class is disappearing, the loss of 15,000 good-paying Postal Service jobs will harm our local communities and economies,” the senators wrote. “Slowing down mail delivery even further will hurt senior citizens on fixed incomes, small businesses and the entire economy,” the letter added. Closing the plants would require another degradation of service standards that would essentially eliminate first-class mail, even within the same city or town.
“Despite misleading reports about supposed fiscal woes, the Postal Service in fact has taken in nearly $1 billion more in revenue than it spent since the fall of 2012,” the senators noted in a press release.
The letter was signed by 43 Democrats, five Republicans and both of the Senate’s Independents. The senators who signed the letter are:
| State | Senator |
|---|---|
| California | Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) |
| California | Sen. Diana Feinstein (D) |
| Colorado | Sen. Michael F. Bennet (D) |
| Colorado | Sen. Mark Udall (D) |
| Connecticut | Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D) |
| Connecticut | Sen. Chris Murphy (D) |
| Florida | Sen. Bill Nelson (D) |
| Hawaii | Sen. Mazie Hirono (D) |
| Hawaii | Sen. Brian Schatz (D) |
| Iowa | Sen. Tom Harkin (D) |
| Illinois | Sen. Dick Durbin (D) |
| Indiana | Sen. Joseph Donnelly (D) |
| Louisiana | Sen. Mary Landrieu (D) |
| Massachusetts | Sen. Edward Markey (D) |
| Massachusetts | Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D) |
| Maryland | Sen. Ben Cardin (D) |
| Maine | Sen. Susan Collins (R) |
| Maine | Sen. Angus King (I) |
| Michigan | Sen. Carl Levin (D) |
| Michigan | Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D) |
| Missouri | Sen. Roy Blunt (R) |
| Missouri | Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) |
| Minnesota | Sen. Al Franken (D) |
| Minnesota | Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) |
| Montana | Sen. Jon Tester (D) |
| Montana | Sen. John Walsh (D) |
| North Carolina | Sen. Kay Hagan (D) |
| North Dakota | Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D) |
| North Dakota | Sen. John Hoeven (R) |
| New Hampshire | Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D) |
| New Jersey | Sen. Cory Booker (D) |
| New Jersey | Sen. Robert Menendez (D) |
| New Mexico | Sen. Martin Heinrich (D) |
| New York | Sen. Kirstin Gillibrand (D) |
| New York | Sen. Chuck Schumer (D) |
| Ohio | Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) |
| Oklahoma | Sen. James Inhofe (R) |
| Oregon | Sen. Jeff Merkley (D) |
| Oregon | Sen. Ron Wyden (D) |
| Pennsylvania | Sen. Bob Casey (D) |
| Rhode Island | Sen. Jack Reed (D) |
| Rhode Island | Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D) |
| South Dakota | Sen. Tim Johnson (D) |
| South Dakota | Sen. John Thune (R) |
| Utah | Sen. Orrin Hatch (R) |
| Vermont | Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) |
| Vermont | Sen. Patrick Leahy (D) |
| Washington | Sen. Maria Cantwell (D) |
| West Virginia | Sen. Joe Manchin (D) |
| Wisconsin | Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D) |
– See more at: http://www.apwu.org/news/web-news-article/%E2%80%98stop-postal-service-cuts-and-plant-closures%E2%80%99#sthash.SzcpGHSY.dpuf
A bunch of them will be gone after the Midterms
True blood sucking creature (p0ly tics) whose only concern is to create a scenario that gives them the edge in buying votes for reelection with no concern for the price paid. 6 DAY STREET DELIVERY IS A WASTE THAT SERVES NO PURPOSE IN AMERICAN COMMUNICATIONS. Small clustered community post offices is a past need for rural America. Changing demographics and advancements in transportation, road systems, communication in all areas has rapidly advanced.
USPS needs to focus on what is in demand by American public and receiving advertising bulk business junk mail is past history. Online shopping is a rapidly growing market and USPS should compete to create new revenue through this lucrative market such as is being done with Amazon.
Yesterday is history as time changes every facets of existence. USPS needs to realize that service must be provided for the now and tomorrow as the past is a Skelton of what was once a need.
Who would of thought kicking the can would be the favorite game to play.
Snake in the grass, hide-n-go seek all still playing itself out to this day.
Playing post office was/is one of my favorites.
When the GOP takes the Senate….. It’s a rap….. 5 day delivery or bust.
Wait for USPS management to retaliate against these legislators. It’s the only thing they do at work.
If you notice the only Republicans who supported this are all from rural areas, they know how bad mail “service” would be on their communities.
How on God’s green earth does Donahole still have a job??
Get rid of Donahue and his 45 vice presidents and we will be able to fund the post office for at least another year,
i’M WITH HUNTER IN THAT IT IS IN DISBELIEF THAT THEY
ALLOW A LEEWAY OF ONE YEAR TO ACCOMPLISH POSTAL REFORM.
THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN AFTER THOUGHT AT THIS POINT!
WE HAVE BEEN WAITING TO GET THIS DONE FOR SOME TIME NOW.
WHERE IS THE ERGENCY IN A ONE YEAR MORATORIUM? YOU CAN
COUNT THE REPUBLICANS ON THIS LIST ON ONE HAND THAT’S
MOST LIKELY THE REASON FOR THE ONE YEAR. THE REPUKES
WANT TO DESTROY THE SERVICE AND IT’S WORKERS AND WILL
CONTINUE TO DELAY ANY REAL LOGICAL REFORM. WHERE WERE
ALL THESE SENATORS IN THE PAST. WHAT IS IT ELECTION
TIME…HMMMM? ALWAYS A MOTIVE AND AGENDA FOR SOME TO
GET INVOLVED AND THERE’S JUST ENOUGH OF US THAT THINK
THEY REALLY CARE. NONE OF THESE BAFOONS WILL EVEN MENTION
GETTING RID OF THAT STUPID 5.7 BILL PAYMENT FOR FUTURE
RETIREE HEALTH CARE THAT IS ALREADY FUNDED FOR YEARS TO
COME! START THERE….. IF YOU HAVE THE B—-!
I agree with Hunter, the Senate makes it sound as though they have not been given ample time to pass postal reform. They have sat on their hands for several years and nothing has been passed into law as far as postal reform. Sh.. or get off the pot is what they need to do.
Shocking that Feinstein signed the letter considering that she is making millions from Downahole’s fire sale of postal facilities. Now would she have to abstain from voting on postal legislation with her huge conflict of interest?
Maillady, you better not be so ho hum about it. It could mean your job
Another year?! WOW!!!! For the last 6 years Congress has been kicking the can down the road. Meanwhile Donuthole has been closing and selling off Post Offices left and right!! Creating VPO’s, Staples, Grocery Stores, etc.. Pse’s, Cca’s, Mha’s.. Wtf!!! Donuthole is slowly privatizing us.. If the Democrats lose the Senate and the Republicans retain the House in November.. The Republicans will Impeach Obama and it will be lights out for all of US!!!! Get out and vote in November!!! Get all your friends and family to vote Democratic this November. This Country, Our Jobs, Our Middle- Class, Our Unions depend on it!!! Get out and vote!!! Look at Wisconsin Governor Walker. That fuckin union buster stripped all state, county and local governments of their collective bargaining rights!! Now Walker’s going after the Police and Firefighters Unions.. If you’re not a millionaire, why the Fuck would you be a Republican??? They want to slash social security, slash the VA, Medicare, Medicaid, Student loans for college kids, slash mass transit, increase tax breaks for BIG Corporations that lay- off Americans and ship jobs overseas, etc… Wake the Fuck Up Postal People!!! The Time is now!! You bitch and moan about your jobs but when you won’t have one then you’ll realize what 10 bucks an hour gets you. No health insurance, No sick leave, No FMLA, No Union protection, No TSP, No overtime, No Seniority, No 5 weeks vacation.. That’s what non – union employers pay.. Wake up and VOTE Democrat!!!!
How long does it take to fire an incompetent Postmster General?!
DonutHole said: ” Talking is cheap, where is the bail out money ?”
I just got my FMLA packet from Human Resources today, it took 5 days to get to me. The 82 plants about to be closed are plants that will cause a great deal of damage to the system and slow up mail to an even greater extent that what has already happened.
Ho hum….just another ploy….face the inevitable …..does technology ring a bell?
do these numbnuts ever listen to themselves?? they need another year to do something?? what about the last 5 years when you did nothing??
“This one-year moratorium will give Congress the time it needs to enact the comprehensive postal reforms that are necessary for the Postal Service to function effectively into the future,” the senators wrote in a letter to Sens. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Richard Shelby (R-LA), the chairwoman and ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.