Hageman Introduces Bill to Protect Rural Postal Facilities

Washington, DC – Representatives Harriet Hageman (R-WY) and Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), introduced the Postal Processing Protection Act to require the United States Postal Service (USPS) to follow the same standards for closing or consolidating sorting, distribution, or processing facilities as it does for storefront post offices under existing law. Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) are leading the Senate version of the bill.

Under this bill, if USPS moves forward with such a closure or consolidation, it must notify the affected community and provide the reasoning behind its decision. Additionally, USPS would be required to wait at least 60 days after notification before proceeding, allowing those impacted to appeal the closure to the Postal Regulatory Commission, which would have up to 120 days to review the appeal.

"Without these protections, USPS can arbitrarily close or consolidate processing and distribution centers, leaving rural communities—like so many in Wyoming—dependent on facilities in distant cities outside their state,” said Congresswoman Hageman. “Such closures threaten the timely and secure delivery of mail, including election mail and life-saving medications, and disrupt local jobs.”

“The Postal Processing Protection Act stands as a crucial safeguard, ensuring that mail processing centers remain to serve our communities nationwide,” said Congressman Cleaver. “By preserving these centers and examining the consequences of their potential closures, we uphold the continuity of essential services, mitigate the far-reaching consequences of their elimination, and alleviate the burden on an already strained postal service. It’s a measure that not only preserves efficiency but also reinforces the interconnectedness of each and every community throughout the country. I am proud to introduce the bipartisan Postal Processing Protection Act alongside Congresswoman Hageman and look forward to working together to avoid fractures in the postal service delivery network by first studying the effects of closing or consolidating these processing and shipping facilities.”

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