Issue Position: Future of Post Office

Issue Position

Monitoring proposed reforms

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is facing a deficit of more than $8 billion this year that will leave taxpayers footing the bill unless serious changes are made to the current system. I believe robust reforms to the USPS are needed and steps should be taken to have a common sense approach to determine what constitutes the appropriate number of facilities throughout the nation. However, I understand the importance of keeping postal operations in rural communities because they often lack alternatives for conducting postal businesses and parcel delivery. I understand and believe that post offices are a central component for many rural Nevada towns and areas, and we must ensure the USPS remains solvent.

The USPS proposed a review process in order to close approximately 3,700 post offices across the country -- as many as 15 in the Second Congressional District of Nevada. The USPS developed this list through an internal audit and is finishing the process of holding meetings with the public, local postal masters, and community leaders in the area.

Additionally, Congress has proposed separate legislation to address the financial crisis of the USPS. H.R. 2309, the Postal Reform Act, includes major delivery reforms designed to reduce operating costs, and establishes a Commission on Postal Reorganization (CPR) to recommend closures and consolidations to Congress.

The bill would require 90% of the closures to be defined as urban and 10% as rural. Under current law, the Postal Service is required to "provide a maximum degree of effective and regular postal services to rural areas, communities, and small towns where post offices are not self-sustaining." I am committed to making sure this concept continues as Congress considers avenues to make the USPS more competitive and sustainable in the future.

H.R. 2309 was passed by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in October, but currently has not been scheduled for a vote by the full House of Representatives. The USPS has also decided to delay the closing of mail processing centers and local post offices, including many in Northern Nevada, until mid-May. Please rest assured I will continue to monitor the potential closing of facilities in Nevada closely and support legislation that prevents the arbitrary closures of rural post office by either Congress or the USPS.

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