WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman David B. McKinley, R-WV, introduced a bipartisan resolution calling for an end to the postal slowdown and a return to prior service standards.
On July 1, 2012 the United States Postal Service (USPS) initiated an aggressive plan to cut costs by closing rural post offices, mail processing facilities, and reducing First Class Mail delivery. This has had a disproportionate impact businesses and families in rural areas.
“We’ve heard from hundreds of West Virginians – newspapers, businesses, and individual postal customers negatively impacted by these delivery changes. By restoring prompt and reliable service, we can rebuild trust in the postal service and give rural Americans peace of mind” said McKinley, Representative for the state’s 1st District.
The fall 2013 closure of the USPS Mail Processing Facility in Bridgeport, WV has required mail to be shipped to Pittsburgh or Charleston for processing, resulting in delays, increased costs, and unreliable service. This month, USPS announced it would end overnight delivery of First Class Mail in further efforts to cut costs.
“The recent changes implemented by the United States Postal Service are having a dramatic and negative impact on all businesses and residents living in rural parts of the United States,” said Don Smith, executive director of the West Virginia Press Association. “This recent USPS decision is a national issue that is impacting the entire country. The newspaper industry across America is just one segment of the national economy that will suffer as a result of these changes. We hope other members of Congress will support his resolution and join in the discussion.”
“This postal slowdown is causing real harm across West Virginia as credit card bills are delayed, consumers cancel unreliable newspapers, and timely medicine deliveries are threatened. The Post Office should reconsider these changes and work with Congress to develop an alternative model,” McKinley added.
The bipartisan resolution, H. Res. 54, was co-sponsored by Reps. Paul Tonko (NY-20), Don Young (AK At-large), Marcy Kaptur (OH-9), Doug LaMalfa (CA-1), Richard Nolan (MN-8), David Joyce (OH-14), Linda Sanchez (CA-38).