04.25.12

Hoeven Statement on Passage of the 21st Century Postal Service Act

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after passage this afternoon of the 21st Century Postal Service Act in the U.S. Senate. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 62 to 37: 

“This afternoon the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan bill that will help solve the financial challenges facing the United States Postal Service. It will ensure that universal service continues for the American people, while encouraging innovation and more market-based practices. It will also reduce the Postal Service’s cost of operating by $98 billion to help move the organization toward solvency so that it can continue to serve the citizens and businesses of our country. 

“This bill will enable the Postal Service make much needed changes to remain solvent in a way that works for North Dakota and other rural parts of our country by retaining universal service for rural America as well as urban areas. 

“Based on the overnight delivery standard required in the legislation, we believe Minot will retain its processing facility. Also, the Devils Lake processing center will be further evaluated, and the Grand Forks processing center will continue to operate. In addition, the legislation retains rural post offices for one year and provides that a rural post office cannot be closed unless there is adequate provision made for similar services. 

“Today, the U.S. Senate met a challenge together with bipartisan cooperation. It offered a solution to a problem incorporating ideas and suggestions from both sides of the aisle that will help to ensure that the people of our country have reliable postal services.”