Heinrich Cosponsors Legislation to Protect Rural Postal Processing Facilities

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) cosponsored the Postal Processing Protection Act, legislation that will require the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to fully study the consequences of closing or downsizing rural mail processing facilities before making any final decisions in an effort to protect rural mail processing facilities.

“Folks across New Mexico rely on the U.S. Postal Service to receive everything from paychecks to prescription medicine. I’m proud to cosponsor legislation that would force this agency to think twice before taking away an essential service from New Mexicans living in rural communities,” said Heinrich.

Currently, the USPS is not required to study or consider the effects of closures or consolidations of rural mail processing facilities on the communities they serve.

The Postal Processing Protection Act will require the USPS to consider the impact to rural areas when closing or downsizing processing centers, just as they do with closing post office retail locations.

The legislation is led by U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). Alongside Heinrich, the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).

The text of the bill is here.

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