Hassan, Pappas, Shaheen Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Mail Service

Following USPS’s decision to divert mail services from the Manchester Processing and Distribution Center, Congressman Pappas and Senators Hassan and Shaheen introduce bipartisan legislation to prohibit closing a state’s only center

Washington, D.C. - This week Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Harriet Hageman (WY-AL) joined Senators Maggie Hassan (NH) and Cynthia Lummis (WY) to introduce the bicameral, bipartisan Postal Operations Stay Timely and Local (POSTAL) Act, which would prohibit the United States Postal Service (USPS) from consolidating, closing, or downgrading a processing and distribution center if it would leave a state without one or negatively impact mail delivery across a state. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (NH) is a co-sponsor of the bill.

“We must prioritize actions that improve mail service for the seniors, families, and businesses that rely on the U.S. Postal Service for their medications, mail, and packages. Diverting services outside a state threatens the reliability of service and local jobs,” said Congressman Pappas. “Earlier this month, USPS made the misguided decision to shift mail distribution from New Hampshire’s only processing and distribution center to Boston, ignoring the overwhelming negative feedback from Granite Staters and significant consequences the move will have on local communities. This bipartisan legislation would mitigate closures and consolidations of these facilities and protect communities' mail service and jobs.”

“Granite Staters, like many Americans, rely on the postal service for timely delivery of medication and other essential goods,” said Senator Hassan. “The plans that the USPS has announced to close processing centers nationwide will lead to delayed mail deliveries, delayed absentee ballots, and job losses for postal employees. I am glad to help introduce this bipartisan legislation to protect mail service and stop the USPS’s proposed changes to leave entire states – including New Hampshire – without processing centers.”

“For months, I’ve been speaking out against the decision to move mail distribution out of Manchester, New Hampshire and the impact it will have on Granite Staters. I am deeply concerned about the Postal Service’s decision to move forward with damaging changes to mail processing, despite significant public outcry. It’s clear that the Postal Service’s decision making process is broken and needs to be fixed. That’s why I’m proud to help introduce this bipartisan bill that would prevent the Postal Service from cutting local mail processing from states like New Hampshire and prevent the harmful and unnecessary increased mail delays Granite Staters are now facing,” said Senator Shaheen.

Background: 

Pappas continues to lead efforts to improve and reform the USPS to ensure that Granite Staters receive their mail in a timely manner. In February 2022, Pappas helped pass the Postal Service Reform Act in the House to address long standing financial and structural issues at the USPS and held a virtual roundtable conversation with representatives and leadership from New Hampshire's postal workers to discuss the importance of the bill. It was signed into law in April 2022.

In February, the New Hampshire delegation sent a letter to Postmaster General DeJoy expressing concerns about plans for the Manchester Processing and Distribution Center, noting that they could be damaging to mail service in New Hampshire and urging the USPS to reconsider. The delegation also raised these concerns at a press conference outside the facility. The USPS received an outpouring of negative feedback from Granite Staters and postal workers, amplified by the Congressional delegation and other stakeholders, on its plans. This week Pappas and Shaheen joined a bipartisan, bicameral push opposing USPS’s recent nationwide consolidation and review announcements that could severely diminish mail service reliability for postal networks across the country.

This week at a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing, Senator Hassan pushed USPS officials on their plan to move the Manchester Processing & Distribution Center’s operations to Boston. She has also led efforts to strengthen the USPS. Two years ago, Senator Hassan and colleagues’ bipartisan legislation to strengthen the USPS and improve the agency’s long-term financial stability was signed into law. Senator Hassan additionally led negotiations during the pandemic to secure an additional $10 billion to support USPS operations.

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