Moratorium on Closing Small and Rural Post Offices Through September 30, 2016

As reimbursement for the free and reduced rates mandated by Congress, the USPS, through the annual Appropriations Bill, receives money from Congress for “forgone” revenue.  The 2016 Omnibus Appropriations Bill will reimburse the USPS for $55,075,000 in forgone revenue in 2016.  The section of the bill which calls for the payment to the USPS provides that none of the funds will be used to consolidate or close small rural and other small post offices, and that delivery standards for small and rural post offices will be maintained at 1983 standards.  Additionally, the USPS will be required to maintain and comply with 2012 delivery standards for First Class Mail.  The effect of this language will be to slow down or eliminate the closing of processing facilities.  The text of these portions of the bill is set out below.

House Appropriations Committee member, Representative Mark Amodei (NV-2) was effective in protecting this language in the 2016 Omnibus Appropriations Bill.  Rep. Amodei is a supporter of a strong US Postal Service and continues to be a supporter of the interests of the AUSPL.

HR. 2995, A BILL MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2016, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

TTLE V

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

PAYMENT TO THE POSTAL SERVICE FUND

For payment to the Postal Service Fund for revenue forgone on free and reduced rate mail, pursuant to subsections (c) and (d) of section 2401 of title 39, United States Code, $55,075,000: Provided, That mail for overseas voting and mail for the blind shall continue to be free: Provided further, That 6-day delivery and rural delivery of mail shall continue at not less than the 1983 level: Provided further, That none of the funds made available to the Postal Service by this Act shall be used to implement any rule, regulation, or policy of charging any officer or employee of any State or local child support enforcement agency, or any individual participating in a State or local program of child support enforcement, a fee for information requested or provided concerning an address of a postal customer: Provided further, That none of the funds provided in this Act shall be used to consolidate or close small rural and other small post offices: Provided further, That the Postal Service shall maintain and comply with service standards for First Class Mail and periodicals effective on July 1, 2012.