In The U. S. House of Representatives on March 1, 2016, Representative Jared Huffman (CA-2) introduced H.R. 4565, also called the “Stop Postal Closures Act of 2016”. The general purpose of this bill is to address and improve declining USPS service standards and reinstate service standards that were in effect on July 1, 2012.
This bill would place a moratorium on closing or consolidating postal processing facilities. The moratorium would not prohibit closing post offices.
According to a press release from Rep. Huffman’s office, the bill would do the following with respect to processing facilities, processing facility closures and service standards:
- Place a moratorium on current closures and consolidations;
- Establish a framework such that any future closures must be approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC);
- Create a list of criteria and data that USPS must analyze in making decisions about closures, including potential impacts on small businesses and vote by mail voters, as well as unique geographic situations;
- Require a robust public notification and comment period so stakeholders’ views regarding closures are a part of the PRC’s review;
- Reinstate the July 1, 2012 mail delivery standards of the 1-3 day delivery, which was eliminated at the start of 2015 by USPS; and
- Empower the PRC to set annual performance benchmarks.