07.19.13

Hoeven Postmaster General to Visit North Dakota in August

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today announced that Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe will visit North Dakota in August to ensure mail service is adequately serving rural communities, including western North Dakota.

“We’re pleased Postmaster Donahoe has agreed to visit North Dakota to see firsthand the impact of economic and population growth in the western part of our state,” Hoeven said. “Those growing communities are in need of reliable and timely postal services now more than ever.”

Donahoe said he has directed staff in the Sioux Falls regional office to work specifically on recruiting additional employees at competitive pay levels, and has a person working full-time to meet the staffing needs in North Dakota.

Additionally, service at certain rural postal facilities will be maintained with window service and pick up hours using timer locks as needed to enable residents to pick up mail conveniently after-hours.

The senator supported the 21st Century Postal Service Act of 2012, comprehensive reform legislation that sought to develop a thoughtful plan to restore the U.S. Postal Service to solvency while preserving delivery service standards.