09.05.24

Hoeven Statement on USPS Decision to Retain Local Mail Processing in Bismarck

BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced that the Bismarck mail processing facility will retain local originating and destinating processing operations. Hoeven spoke with Postmaster General Louis DeJoy this week to discuss the decision, which follows the USPS roundtable the senator organized in Grand Forks last week. In particular, Hoeven stressed to DeJoy:

  • The importance of ensuring timely delivery for local newspapers, which will still be handled in Bismarck, rather than being sent to Fargo for processing.
  • The need for assurances that local mail service will not be negatively impacted by any potential changes to mail processing in the state.
    • In response to Hoeven’s roundtable, USPS established points of contact for stakeholders, such as developers, county officials and newspapers, to address localized issues.

“This decision to maintain local mail processing in Bismarck is important progress in our efforts with USPS to ensure timely mail service across the state. However, concerns remain regarding proposed changes that could impact mail service in the Grand Forks region and rural delivery,” said Hoeven. “With these changes being on hold and under review by the Postal Regulatory Commission until next year, we have the opportunity to provide feedback and raise concerns to USPS. That’s exactly what we did at last week’s roundtable and will continue to do.”

Pausing Mail Processing Changes

Earlier this year, Hoeven successfully worked as part of a bipartisan effort to secure a pause of USPS’s Mail Processing Facility Review (MPFR) implementation, which remains in effect until after January 1, 2025. Hoeven advanced this priority to give the public and local leaders time to review and provide feedback on any potential changes. Following the senator’s efforts, USPS also agreed to open a process with the Postal Regulatory Commission to review the impacts of the proposed MPFR changes.

Working to Ensure Timely Mail Service

          In addition, Hoeven is sponsoring legislation to help ensure reliable, timely mail service in North Dakota and across the country. This includes:

  •  The Deliver for Democracy Act, legislation introduced by Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) to help ensure timely delivery of local newspapers by the USPS and limit excessive rate increases.
    • In recent years, USPS has consistently raised rates for periodicals under the guise of increased efficiency and improved service. However, local news has yet to receive those benefits and instead continues to face persistent postal delivery delays.
    • Among other things, the bill would require USPS to either achieve at least a 95% on-time delivery rate for periodicals or an improvement of at least 2 percentage points to unlock its 2% surcharge authority for that class of mail;  
  • The Postal Delivery Accountability Act, legislation introduced by Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) to improve USPS delivery tracking and accountability systems.

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