December 2011 Update

Congress freezes plan to close rural post offices

  The U.S. Postal Service released plans last year to look into closing 3,600 post offices around the country, including 31 in southern, central and eastern Oregon. The closure would have included the Sunriver post office.

On Dec. 16, the House of Representatives passed (and President Obama eventually signed into law) legislation that prevents the U.S. Postal Service from closing any rural post offices through September.

The U.S. Postal Service's own watchdog said in a report that their plans “lacked proper analysis, as the Postal Service did not collect individualized cost savings estimates or separate retail costs from other operational costs. It also found that the options that the Postal Service gave for alternative access were not suitable.”   

This freeze on closing rural post offices will give the Postal Service time to rethink its approach this time with the input of the people's elected representatives. With mail volume down 20 percent since 2006, the Postal Service is facing billion dollar deficits, and saving it requires serious reforms.

“The Postal Service should use this time to develop a better approach that cuts costs and reforms its operations, while preserving service for all Oregonians, including those in rural communities,” said U.S. Representative Greg Walden, who helped spearhead the freeze efforts. “I will continue to keep you updated on this issue as Congress works with the Postal Service to cut costs and reform operations. It's an honor to represent you in the U.S. Congress.”