On the recordApril 23, 2012
I rise to discuss the importance of addressing the financial challenges now facing the U.S. Postal Service and our critical need to ensure that it remains a strong and reliable resource for the people of our country. The American Postal Service was created over two centuries ago as a function of the Federal Government, acknowledged in the U.S. Constitution. In those last 220 years, the way we send mail and exchange correspondence has changed dramatically. We no longer need a stamp or an envelope; we can just shoot an e-mail or sign onto Facebook. But even with all these changes, the fact remains that no matter who you are or where you live, odds are that the post office plays a vital role in your daily life. Seniors rely on the Postal Service to receive their medications, businesses rely on it to ship and receive goods, and countless jobs hinge on its services, both directly and indirectly. No matter how far we have come with technology in this digital age, there are some things that simply cannot be sent by e-mail. That is why reliable timely mail service is something all Americans should be able to count on. I have heard from numerous people in my State about the negative impact the closure of certain post offices or mail processing facilities would have on their communities. I have heard from State and local leaders about the impact of closing the mail processing facilities in Duluth and Bemidji.…
