Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Postal Service topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate committee backs resolution urging USPS to improve rural mail delivery
Summary
The North Dakota Senate Workforce Development Committee voted to give a “do pass” recommendation to House Concurrent Resolution 3,006, a nonbinding resolution urging the U.S. Postal Service to address delivery problems that witnesses said are harming residents and newspapers across the state.
The North Dakota Senate Workforce Development Committee gave a due-pass recommendation to House Concurrent Resolution 3,006, a nonbinding measure urging the U.S. Postal Service to improve mail processing and delivery across the state.
The measure, introduced by Representative Donald Longmuir of District 2, was prompted by constituent reports of delayed utility bills, returned medical-supply packages and large bundles of undelivered mail that arrived weeks late. "What about the number of people waiting for medications, legal documents, or other important papers?" Longmuir asked during his introduction.
The resolution drew testimony from Cecile Wurman of the North Dakota Newspaper Association, who said poor service has “hurt people all over North Dakota,” and that the newspaper industry has seen steep postage increases and worsening delivery. "If you were a subscriber to a weekly paper and you received it nine days after the publication date, would you consider that on time? The postal service does," Wurman said, citing changed postal delivery standards for periodicals and a 53% increase in postage rates over three years.
Committee members described the problem as uneven and often regional. Senators noted examples of improved delivery in some locations and severe delays in others, and concerns that late delivery can prevent citizens from receiving ballots, bills and time-sensitive medical supplies. One senator said the biggest public frustration is rising postage costs with no corresponding improvement in service.
A motion for a due-pass recommendation on HCR 3,006 was offered and the committee recorded a roll-call vote. Senators recorded as voting yes were: Senator Wabamah, Senator Axeman, Senator Larson, Senator Baushe, and Senator Powers. By that tally, the committee recommended the resolution move forward.
The resolution is advisory and does not impose operational changes on the Postal Service. Committee members and witnesses urged that the measure send a formal state-level statement to federal officials and that continued reporting of regional problems be used to brief federal decision-makers.
With the committee’s recommendation recorded, the resolution will follow the Legislature’s normal path for concurrent resolutions.
