Time is running out on a moratorium with the U-S Postal Service on their planned closing of more than 3,700 post offices, mainly in rural areas, and eliminating a number of mail processing centers.
Nebraska U-S Senator Ben Nelson says when the moratorium ends and nothing is done on Capitol Hill, many post offices in rural areas of Nebraska will close.
"If Congress doesn't pass a postal reform bills soon there is nothing to stop the Postmaster General from going ahead with a draconian cost saving plan. The plan would close 90 Nebraska post offices, mainly in rural communities and a number of mail processing centers."
Senator Nelson stressed the important roll post offices play in rural areas.
"I've heard from a number of Nebraskans on this issue. One business owner in Lisco wrote "My business depends on the U-S mail for daily mail, bills, payments to vendors, etc. It is my understanding we would have to pick up our mail in Oshkosh which is a huge inconvenience not to mention expense". A woman in Broadwater wrote that "Security and climate control is imperative for mailed items from gifts to medications. With longer travel times to pick up mail medicines might spoil."
The U-S Postal Service is close to bankruptcy and the Senate is looking at a bill that sends several billion dollars their way to continue operations. Senator Nelson says this is a temporary fix and postal reform is needed.
"Last December at my urging and nearly two dozen colleagues, the postal service agreed to a moratorium on closing post offices. That moratorium expires on May 15th. The problem in short can be summed up that the Post Office system has a business model designed in the 1800's that is now not working in the 21st century."
Senator Nelson says there are several good ideas in this bill that includes one to three day delivery standards for 1st class mail. It includes protections for rural post offices and six day a week delivery.
(Courtesy of The Nebraska Radio Network. All Rights Reserved.)
