WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Postal Service announced a voluntary moratorium on post office closures in response to concerns raised by a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators. Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of that coalition, released the following statement:
“Post offices are essential hubs of life in rural communities. They keep community members connected and provide business opportunities that would not otherwise exist. They are critical for seniors and other rural residents to access their prescriptions. Closing post offices in rural areas would carve the communications heart out of these towns. I will do all I can to fight that outcome.”
Senator Merkley is the author of the Protecting Rural Post Offices Act, which is co-sponsored by Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS), Jon Tester (D-MT), Lisa Murkowski, (R-AK), Mark Begich (D-AK), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). The bill would prohibit the closing of post offices that are more than 10 miles from another facility.
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