WASHINGTON - After receiving an update to the U. S. Postal Service's five-year plan, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) today said more details are needed before passing judgment.
"According to what USPS has released so far, the plan seems like a step toward helping rural post offices stay open, but we have yet to see the full proposal," said Udall. "The proof will be in the pudding, and their recipe is missing too many key ingredients right now to determine how it would turn out."
The proposal, sent in a letter to members of Congress from Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe yesterday, contains three alternatives to rural post office closures and "is designed to preserve the majority of rural Post Offices."
According to the letter, the full plan will be sent to the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) later this month for an opinion.
Under it's previous plan, USPS originally considered closing 54 New Mexico post offices. They later removed 18 post offices from the closure list.
Udall has been visiting with residents in rural communities to discuss their mail needs.
"There are rural areas in my state that don't have cell phone service or high-speed Internet. The post office is the lifeline -- the center of rural community," he said. "While we must get the USPS on stable financial footing, it should not be at the expense of rural communities like those in New Mexico."
Udall has fought unnecessary postal closures. He requested the current moratorium, which is in effect until May 15, supported an amendment offered by Sen. Joe Manchin to S. 1789 that would have extended the moratorium for two years, and in a letter again called on the Postmaster General to delay closures while Congress works to pass postal reform legislation.
