WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) this week joined Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) in introducing the Postal Processing Protection Act, bipartisan legislation that would require the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to protect timely mail delivery by mandating a robust review of the consequences of downsizing or closing facilities. The Senators’ billwould ensure that efficient service is not interrupted by the closure or downsizing of a mail processing center, especially as outgoing Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s “Delivering for America” plan continues to dismantle the postal service, and as President Trump threatens to put USPS under the control of the executive branch. USPS has operated as an independent entity since 1970. 

This bipartisan legislation comes as USPS plans to downsize postal processing facilities located in Essex Junction and White River Junction, and move most mail processing to Hartford, Connecticut, which would slow postal delivery and jeopardize service across Vermont. 

“The Postal Service provides an essential service all Vermonters rely on—from children receiving a birthday card, to seniors getting prescriptions delivered, to small businesses. Back-to-back floods wreaked havoc on our postal service in Vermont, and outgoing Postmaster General DeJoy’s ‘Delivering for America’ plan would take a sledgehammer to two mail processing centers in our state,” said Senator Welch. “I’m proud to partner with Sens. Durbin and Rounds on this bipartisan bill to ensure USPS follows a more robust review and notification process before taking action to close or consolidate crucial postal facilities.” 

“Rural mail services are a lifeline for South Dakotans,” said Senator Rounds. “We must make certain that residents across our entire state are able to receive letters and packages in a timely manner. USPS is required to review impact to rural residents when closing a retail location, so it’s only right that they consider the impact for processing facilities as well.”  

“If I drop a piece of mail off in Springfield to go across town, why should it have to go all the way to St. Louis and back? Postmaster General DeJoy’s ‘Delivering for America’ plan, which included downsizing three mail processing centers in our state, is decimating a service that Illinoisans rely on,” said Senator Durbin. “I’m joining Senator Rounds to reintroduce the Postal Processing Protection Act to ensure that USPS leadership does its due diligence in studying the impact of consolidating or altering mail processing and shipping facilities before crippling critical USPS locations.” 

In reviewing processing facilities, USPS is not required to consider the impact on rural areas as long as the change gains “efficiencies.” However, USPS is required to ensure closing a location is consistent with its obligation to provide effective and regular postal services to rural areas. This legislation would require USPS to consider the impact to rural areas when closing or downsizing processing centers, just as it does with closing post office retail locations.

Senator Welch has pushed for postal reform to better serve rural communities and has called for improvements to USPS’ national management. After the announcement of proposed changes to mail processing centers in March 2024, Senator Welch joined 20 of his Senate colleagues in urging Postmaster General DeJoy to stop any changes to USPS service standards that would result in job losses and further degrade mail delivery performance, especially in rural areas. As a Member of the House, Senator Welch helped passed postal reform legislation that put USPS on firm financial footing. 

Last Congress, Sen. Welch partnered with a bipartisan, bicameral group of colleagues to urge Postmaster General DeJoy to reconsider the Postal Service’s plan to consolidate the national postal network, which threatened to severely diminish mail service across the country. Following the Senators’ advocacy, USPS paused the Mail Processing Facility Reviews process until after the 2024 election. 

Read the full text of the bill. 

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