Legislation recently cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Scott Franklin (R-FL) aims to improve transparency around how the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) handles post office closures.
“If a post office shuts down, whether permanently or temporarily, people deserve fair notice so they can plan accordingly,” Rep. Franklin said. “This bill closes a loophole and helps restore confidence in one of our most relied-upon public services.”
The congressman on June 12 introduced the Post Office Closure Accountability Act, H.R. 3958, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) to require USPS to notify communities, local officials, and members of Congress of any post office closure, including those classified as temporary suspensions, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
Under current law, USPS is only required to report permanent closures through the Section 404(d) process. However, the agency has increasingly used the temporary suspension designation to bypass these requirements, leaving communities uncertain about local postal services, the summary says.
“The U.S. Postal Service must be accountable and transparent to the people it serves,” said Rep. Franklin. “Our constituents depend on timely mail delivery. It’s particularly important when it involves critical items like prescriptions, legal paperwork or financial documents.”
If enacted, H.R. 3958 would ensure affected communities receive timely and transparent updates.
“I am proud to cosponsor this bill to ensure that the USPS remains accountable to the customers it serves and that mail delivery remains timely,” said Rep. Diaz-Balart. “This legislation is a direct response to the lack of communication and transparency we’ve all experienced from USPS.”
H.R. 3958 is under consideration by the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.