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NEWS FROM
SENATOR TIM JOHNSON,
SENATOR JOHN THUNE,
REPRESENTATIVE STEPHANIE HERSETH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jessica Ferguson, 202-224-4238 (Thune)
Julianne Fisher, 202-224-1638 (Johnson)
Russ Levsen, 202-226-4449 (Herseth)

Monday, April 17, 2006

Delegation Announces Audit to be Conducted on Aberdeen Post Office Services

--Audit would better inform residents of potential shift of services to Huron Center--

WASHINGTON, DC- Senators John Thune and Tim Johnson and Representative Stephanie Herseth today issued the following statements regarding the United States Postal Service's (USPS) decision to grant their request to conduct an audit on services currently offered by the USPS processing and distribution center in Aberdeen. This audit would give Aberdeen residents a chance to see the effects of the proposed plan to move services to the Dakota Central Processing and Distribution Center in Huron.

"I am pleased the USPS has agreed to conduct an audit on current services at the Aberdeen processing center. This will better inform local residents in Aberdeen on how postal services would be impacted, if they are moved and concentrated at the Dakota Central Processing and Distribution Center in Huron," Thune said. "I think it is highly important that the residents who would be directly impacted by such a move have every opportunity to learn more about the implications and voice their concerns before a decision is reached."

"Guaranteeing prompt mail delivery into and out of Aberdeen is essential to the entire region's economic health and quality of life. Residents, as well as businesses, rely on timely postal service. I am working hard to preserve Aberdeen's processing operations and I hope this audit brings some clarity to the USPS' abilities to serve the Aberdeen area effectively," said Johnson.

Herseth said, "It is appropriate that the USPS opens a dialogue with the Aberdeen community before proceeding with any action that could impact the quality of mail service. Individuals and businesses in and around Aberdeen rely upon the current level of mail service, so it makes sense to hear from those who would be directly affected in order to accurately determine the true costs and benefits of shifting mail processing."

The audit is scheduled to take place during the week of April 24.

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