With Senate approval of postal reform legislation that would prevent the shuttering of the White River Junction mail sorting facility, attention now turns to the House of Representatives where Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) is urging leaders to take up the Senate-passed bill as soon as possible.

“The Postal Service serves all Americans regardless of where they live,” Welch said. “Unnecessarily closing postal facilities will undermine this vital mission, cut services to Vermonters, eliminate good middle class jobs and deal an enormous blow to rural America. I intend to fight hard in the House to get the Senate bill to the President’s desk before the proposed cuts take effect.”

Welch, in a letter to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), is urging that S. 1789 be brought immediately to the House floor for a vote.

“While far from perfect, S. 1789 has bipartisan support and will strengthen the USPS for generations to come,” the letter reads. “We request that you bring this measure to a vote to avoid drastic cuts in service, layoffs, and the unnecessary closure of post offices and mail processing facilities.”

If Congress does not agree to postal reform legislation by May 15^th, the Postal Service has indicated it will begin closing and consolidating hundreds of processing facilities and more than 2,000 post offices nationwide, including the White River Junction facility.

Welch is circulating his letter to House colleagues for signatures. The full letter is copied below.

Dear Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi,

In a bipartisan vote, the Senate passed S. 1789, the 21st Century Postal Service Act of 2011. We respectfully urge you to bring this bill to a vote in the House as soon as possible.

Action on postal reform is long overdue. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) ended the fiscal year with a $5.1 billion loss. Earlier this fall, the Postal Service announced its plan to eliminate its current overnight delivery standard, and replace it with a 2-3 delivery standard. On the heels of that announcement we were informed of the numerous post offices and mail processing facilities that will be closed. Absent Congressional action, the Postal Service has warned that it will be forced to default on some of its obligations.  

There are many competing House proposals to reform the Postal Service. While far from perfect, S. 1789 has bipartisan support and will strengthen the USPS for generations to come. We request that you bring this measure to a vote to avoid drastic cuts in service, layoffs, and the unnecessary closure of post offices and mail processing facilities.

Sincerely,

PETER WELCH

Member of Congress