Central ND News

In response to the ongoing postal challenges in North Dakota, U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven, along with U.S. Representative Kelly Armstrong, have called for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Inspector General to expand an ongoing postal audit. The delegation specifically requested the audit to include communities across the state and to inspect proposed changes to mail processing in the Bismarck and Grand Forks regions.

The delegation expressed their appreciation for the decision to include the Bismarck, Mandan, and Minot Post Offices in the audit, stating, "We appreciate your decision to include these facilities in the scope of the audit as a result of the concerns we raised on behalf of our constituents." However, due to the wide range of issues facing the postal service in North Dakota, they further requested the expansion of the audit to include additional postal facilities in the state. They also called for a full examination of the potential mail delivery impacts resulting from the USPS' Mail Processing Facility Review (MPFR) proposals for Grand Forks and Bismarck.

The delegation's concerns stem from the numerous complaints they have received from constituents regarding mail and newspaper delays, broken and unavailable cluster box units, and questions about USPS' proposal to relocate some mail processing. They emphasized the importance of maintaining and improving USPS delivery standards, particularly in rural areas, where constituents heavily rely on the essential services provided by the USPS. The delegation acknowledged the challenges faced by the postal service, including difficulties in filling open mail carrier positions, and stressed the need to find solutions to overcome these challenges.

The North Dakota delegation's letter to the USPS Inspector General can be found [here](insert link).

The delegation's request for an expanded postal audit and examination of mail processing changes comes as part of their ongoing efforts to address the issues faced by the USPS in North Dakota. By advocating for improvements in mail delivery services, they aim to ensure that the essential services provided by the USPS continue to meet the needs of their constituents.