Central ND News

WASHINGTON - Congressman Kelly Armstrong, Senator John Hoeven, and Senator Kevin Cramer from North Dakota have requested the U.S. Postal Service Inspector General to expand an ongoing postal audit to address the postal challenges faced by communities across North Dakota. The delegation specifically requested the audit to include proposed changes to mail processing in the Bismarck and Grand Forks regions.

In a letter to U.S. Postal Service Inspector General Hull, the delegation expressed their appreciation for the inclusion of the Bismarck, Mandan, and Minot Post Offices in the ongoing audit. However, due to the wide range of issues facing the postal service in North Dakota, they urged the expansion of the audit to include additional postal facilities in the state. They also emphasized the need for a thorough examination of the potential mail delivery impacts resulting from the USPS' Mail Processing Facility Review proposals for Grand Forks and Bismarck.

The delegation highlighted concerns raised by constituents, such as delays in mail and newspaper delivery, broken and unavailable cluster box units (CBUs), and questions regarding the proposed relocation of mail processing in the Bismarck and Grand Forks region. They emphasized the importance of maintaining and improving USPS delivery standards, particularly in rural areas where residents rely on essential postal services for tasks like receiving newspapers, refilling prescriptions, and paying bills.

"We appreciate the hard work of USPS employees, and while we understand the challenges they face in filling open mail carrier positions, solutions must be found to address and overcome these difficulties," stated the delegation.

The delegation's request for a state-wide audit aims to address the concerns of North Dakota residents and ensure that the USPS provides reliable and efficient postal services across the state.

The full text of the letter can be found on the official website of Congressman Kelly Armstrong.

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