Central ND News

Senator John Hoeven issued a statement following the U.S. Postal Service's (USPS) decision to retain local originating and destinating processing operations at the Bismarck mail processing facility. This announcement came after Hoeven's discussion with Postmaster General Louis DeJoy earlier this week, subsequent to a USPS roundtable organized by the senator in Grand Forks last week.

Hoeven emphasized to DeJoy the importance of ensuring timely delivery for local newspapers, which will continue to be handled in Bismarck rather than being sent to Fargo for processing. He also sought assurances that local mail service would not be negatively impacted by any potential changes to mail processing in the state. In response to Hoeven’s roundtable, USPS established points of contact for stakeholders such as developers, county officials, and newspapers to address localized issues.

“This decision to maintain local mail processing in Bismarck is important progress in our efforts with USPS to ensure timely mail service across the state. However, concerns remain regarding proposed changes that could impact mail service in the Grand Forks region and rural delivery,” said Hoeven. “With these changes being on hold and under review by the Postal Regulatory Commission until next year, we have the opportunity to provide feedback and raise concerns to USPS. That’s exactly what we did at last week’s roundtable and will continue to do.”

Earlier this year, Hoeven successfully worked as part of a bipartisan effort to secure a pause on USPS’s Mail Processing Facility Review (MPFR) implementation, which remains in effect until after January 1, 2025. This pause allows public and local leaders time to review and provide feedback on any potential changes. Following these efforts, USPS agreed to open a process with the Postal Regulatory Commission to review the impacts of the proposed MPFR changes.

Additionally, Hoeven is sponsoring legislation aimed at ensuring reliable and timely mail service in North Dakota and nationwide. This includes:

- The Deliver for Democracy Act: Introduced by Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), this legislation aims to ensure timely delivery of local newspapers by USPS and limit excessive rate increases.

- The Postal Delivery Accountability Act: Introduced by Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), this bill seeks to improve USPS delivery tracking and accountability systems.