Murkowski on USPS Saturday Service Cancellation
Senator Says Mail Delivery “Must Evolve to Survive”
WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Lisa Murkowski today responded to the United States Postal Service’s decision to stop delivering to street addresses all mail but packages on Saturdays as the financially-challenged service tries to cut costs:
“Last year the United States Postal Service lost 16 billion dollars, with more and more Americans relying on e-mail, texting and online billpay – so the time has come to reevaluate how they do things. Even the Social Security Administration, which began phasing out mailing Social Security checks in 2011, will completely end mailing checks on March 1st. It is clear to every American that the USPS must evolve to survive.
“Since 2010, when I testified before the Postal Regulatory Commission on this issue, my priorities were to ensure that Alaskans maintained access to postal services for crucial medical prescriptions and commercial deliveries without additional expense or harm to the economy. This proposal satisfies my concerns by maintaining Saturday package delivery while providing the USPS with an estimated $1.7 billion in savings per year. This proposal will not solve all of the Postal Service’s problems, but as Congress again turns its attention to comprehensive postal reform, I will continue to insist that no cut disproportionately impacts our state and that efficient, effective postal services remain available to serve the challenging needs of Alaskans statewide.”
# # #
