U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., is responding to the results of the Area Mail Processing Study from the United States Postal Service (USPS) that recommended downsizing New Orleans’ and Lafayette’s Postal Processing Facilities. Between the two targeted processing facilities, the proposed downsizing would potentially affect 530 jobs in New Orleans and 60 jobs in Lafayette, LA.  Congress still has time to review these findings and propose its own recommendations before May 15th, when the five-month moratorium on facility closures expires. 

“The results of today’s study that recommend downsizing Louisiana’s Postal Processing Facilities in New Orleans and Lafayette are disappointing.  I will continue to work with local, state and federal officials to press our case to the Postmaster General and the Postal Regulatory Commission that all these facilities are critical in maintaining efficient mail delivery and preserving nearly 600 well-paying jobs across the state,” Sen. Landrieu said. “Congress still has time to review several options to strengthen the Postal Service and avert widespread facility closures. I will consider them all.” 

Sen. Landrieu has been actively involved in the discussion on postal service reform. Two weeks ago, she spoke at a Capitol Hill press conference with Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and proposed ways to strengthen and save the USPS.  Although the USPS is under great financial pressure, both America’s rural and urban areas must be considered as Congress develops this reform.

On Dec. 9, Sen. Landrieu joined 21 other senators in a letter to the Senate leadership, in which the group expressed concern that the Postal Service “may preempt Congress on this matter by closing or consolidating nearly 3,700 mostly rural post offices, over 250 mail processing facilities, and eliminating overnight delivery for first class mail before postal reform legislation is enacted.” Four days later, the Postal Service agreed to a five-month moratorium on closing the facilities.

Last fall, Sen. Landrieu led the Louisiana Congressional Delegation in fighting to keep the New Orleans Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC) and the Lafayette P&DC open. On Sept. 30, they sent a letter requesting that the USPS provide details on its proposal to close the facilities.

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