21st Century Postal Service Act

Senator Murkowski voted in favor of S. 1789, the 21st Century Postal Service Act, on April 25th to restore greater fiscal certainty for the postal service in an age of e-mails and text messages. After a lengthy campaign by Senator Murkowski, an amendment containing a key threat to Alaska’s bypass mail service was withdrawn from consideration.

If included, the amendment would have compelled the State of Alaska to pay for bypass mail service – which is a necessity due to Alaska’s lack of roads – despite the U.S. Postal Service’s core mission of ‘universal service at universal rates’ for all Americans. Senator Murkowski does not believe that Alaska should be charged for standard service available to Americans in the lower 48.  While she anticipates that this will not be the last challenge to Alaska’s bypass mail system, she stands ready to continue her work, educating her colleagues about Alaska’s unique needs and solutions, and ensuring the efficiency of the bypass mail system.

Bypass mail was not the only issue important to Alaska in S. 1789. Among the 39 amendments considered prior to final passage, Senator Murkowski voted to strengthen protections against rural post office closures and to delay a move to five day delivery until all other revenue and cost-cutting avenues are fully realized.

The Senator also voted against an amendment to allow the U.S. Postal Service to eliminate Saturday mail delivery. This amendment failed by a vote of 29-70.

In order to maintain Alaska’s District Office in Anchorage, Senator Murkowski added language to the reform bill that states the procedures to consolidate and close USPS District Offices apply only to the Continental U.S.

S. 1789 passed the Senate by a 62-37 vote and now proceeds to the House of Representatives.

Because of the Postal Service’s difficult financial situation, thousands of rural post offices nationwide have been under consideration for closures.  Senator Murkowski has advocated for Alaska’s rural post offices on numerous occasions. On May 9th, the United States Postal Services publicly announced it determined that cutting business hours would save more money and do less harm to smaller communities than targeted closures to rural post offices nationwide. Senator Murkowski was informed that the five Alaska post offices at risk of closure will remain open but will remain under review.

Senator Murkowski sent a letter to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe in an effort to clarify the status of the five Alaska post offices that remain under review. The Senator said that the USPS is leaving these post offices in limbo and believes they deserve to have some certainty about the future of their facilities.

Since the business hour decision will save the postal service twice as much as the original closure proposal would have, the Senator is hopeful that prospective Alaska closures will be deemed unnecessary. Senator Murkowski has committed to being a strong advocate for postal access statewide and has said she would fight any cut from any government service that hurts Alaska disproportionately.