May 21, 2024

After Duckworth and Durbin’s Continued Efforts, USPS to Pause Changes to Mail Processing in Illinois

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the news that the United States Postal Service (USPS) would pause the proposed plan to eliminate mail processing at Processing and Distribution Centers through the end of 2024. This announcement comes after Duckworth and Durbin vocally pushed against this proposed change which would exacerbate already-delayed mail delivery throughout Illinois, especially in the state’s rural communities.

“We’re pleased to see USPS pausing its disastrous proposed changes to Processing and Distribution Centers in Illinois which posed a risk to on-time mail service in our rural communities and could put dozens of hard-working Illinoisans out of work,” the Senators said. “Far too many families depend on the postal service to conduct business, vote, pay bills, receive lifesaving prescription drugs, get their Social Security checks and stay in touch with loved ones to be left with a decimated service. While we’re glad to see these proposed changes paused through the end of the year, we’ll keep pushing to ensure a robust, efficient and reliable mail system is accessible to all Illinoisans and work to avoid changes that would cause sever delays Illinois families simply cannot afford.”

After the announcement of proposed changes to mail processing centers in March, Duckworth and Durbin, along with U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) and Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) called on Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to reconsider his decision to eliminate mail processing at Processing and Distribution Centers in Champaign, Peoria, Milan and Springfield, Illinois. In their letter, the lawmakers noted that any move to alter operations at existing P&DC facilities in Illinois would only exacerbate delayed mail delivery in the state.

Duckworth and Durbin also joined U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), alongside 18 of their Senate colleagues, to urge Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to stop any changes to USPS service standards that would result in job losses and further degrade mail delivery performance, especially in rural areas. Last month, Duckworth and Durbin called out USPS leadership for unsustainable price hikes and poor service as Forever stamps are slated to rise to 73 cents in July.

As a result of DeJoy’s repeated disastrous decisions, Senator Duckworth urged President Biden to help restore trust in USPS by replacing every member of its Board of Governors and nominating new leadership. Less than two weeks later, she reiterated that call for accountability for USPS after the Biden Administration announced it would appoint three new members to fill the vacancies on its Board of Governors. The next month, she called on the Board of Governors to immediately fire DeJoy, following the disclosure of PMG DeJoy’s horrific vision for the USPS over the next 10 years, which would weaken the Postal Service and further delay critical shipments like prescriptions and other items that families, Veterans and small businesses rely on.

In March, Durbin joined an informational picket in Downers Grove, Illinois, where he voiced his objections to DeJoy’s “Delivering for America” plan.

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