Tester fights to keep the doors open at rural Montana post offices

Senator: without the Postal Service rural America is in a world of hurt

(U.S. Senate)-Senator Jon Tester today continued his fight to protect rural Montana communities from costly post office closures.

In a Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee hearing, Tester questioned U.S. Postal Service leadership about the importance of its obligation to all Americans, including residents in rural communities.

“In Montana there are families who live long distances from one another and it’s critical that the Postal Service maintain a quality service standard with those customers,” Tester said. “These are the folks who need mail service the most and without the Postal Service they are in a world of hurt.”

Tester has been critical of the U.S. Postal Service’s declining delivery standards and is sponsoring legislation to improve mail delivery services in rural communities.

Tester is also fighting to permanently defer the mail processing plant closures that have slowed down the speed of delivery across Montana.

Last year, the U.S. Postal Service was included in the Government Accountability Office’s latest High-Risk Report that outlines at-risk government operations that are most vulnerable mismanagement and in need of reform.