Tester saves Missoula mail processing facility

Goal now is to keep as many postal facilities open as possible, Senator says

(U.S. SENATE) – Senator Jon Tester today announced that the U.S. Postal Service's mail processing facility in Missoula will remain open–a move that will save 28 jobs and result in more timely mail service across Montana.
 
The Postal Service had considered closing the facility and moving operations to Spokane.  But Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe called Tester today to say that based on the Senator’s concerns and feedback from Montanans, the facility will stay open.
 
“Today’s news is a victory for all of us and a reminder that public input goes a long way in making responsible decisions that are right for Montana,” Tester said, noting that many Montanans wrote and attended meetings to express concerns about closing the Missoula facility.
 
The Postal Service recently recommended consolidating other mail processing facilities in Kalispell, Butte, Helena, and Wolf Point.
 
The organization said today it has not yet reached a decision about the future Kalispell’s mail processing facility, but it will move forward with closures in Butte, Helena, and Wolf Point.
 
“Like most Montanans, I'm disappointed by any move to weaken standards for the Postal Service, whose mission is to provide reliable and efficient service across Montana,” Tester said.  “Our goal now is to keep pressuring them to keep open as many of its processing centers and post offices as possible in the months ahead because these processing centers and post offices are critical for rural Montana’s economy.”

At Tester's request, the Postal Service recently delayed plans to close 85 post offices and the remaining processing facilities in Montana until at least May 15.  The delay gives Congress time to work on a long-term reform of the financially-strapped organization.

Tester is a member of the Senate committee that oversees the U.S. Postal Service.

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