Rep. Nikki Budzinski Introduces Bill to Protect Postal Service Performance in Underserviced Areas
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski has taken a stand to protect the U.S. Postal Service from making detrimental changes to processing and distribution centers in regions with poor delivery rates. The newly introduced bill, known as the “Protect Postal Performance Act,” has garnered bipartisan support from Budzinski, D-Springfield, and Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Michigan.
Budzinski emphasized the importance of maintaining mail-processing capacity in areas that are already struggling to meet delivery demands. The act prohibits the USPS from closing, consolidating, or relocating operations from any processing and distribution center within regions that have failed to meet specific performance targets.
Currently, downstate Illinois falls well below the required delivery rate targets, with only 64.2 percent for three- to five-day delivery and 84.7 percent for two-day mail. Postal Service officials have proposed converting the Mattis Avenue location into a local processing center, which has raised concerns about potential impacts on employees and mail delivery times.
Critics, including Budzinski and Bergman, have expressed worries about the USPS’s plans and their effects on local communities. Bergman highlighted the importance of a functional mail service for rural areas, emphasizing the need for timely delivery of essential items.
As the bill gains traction in Congress, Budzinski and Bergman remain committed to protecting local USPS jobs and ensuring efficient mail service for all communities. The final decision regarding the proposed changes is expected to be announced within the coming months.