U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill
Senator discusses her fight to protect rural post offices
May 20, 2014
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today met with representatives from the Missouri Rural Letter Carriers Association to discuss their joint effort to fight for rural post offices and maintain postal delivery standards.
“Rural postal service is the lifeblood for communities all across Missouri,” said McCaskill, who was born in Rolla, Mo. “These post offices not only provide reliable, affordable service that always goes to the very last mile, but also are a source for good jobs and business opportunities throughout the state.”
U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp
Earlier this year, as the U.S. Senate considered legislation reforming the Postal Service, McCaskill won a victory for rural Missouri post offices after the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved her proposals to increase protections for rural post offices and postal delivery standards. McCaskill also worked with Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) to protect mail processing facilities from closure and preserve six-day mail delivery. The committee voted 9-1 to strengthen the finances of the Postal Service and keep rural post offices open. McCaskill pledged to continue working to improve the bill when it reaches the floor of the Senate.
McCaskill has expressed concerns that the Postal Service may increase rates with inadequate justification or too quickly, harming consumers and mail volume. She has argued there must be meaningful review of Postal Service rate changes before they can be put in place and pledged to address concerns on postal rate increases before the legislation is considered by the full Senate.