Cortez Masto Introduces USPS Mail Facility Bill

U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto is co-sponsoring legislation to prevent the U.S. Postal Service from relocating mail operations from Reno to Sacramento without public review.

The Protect Postal Performance Act, introduced alongside Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), would require the USPS to obtain an advisory opinion from the Postal Regulatory Commission before making operational changes at mail processing facilities. If the commission determines a change could slow on-time delivery, USPS must publish a report explaining delivery standard maintenance.

The bill also mandates public hearings during a 60-day review period before any post office is closed or consolidated. Additional provisions would block closures or consolidations if a post office is the only facility within 15 miles or serves at least 15,000 people, or a reduction of services if doing so would leave a region of more than 100,000 residents without a local post office.

The legislation now awaits consideration in the Senate.