{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=0331EA98-15DA-4154-8378-1A5A2B790EFB", "Heitkamp, Moran Lead Over 80 Bipartisan Members of Congress in Calling for Improved Mail Service Protections in Comprehensive Postal Reform Legislation", "2016-11-22", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "ND", "Heidi Heitkamp", "H001069", "www.heitkamp.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) led a bipartisan, bicameral group of more than 80 legislators from the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives in calling for adding lasting solutions to improve and protect mail delivery and service in comprehensive legislation to reform the U.S. Postal Service which was introduced in the House.\r\nJoined by Representatives David B. McKinley (R-WV) and Democrat Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) of the U.S. House of Representatives, Heitkamp and Moran underscored to leaders of the House and Senate the need for better, more reliable mail service \u2013 which is often a critical lifeline for families and businesses across the country in both rural and urban areas.\r\nThe legislators\u2019 call to address a significant decline in U.S. Postal Service performance \u2013 including a complete elimination of the overnight service standard \u2013 as well as mail processing plant consolidations and post office hour reductions, builds on Heitkamp\u2019s work to bring attention to serious service challenges, particularly in rural communities throughout North Dakota. Specifically, Heitkamp pressed congressional leaders to incorporate into postal reform legislation introduced in the House some of the Senate provisions Heitkamp helped write and introduce that were inspired by the mail service and delivery issues she has heard about directly from North Dakotans as part of her Fix My Mail initiative. \u201cThe Postal Service and its employees play a vital role in our nation,\u201d the members of Congress wrote. \u201cIt is essential that we preserve the Postal Service\u2019s commitment to the American public.\u00a0For this reason, improving service needs to be a critical piece of any comprehensive postal reform bill, along with the needed reforms to return the Postal Service to fiscal sustainability.\u00a0 Continued poor mail service hurts rural America, businesses, and our economy.\u00a0 Congress should take action to preserve and protect the vibrant institution that is our Postal Service so it, in turn, can help our communities and families truly thrive.\u201d\r\nClick here to read the full letter from U.S. Senators, and here to read the full letter from members of the U.S. House of Representatives.\r\nTogether, the members of Congress are calling on congressional leaders to build on the progress of the current U.S. House of Representatives\u2019 bipartisan Postal Reform Act of 2016, which would help improve the Postal Service\u2019s financial condition. Additionally, the group is pushing for key provisions to strengthen mail service, improve delivery, and protect Postal Service customers, including:\r\n \r\nMaking mail service and delivery more reliable \u2013 The Postal Service needs a performance target system to make sure measurements of mail delivery are accurate across the country in urban and rural communities through an in-depth classification system.\r\n \r\n \r\nImproving accountability and transparency at the Postal Service \u2013 Performance information must be published online and operational plans developed when mail service and delivery targets are not met.\r\n \r\n \r\nBoosting enforcement to make sure the Postal Service meets mail delivery and service standards \u2013 The Postal Service must take action to meet its operational plans and not be able to lower mail service standards to come into compliance with performance targets.\r\nContinuing to review the fiscal state of the Postal Service to help it remain solvent \u2013 Provide regular updates of a long-term solvency plan that would analyze the Postal Service\u2019s finances and make recommendations regarding affordable service options.\r\n \r\nHeitkamp\u2019s work to tackle mail service issues includes:\r\n \r\nResolving chronic mail issues in South Fargo. In January, Heitkamp pressed U.S. Postmaster General Megan Brennan on severe mail issues in South Fargo. After reviewing the performance, the Postal Service brought in a carrier with 30 years of experience.\r\n \r\n \r\nShedding light on longstanding mail issues across North Dakota. As part of her Fix My Mail initiative, Heitkamp requested a review of the state\u2019s mail delivery service challenges, which prompted a Postal Service Office of Inspector General formal report on North Dakota\u2019s severe mail service problems. In August, Heitkamp brought Brennan to Bismarck where she heard firsthand from community members and business owners the challenges they face with their mail delivery and service.\r\nAddressing mail concerns in rural North Dakota communities. Based on feedback from her Fix My Mail initiative launched in 2014, Heitkamp introduced her Rural Postal Act in 2015 to address the mail delivery concerns and challenges she heard about from more than 200 North Dakotans. Key pieces and themes from Heitkamp\u2019s bill have been included in new, comprehensive postal reform legislation. Stories from the initiative also prompted Heitkamp to request a Postal Service Inspector General report, which confirmed the problems North Dakotans had shared with Heitkamp.\r\n \r\n \r\nGathering feedback from North Dakotans to hold the Postal Service accountable and achieve results. Since Heitkamp launched her Fix My Mail survey in February, she has received 600 responses from North Dakotans about specific mail delivery challenges \u2013 the vast majority of which contained personal stories about the issues they had experienced. Heitkamp relayed these challenges to Brennan and requested a prompt response to improve mail service. \r\nInspiring change at the U.S. Postal Service: Inspired by Heitkamp\u2019s Fix My Mail initiative and survey, the Postal Service has launched a new customer service program aimed at improving mail delivery and service. The \u2018Your Mail Matters\u2019 program is encouraging North Dakotans to share their mail service challenges with the Postal Service via email, YourMailMatters@usps.gov, and a service line, 605-333-2648, which is managed and operated by the Postal Service District Office in Sioux Falls, S.D.\r\n \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=0331EA98-15DA-4154-8378-1A5A2B790EFB"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8197631686925888, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}