Twenty-two members of Congress have asked the U.S. Postal Service to reconsider its plans to move some Hampden mail processing operations to southern Maine.
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Joe Manchin wrote an April 16 letter signed by U.S. Sen. Angus King, U.S. Rep. Jared Golden and other members of Congress from across the country to U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy disagreeing with the controversial announcement. The letter said the modernization plans used to explain the decision are, in fact, dismantling parts of the postal network.
The decision to turn the Hampden facility into a local mail processing center and send outgoing mail to its Scarborough plant was solidified last week after months of review. It was presented as part of a 10-year plan to address the $160 billion in losses the Postal Service expects to see in the next six years.
Workers and government officials have strongly opposed the plan, citing concerns about job loss and inefficient, slow service, particularly in rural Maine.
In one example provided by Collins’ office, mail heading from Fort Kent to Wallagrass, 10 miles away, is now processed 192 miles away in Hampden and shipped back to Wallagrass. If the consolidation plan goes into effect, that letter would travel 322 miles to Scarborough and another 312 to be delivered.
“These consolidation proposals never have had any discernible support from local communities,” lawmakers wrote in the letter. “On the contrary, we have heard strong opposition to these efforts from USPS customers, community leaders, local businesses, and postal employees.”
In the letter, members said the Postal Service should communicate why it thinks the changes would benefit the state, “rather than marching forward with these plans and offering short and vague statements dismissing concerns.”
Golden and U.S. Rep. August Pfluger of Texas introduced legislation on Monday that would freeze consolidation of facilities nationwide and require regulatory review of future plans.
Correction: A previous version of this story misstated who wrote the letter. U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Joe Manchin wrote it.