Post office closures.

WORKING DRAFT
2012
STATE OF
WYOMING
12LSO-0242

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
NO.
HJ0006

Post office closures.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Steward

A Bill

for

A JOINT RESOLUTION requesting Congress to
issue a moratorium on the closing of United States Postal Service offices
in Wyoming
.

WHEREAS,
in its most recent fiscal year, the United States Postal Service sustained the largest net operating loss in its history, and in response has begun the process of closing more than
three thousand (
3,000
)
local post offices nationwide; and

WHEREAS, in Wyoming, up to forty-three
(43)
post offices are in the process or under the threat of closing; and

WHEREAS, the closing of post offices will have a devastating impact on the communities which they serve; and

WHEREAS, the physical distances between rural post offices in Wyoming will necessitate great hardship on Wyoming citizens if closures of rural post offices occur, requiring residents to travel great distances for the privilege of obtaining their mail; and

WHEREAS, there is significant question whether the cost of providing service to rural Wyoming is a primary factor in the operating loss; and

WHEREAS, rural communities bear an unequal burden from the
p
ostal
s
ervice
'
s attempts to initiate cost cutting through post office closures rather than consideration of systemic cost containment measures; and

WHEREAS, before an office is closed it is essential to determine not only the savings to the
p
ostal
s
ervice, but also the impact on the local community; and

WHEREAS, the loss of a post office not only hinders the economic development of a community, but also threatens the health, safety and welfare of its residents by causing additional delays in the delivery of vital medications and correspondence.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING:

Section 1.

That the
L
egislature of the State of Wyoming respectfully request
s
that the United States Congress place a moratorium on the closing of post office locations in Wyoming and requests that Congress establish a blue ribbon panel to investigate the causes of the
p
ostal
s
ervice operating losses,
other systemic cost cutting approaches,
the actual cost to the
p
os
tal
s
ervice in maintaining the rural
offices and the impact on the communities if a local post office is closed.

Section 2.
That the Secretary of State of Wyoming transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress and to the Wyoming Congressional Delegation.

(END)

1
HJ0006