Post Office to Keep Saturday Mail Delivery

The United States Postal Service board of governors stated Wednesday that it will delay plans to cease mail delivery on Saturdays.

Congress has prohibited implementation of a new national delivery schedule for mail and packages, according to a statement released by the board.

In February, the Postal Service announced that it would end regular mail delivery on Saturdays beginning early August.

The move came as a cost-cutting measure, as the USPS hoped to save $2 billion annually by cutting Saturday delivery service. According to reports, the USPS lost almost $16 billion last year.

Congresswoman Annie Kuster (D-NH) issued the following statement in the wake of the announcement:

“I am pleased that the Postal Service will cancel its plan to end Saturday mail service, which would have unduly harmed New Hampshire businesses and communities. Instead of cutting jobs and services, the Postal Service needs sensible reform to fix the onerous pre-funding requirement for future retiree health benefits, boost innovation and efficiency, reduce costs, and provide new and improved services to New Hampshire communities.”

Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) also issued a statement praising the decision:

“I applaud the Postal Service’s decision to cancel its plan to end Saturday mail service this summer. The Postal Service is a vital resource for communities throughout New Hampshire and our country. Eliminating Saturday mail-delivery does not adequately address the issues facing the United States Postal Service and would hurt Granite Staters.”

Kuster and Shea-Porter are cosponsors of H.Res. 30, a bipartisan resolution reiterating support for six-day mail delivery. They are also cosponsors of H.R. 630, the Postal Service Protection Act, which would allow the Postal Service to offer innovative services and generate new revenues, as well as providing the USPS with fiscal relief by eliminating its unique, Congressionally-imposed requirement to pre-fund health benefits for future retirees.