Durbin files bill to require additional step before changes to USPS processing facilities

WASHINGTON D.C. (WCIA) — Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) has filed a bill he believes will protect Post Office Processing and Distribution Centers across the country from losing some of their services.

In a news release from his office, Durbin announced Wednesday he is working with Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) and a bipartisan group of senators for a bill they named the Postal Processing Protection Act. This is after more than 50 Processing and Distribution Centers were targeted to shift to Local Processing Centers.

The bill would require a study forecasting the the consequences of downsizing or closing these facilities. A similar requirement is in place before the USPS closes any storefront post office in the country.

Durbin filed the legislation in response to the Postal Service’s 10-year Delivering for America plan, which would eliminate mail distribution operations at the Champaign, Peoria, Milan, and Springfield P&DCs.