Senator Mike Rounds Calls for Investigation into South Dakota Mail Delays and Postal Service Challenges
PIERRE, S.D. — U.S. Senator Mike Rounds, representing South Dakota, has urged the inspector general of the United States Postal Service (USPS) to conduct a comprehensive investigation into systemic mail delays that continue to impact the residents of South Dakota. This call to action emphasizes the critical nature of postal services in connecting communities within the state, ensuring timely delivery of essential items, and supporting local businesses.
In a letter dated December 9, Senator Rounds reached out to Tammy Hull, the inspector general of USPS, underscoring the gravity of the postal issues that have been reported by his constituents. Rounds highlighted the widespread discontent, having received reports from “hundreds of constituents” concerning the significant disruptions they’ve faced with mail delivery over recent months.
Mike Rounds
Senator Rounds, who is a member of the Republican Party and committed to advocating for the interests of South Dakotans, identified the “flawed design” of the USPS network as a central issue, criticizing how the service “all but guarantees that mail traveling across or to South Dakota must travel in a circuitous manner through locations around and outside of the state.”
“The people of South Dakota depend on the Postal Service for critical communication, medicine, and care,” stated Rounds. “I request that you act swiftly to identify and resolve the causes of these failures and help return South Dakota’s mail service to the standards Americans deserve.”
Highlighting the importance of reliable postal service in South Dakota, a largely rural state, Rounds emphasized how critical it is for residents to have timely access to vital communication and necessary goods. This is particularly important for medicine deliveries, where delays can have health implications.
In alignment with this initiative, Rounds had previously addressed these concerns in a September letter to Postmaster General David Steiner. Although Rounds and Steiner met in October to discuss these issues, the response from Steiner was less than satisfactory according to Rounds. The latter claims that Steiner dismissed the essence of the intrastate mail inefficiencies, attributing the delays to processing hold-ups at facilities located outside South Dakota, in cities like Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City. Rounds contends that none of these facilities are directly responsible for South Dakota’s intrastate mail processing, thus, prompting further frustration among residents.
David Steiner
“Despite clear evidence of poor performance of USPS mail products, especially intrastate mail, USPS senior leadership denies a problem exists,” Rounds lamented in his letter to Hull, urging a formal investigation into the matter.
This isn’t the first time Senator Rounds has championed the cause of postal service improvements for his state. Earlier this year, Rounds led an initiative to prevent any downsizing or restructuring of mail processing facilities in South Dakota. Important to this effort was the assurance that the Dakota Central processing facility in Huron would remain operational, a commitment that included a $3 million investment intended to enhance processing capabilities at the site.
Furthermore, reinforcing his commitment to protect rural interests, Rounds introduced the Deliver for Democracy Act. This legislation is designed to support rural newspapers and ensure postal service operations remain fair and equitable, particularly guarding against unreasonable price hikes.
South Dakotans rely heavily on the postal network, not only for personal communication and public health but also as a conduit for commerce. Local businesses depend on the mail service to deliver products to customers and receive inventory from suppliers, making postal efficiency essential to the state economy.
The necessity of addressing these postal deficiencies has become even more pronounced given the state’s geographical challenges. With vast distances separating many communities, South Dakota’s residents and businesses have long depended on an efficient postal service to bridge the gaps, facilitating everything from correspondence to commerce.
Senator Rounds’ appeal highlights a broader demand for accountability and reform within the USPS, reminding federal service providers of their duty to all citizens, regardless of their state or region. This push for an investigation into the root causes of South Dakota’s mail delays reflects a strategic effort to not only rectify these current inefficiencies but to ensure a more robust postal service for future generations of South Dakotans.
As Senator Rounds continues to advocate for postal improvements, the people of South Dakota await the outcome of this investigative request, hopeful for swift action that will restore confidence in their vital postal network.
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