Rahall and Rockefeller Respond to the USPS Closures - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

Rahall and Rockefeller Respond to the USPS Closures

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The struggling United States Postal Service tries to calm concerns over its wide scale cuts. It is now seeking to keep hundreds of rural post offices open with shorter hours.

The new plan will save the mail agency half a billion dollars each year while addressing concerns of rural residents most opposed to post office closings.

Previously, up to 3,700 low-revenue post offices were slated for closure or consolidation beginning sometime after May 15, many in rural areas.

The Postal Service now plans to seek regulatory approval for the new plan and get community input, a process that could take several months.

U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall has been supportive during public forums with the community and USPS representatives to work to keep post offices open for rural West Virginia.

Rahall said the most recent news from the USPS is welcome news, "I take great comfort in knowing that the people of southern West Virginia are still a force to be reckoned with."

West Virginia Senator Jay Rockefeller said he is still very concerned about the Postal Service's constantly shifting plans and lack of information about how to proposals will impact jobs and services.

"The Postal Services must fix its worsening finances," stated Rockefeller.