WASHINGTON — Last week, U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, and other members of the bipartisan co-chairs of the Congressional Postal Service Caucus, introduced new bipartisan legislation to increase transparency around temporary post office closures, known as “emergency suspensions.”

The Postal Suspension Transparency Act would require the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to publicly post all temporary closures, alternative services available, and the estimated end date of the disruption in service.

“When local post offices are unexpectedly suspended, residents are often left in the dark – unsure when service will resume and forced, especially in rural areas, to travel to neighboring towns just to collect their mail. For many elderly residents, that burden can be especially difficult. In the Upper Peninsula, some post offices have remained ‘suspended’ for years – Ramsay has been closed since 2019, and just last week Deerton was suspended, leaving residents with more questions than answers. Our communities deserve timely, transparent communication when postal services are disrupted, and I’m proud to help co-lead this bipartisan bill with Representatives Pappas, Garbarino, and Budzinski,” said Bergman in a press release.

“Without proper public notice, the temporary suspension of mail service at local post offices can leave people without the ability to receive essential packages and medication, respond to their mail in a timely fashion, and can harm the operations of our small businesses, non-profits, and more,” said Rep. Chris Pappas. “Our legislation is a simple fix that will bring transparency to the emergency suspension process and guarantee that everyone knows how they will be able to receive their mail through the duration of any temporary post office closure.”