Keep Mail Coming 6 Days a Week

It's a phrase most Americans are familiar with. Inscribed outside the James A. Farley Post Office Building in New York City, one can read, "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of theirappointed rounds."

It seems now we have to ask, what about lack of money?

For the first time ever last week, the United States Postal Service was unable to make a $5.5 billion payment for retiree health benefits.

The Postal Service's financial troubles are no surprise. USPS now competes with not only package delivery services, but also with a new generation of electronic communication. We have grown accustomed to instantaneous text messages, emails, online bill-pay and social media.

Each year in Congress there are efforts to reduce postal delivery to five days per week. Proponents claim this must happen due to the decrease of mail being sent and the rising cost to send it.

However, my concern is that we still have a large group of people – particularly in rural areas - who depend on the Postal Service to deliver their social security checks, needed medicine, or even just a card from a loved one.

Once again, I've introduced a resolution to keep mail delivery at 6 days a week, and more than 220 other members have signed on in support. As Congress considers postal reforms, I'll fight to keep this important service coming regularly to those who need it most.

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