The legislative push follows a recent report from the USPS Office of Inspector General, which ranked North Dakota and Minnesota among the 10 worst regions in the nation for mail service performance.
BISMARCK, N.D. (KFGO) – A bipartisan group of senators from North Dakota and Minnesota has introduced legislation aimed at addressing chronic mail delays and missing deliveries plaguing both states.
The Postal Delivery Accountability Act, introduced by Sens. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., Tina Smith, D-Minn., John Hoeven, R-N.D., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., would require the U.S. Postal Service to implement tracking systems for mail deliveries and ensure that information is accessible to the public.
The legislative push follows a recent report from the USPS Office of Inspector General, which ranked North Dakota and Minnesota among the 10 worst regions in the nation for mail service performance. According to the lawmakers, residents frequently face disruptions, missing mail, and delayed deliveries with little to no explanation from the agency.
“The Postal Service is required by law to deliver six days a week to every address in America,” Cramer said. “That’s the law, that’s not an option. But we know in North Dakota, that’s oftentimes not the reality and the problem is worsened by the fact that the Postal Service can’t accurately track when mail routes don’t receive deliveries.”
Cramer noted that the bill would provide the tracking tools and notifications necessary for residents relying on the mail for vital items like paychecks and prescription medications.
Lawmakers from both states emphasized that a lack of transparency from the USPS has left consumers and officials in the dark.
“When I ask the Postal Service for information about these disruptions, I’m told everything is fine. The reality is that they often don’t even know themselves,” Smith said. “As an essential public service, the USPS owes Americans transparency.”
The bill’s co-sponsors stressed that unreliable mail delivery carries severe consequences for vulnerable populations, including seniors, veterans, and small businesses who depend on timely delivery for Social Security checks and daily operations.
Klobuchar stated that the legislation would formally enforce the accountability and transparency measures previously recommended by the Postal Inspector General to restore service speed and reliability.
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