Bill · S. 3657· Senate(119-S-3657)
Protect Postal Performance Act
- Introduced
- 1/15/2026
- Last activity
- 1/15/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Sponsored by
- Catherine Cortez Masto
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Protect Postal Performance Act aims to change how the United States Postal Service handles the closing or merging of post offices and processing centers. It requires the Postal Service to hold public hearings and publish summaries of public feedback before closing a post office. The bill also sets specific rules that prevent certain post offices from being closed, such as those that are isolated or serve large populations. Additionally, it places restrictions on changes to mail processing facilities and distribution centers. These new rules require advisory opinions from the Postal Regulatory Commission before changes can happen. Finally, it limits transportation optimization efforts that would reduce mail pickup or delivery frequency.
Yes· 3 of 6
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+6
The bill specifically protects post offices and distribution centers in isolated and non-contiguous regions, which primarily benefits rural residents.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+5
The bill mandates public hearings and the publication of hearing summaries on the Postal Service website.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+2
Protecting local post offices ensures that low-income households maintain access to essential mail and communication services.
The opposite
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-2
The bill restricts the Postal Service's ability to optimize operations, which may prevent future cost-saving measures.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Public Transparency: The bill requires the Postal Service to hold public hearings—which can be attended in-person or virtually—regarding the closure or consolidation of post offices (Section 2). This allows people to have a voice in the process.
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Public Accountability via Reporting: After a hearing, the Postal Service must publish a summary on its website that includes descriptions of comments and the percentage of those comments that were in support or against the action (Section 2).
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Protection for Isolated or High-Population Areas: Post offices cannot be closed if they are not within 15 miles of another post office or if they are the closest option for a population of 15,000 or more (Section 2).
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Protection for Geographically Isolated Regions: The bill prevents the closure or consolidation of processing and distribution centers if it would leave a non-contiguous region of a State (one separated by water or land) without such a center, provided it has more than 100,000 residents (Section 3(a)).
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Safeguards for Mail Delivery Speed: If the Postal Regulatory Commission finds that proposed changes will slow down on-time mail delivery, the Postal Service must publish a report on how it will ensure mail stays on time, and it cannot implement the changes for 180 days (Section 3(b)(4)).
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Protection for Struggling Districts: The Postal Service is prohibited from moving operations out of districts that failed to meet specific on-time delivery benchmarks for first-class mail in the previous year (Section 3(d)).
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Consistency in Mail Collection/Delivery: The bill prevents transportation optimization efforts that would decrease the number of times mail is picked up or dropped off at any post office (Section 418(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Delays in Operational Changes: The bill introduces several waiting periods, such as preventing post office closures until 180 days after a summary is published (Section 2), and requiring a 180-day waiting period after a report regarding slow mail delivery is published (Section 3(b)(4)).
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Increased Bureaucracy: The Postal Service must now wait for advisory opinions from the Postal Regulatory Commission before implementing changes to mail processing facilities (Section 3(b)(1)).
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Restrictions on Efficiency Efforts: The Postal Service is prohibited from carrying out the Mail Processing Facility Review or using Federal funds for it (Section 3(c)). Additionally, local or regional transportation optimization efforts cannot proceed if the Postal Regulatory Commission does not recommend them (Section 418(c)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Rural Residents+6Good For Low Income Households+2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+5
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Public Transit+1
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Affordable Housing+1
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+2Reduces Government Spending-2
- 1/15/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Marsha BlackburnRepublican · Tennessee