Tester moving to block changes to Missoula mail processing facility

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester is crafting legislation to preserve the Postal Service’s outgoing mail processing operations in Missoula after federal officials revealed in April they planned to shift some of the work to Spokane.

The Protecting Access to Rural Carriers (PARCEL) Act would prohibit the Postal Service from closing or consolidating processing centers across the country, according to the three-term Democrat’s office. The legislation has not yet been filed in the Senate.

“The Postal Service is critical to Montana’s small businesses, seniors and veterans — and shortsighted decisions like relocating Missoula's outgoing mail processing operations out-of-state won’t work for folks in rural America,” Tester said in a statement.