Thursday North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp introduced legislation to improve rural mail service and delivery, plus increase protections for rural post offices. Heitkamp’s bill would make sure rural states are no longer disproportionately impacted by cuts that have led to excessive closures of post offices and mail processing facilities. This is increasing delivery times and reducing service standards.

Joining Heitkamp in introducing her Rural Postal Act were Senators Jon Tester of Montana and Claire McCaskill of Missouri.

From 2001 to 2013, nearly 400 post offices closed across the country. And in the Dakotas, only about 65 percent of non-local mail arrived on time within three to five days last quarter.