Senator Rounds Urges USPS to Address Mail Delays in South Dakota

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) has called on Postmaster General David Steiner to take urgent steps to restore reliable mail service in South Dakota, citing persistent delays that have impacted residents across the state.

In a letter sent this week, Rounds highlighted constituent reports of letters and newspapers taking weeks to arrive—even when mailed within South Dakota. He also pointed to serious consequences for veterans and healthcare providers, including missed medical appointments and unusable medications due to late deliveries.

“Feedback from my constituents is clear: USPS service has significantly declined across South Dakota,” Rounds wrote. “It is therefore clear to me that USPS's operational changes are failing South Dakota and do not comply with USPS obligations for universal service under federal law.”

Rounds added a pointed remark at the end of his letter: “P.S. I am emailing this to you because if I mailed it, you might not receive this letter in time.”

The senator has long advocated for maintaining in-state mail processing. In 2024, he successfully pushed USPS to keep the Dakota Central processing facility in Huron open and secured a $3 million investment in upgrades. He also obtained a commitment from former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to ensure South Dakota-originated mail would be processed within the state.

Rounds has introduced multiple bills aimed at protecting rural mail service, including:

·        The Postal Processing Protection Act, requiring USPS to consider rural impacts before downsizing facilities

·        The Deliver for Democracy Act, designed to safeguard rural newspapers and consumers from delivery delays and price hikes

·        The INFORM Act of 2025, mandating physical notices in affected storefronts when USPS proposes service changes

In his latest letter, Rounds requested a meeting with Postmaster General Steiner within seven days to discuss solutions. He emphasized that recent USPS network changes have led to circuitous mail routing, exacerbating delays and undermining service standards.

Rounds’ office continues to collect feedback from South Dakotans experiencing mail disruptions and encourages residents to report issues directly.