Press Release |
Media Contact: Sally Tibbetts 941.951.6643 |
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Buchanan Votes to Help Prevent Southgate Post Office Closure |
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| September 16, 2009 | |||
| Washington, DC -- Congressman Vern Buchanan helped pass legislation last night that could help prevent the closure of the Southgate Post Office in Sarasota. Buchanan voted for the United States Postal Service Financial Relief Act (H.R. 22). The bill, which passed the House 388-32, would provide financial relief to the postal service. “The Post Office provides convenient, affordable mail service and good paying jobs to my constituents,” said Buchanan. “This bill will provide savings to the postal service and reduce the need to consolidate services.” The postal service is expected to lose more than $7 billion in the fiscal year. In an effort to save money, the Postal Service proposed consolidating services. The Southgate Post Office in Sarasota is among more than 400 post offices across the nation facing potential closure. “I would like to thank Congressman Buchanan for his vote in favor of H.R. 22,” said American Postal Workers Union 1073 President Kindra Obermeier. “It is hoped that the financial relief H.R.22 provides the Postal Service, will help keep the South Gate Post Office open.” The bill would amend current law to reduce the amount the postal service must pay into the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund in fiscal year 2009 from $5.4 billion to $1.4 billion. “Passage of H.R. 22 will allow the Postal Service to remain solvent during these troubled economic times and in turn the Postal Service will survive for future generations,” added Obermeier. “Again, my thanks to Congressman Buchanan, his vote today can only benefit our community through continued local access to postal services, local economic support from the Postal Service to the business and residential communities, and the availability of local jobs.” |
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