WASHINGTON - U.S. Representatives Lou Barletta and Tom Marino submitted a letter to U.S. Postal Service officials in support of continuing operations at the Scranton and Williamsport processing and distribution facilities.

In a Dec. 6, letter to Megan Brennan, chief operating officer and executive vice president of the Postal Service, and Kevin McAdams, the Central Pennsylvania District's manager of consumer and industry contact, the congressmen said the closures of these facilities would "seriously impact the USPS's reputation for customer service and prompt delivery" and could have "drastic consequences" for residents in their districts.Barletta and Marino cited the impact on constituents who rely on the Postal Service to pay their bills and deliver mail-order prescriptions. The closure of the two facilities would "greatly impede" the Postal Service's ability to deliver important emergency information in the event of a national security emergency and any damage to the nation's cyber infrastructure or prolonged shutdown of the electrical grid."The United States Postal Service provides a vital link for thousands of residents, especially senior citizens, in the 11th District and across Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. It's critical that the postal service continues to serve its customers in a timely manner, six days a week. This is critical for those who rely on the service the post office provides, and for the employees who need these family sustaining jobs," Barletta said.Marino noted the Postal Service's long-standing tradition of providing excellent service at a low cost."People in the 10th District, particularly senior citizens, have come to rely on the Postal Service for its reliability and efficient service," Marino said. "Closing these facilities and curtailing operations would result in job losses for many workers and would cause a major inconvenience for many residents."Rep. Barletta's staff attended a recent public meeting regarding the potential closing of the Scranton processing facility. Additionally, Barletta is actively working to help the postal service and protect its employees through his cosponsorship and strong support of H.R. 1351, the United States Postal Service Pension Obligation Recalculation and Restoration Act of 2011. This bipartisan bill would allow the Postal Service to apply billions of dollars in pension overpayments to the congressional mandate that requires the USPS to pre-fund the healthcare benefits of future retirees.H.R. 1351 could protect the mail processing facility in Scranton, Williamsport, and other postal facilities because it would alleviate the need for some of the drastic cost-cutting measures the USPS is being forced to consider.Earlier this year, dozens of postal workers took to the streets in front of Barletta's Hazleton District Office to thank him for his support of H.R. 1351 and the postal service employees.