8/14/2019 Putnam Letter to GAO

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442 CANNON HOUSE OFFICE BUILOINGADAM H. PUTNAM WASHINGTON, DC 20515-34--3530

www.adamputnarn.house.gov(iongrcss of thr tinitnl ~ t a t c s 'iflousc of cprcscntatiocsApril 23, 2009Mr. Gene L. DodaroActing Comptroller GeneralGovernment Accountability Office441 G Street, NWWashington, D.C. 20548Dear Mr. Dodaro,1 have some concerns regarding the United States Postal Service (USPS) decision to transfer operations fromthe Lakeland Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC) to Tampa, Florida, based upon the results of an AreaMail and Processing (AMP) feasibility study. The closure of this P&DC facility will result in the loss of 3040 jobs from Lakeland and, while I am aware of the financial problems facing the USPS, I feel the extent ofthe impact of the transfer is not yet fully understood.I am concerned that certain factors have not been whoJJy evaluated in the AMP study to convince the Lakelandcommunity and surrounding municipalities that this is the best course of action for postal service andefficiency. For example, mail will have to travel upwards of one hundred miles round trip for Central Floridaresidents as a result of removing mail processing from the Lakeland P&DC, which may lead to delays in mailservice. This could potentiaJJy hurt smaJJ businesses and the standing partnerships with local mail houses inLakeland and the surrounding communities.Likewise, the demographical makeup of Central Florida creates unique challenges that should be properlyevaluated. Polk County, for instance, has a large elderly population that relies on the Postal Service as theirmain source of communication with family, friends, financial institutions and government agencies, CentralFlorida is also continuing to grow at a rapid pace, and Polk County is projected to add approximately 200,000to its population by 2020.The residents of Central Florida have significant reservations, and our questions to-date have not beensufficiently answered, For all of the aforementioned reasons, I respectfully request, within all applicable rulesand regulations, the GAO conduct an independent review of the USPS's plans to move mail processing anddistribution from Lakeland, Florida, to the Tampa P&DC.It is my understanding that a Congressional colleague has also alerted the GAO of concerns regarding thetransfer ofManasota postal operations to Tampa. With this in mind, I would encourage the GAO to look intothis matter and resolve any doubt there may be regarding the justification, suitability, and efficiency of thisconsolidation.Thank you for your careful review of this matter. Please contact me if you have any questions, or my District:;::::::'Che::--/71/ ~ : ~ / , /'---- / - ,. /Adam H. PutnaMember of Congress

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