Proposed new federal legislation, co-introduced last week by Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of postal service is a good step in the right direction.

Postal Service is one of the hallmarks of a stable, successful society and long has been. That said, Postal Service in the U.S. has declined in quality and been lapped by other private providers in many parts of the country. That, combined with the fact that technology has reduced the need of many people to utilize the Postal Service. Old and questionable policies further hindered this great institution.

Still, the Postal Service deserves to be saved and its efficiency improved. This is all entirely possible, with the approaches in this bill having the potential to contribute. It liberalizes innovation in products and service offered, addresses standards and reporting of such and also creates a new health benefits program, which should help with the Postal Service’s financial challenges.

Some have asserted that some of the challenges the Postal Service faces could be resolved with a model from the past – regular carriers on regular routes. Such issues as overtime and substitute carriers negatively affect performance. It remains to be seen if there is a way to identify a means to bring this idea to fruition.

Hopefully some combination of reforms will see this once-great institution renewed.

Heitkamp has been working on improving postal performance for some time. Heitkamp launched her Fix My Mail initiative in 2014 when communities in oil country began experiencing difficulty. Her previous work on mail service prompted the Postal Service to launch a customer service program called “Your Mail Matters.” People can share their mail service challenges with the Postal Service at YourMailmatters@usps.gov or 605-333-2648. The program is managed and operated by the Postal Service District office in Sioux Falls, S.D.