U.S. Congreesman Ed Markey, who represents Waltham, is striking back at plans to close the mail sorting center in Waltham.

According to the Boston Globe, Markey has called on U.S. Postmaster General Patrick Donohue to delay closing the facility saying it could slow mail delivery, according to the Boston Globe.  It's operations would move to other facilities.

Markey, in a letter to Donohue, said closing the facility, which employs 400 people, would actually hurt the Post Office's budget because customers would go to private competitors, according to the Globe. He also said closing the site could hurt the area's economy.

Instead, he argued, the closing should be delayed to give Congress time to rewrite rules that force the Postal Service to "forward fund" pension payments, accoring to the Globe.