Pappas Joins Bipartisan Call for Transparency to Ensure Timely Mail Delivery and Protect Postal Workers

Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) joined six bipartisan Members of Congress in a call for more transparency from U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General Louis DeJoy regarding proposed changes at postal processing, distribution, and delivery facilities in New Hampshire and nationwide. In a letter to the USPS Board of Governors, the lawmakers noted the lack of adequate responses from Postmaster DeJoy when they raised concerns about how his Delivering for America plan would impact delivery rates and jeopardize jobs for postal employees.

“Across the country, the Postmaster General has proposed changes at processing, distribution and delivery facilities, with many of these sites located in our districts,” wrote the Members. “Due to the impact on our districts and constituents, we raised questions and concerns regarding how these changes will impact our constituents, businesses within our communities, postal employees, and the overall efficiency of the Postal Service. Despite our persistent inquiries, the responses have been insufficient or nonexistent.

“We understand the need for modernization within the Postal Service; however, these changes must be integrated with a commitment to improving service standards and protecting the livelihoods of postal employees. Transparency and accountability are vital in this process. Our constituents deserve to know how these changes will affect their daily lives. As their elected Members of Congress, we require direct, detailed, and timely information to provide appropriate oversight and to help the Postal Service prepare our constituents for the upcoming changes,” they continued.

The full text of the letter can be found here. The letter is also signed by Representatives Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Jack Bergman (MI-01), Jim Costa (CA-21), Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Adrian Smith (NE-03).

Background:

Pappas continues to lead efforts to improve and reform the USPS to ensure that Granite Staters receive their mail in a timely manner. In February 2022, Pappas helped pass the Postal Service Reform Act in the House to address long standing financial and structural issues at the USPS and held a virtual roundtable conversation with representatives and leadership from New Hampshire's postal workers to discuss the importance of the bill. It was signed into law in April 2022.

In February, the New Hampshire delegation sent a letter to Postmaster General DeJoy expressing concerns about plans for the Manchester Processing and Distribution Center, noting that they could be damaging to mail service in New Hampshire and urging the USPS to reconsider. The delegation also raised these concerns at a press conference outside the facility. The USPS received an outpouring of negative feedback from Granite Staters and postal workers, amplified by the Congressional delegation and other stakeholders, on its plans. In April, Pappas and Shaheen joined a bipartisan, bicameral push opposing USPS’s recent nationwide consolidation and review announcements that could severely diminish mail service reliability for postal networks across the country. Pappas, Hassan, and Shaheen introduced bicameral, bipartisan legislation to prohibit USPS from consolidating, closing, or downgrading a processing and distribution center if it would leave a state without one or negatively impact mail delivery across a state.

In May, USPS announced its decision to temporarily pause planned changes to mail distribution from the Manchester Processing and Distribution Center until January 1, 2025.