Budzinski Leads Bipartisan Call for Transparency to Ensure Timely Mail Delivery and Protect Postal Workers

SPRINGFIELD, IL — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) led 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 Champaign, Springfield 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.”

Today’s letter is a continued effort by Budzinski to push back against USPS facility changes in Central and Southern Illinois. She has previously written to DeJoy outlining concerns with the downsizing of USPS Processing and Distribution Centers in Springfield and Champaign, Illinois.

The letter is signed by Congresswoman Becca Balint (D-VT-AL), Congressman Jack Bergman (R-MI-01), Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA-21), Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH-01), Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06) and Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE-03).

The full text of the letter can be found here and below:

Roman Martinez IV

Chairman of the USPS Board of Governors

Anton G. Hajjar

Member, USPS Board of Governors

Robert M. Duncan

Member, USPS Board of Governors

Daniel Tangherlini

Member, USPS Board of Governors

Amber F. McReynolds

Vice Chairman of the USPS Board of Governors

Ronald A. Stroman

Member, USPS Board of Governors

Derek Kan

Member, USPS Board of Governors

Chairman Martinez and Members of the United States Postal Service Board of Governors,

We are writing to express our deep concern with the lack of adequate responses from the Postmaster General to the dozens of letters we have sent him regarding the implementation of the Delivering for America (DFA) plan.

Across the country, the Postmaster General has proposed changes at processing, distribution and delivery facilities, with many of these sites located in our districts. 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.

The most common responses to our inquiries are from Government Affairs representatives, rather than the Postmaster General himself and even these responses fail to answer some of the most basic questions surrounding both how the Postal Service will increase on-time delivery rates and protect their own employees during this transition. The lack of coherent responses to our letters has created confusion, frustration, and anger.

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.

We urge the Postal Board of Governors to address this issue urgently. We respectfully request a response detailing the United States Postal Service’s policy on Congressional outreach and your role in the implementation of the Delivering for America (DFA) plan. We also call on you, as the Postal Service’s governing body, to require the Postmaster General to implement a more transparent policy when communicating with Congress regarding the Delivering for America plan.

We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

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