WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX-29) led 24 colleagues in the House and Senate in sending a bicameral letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, United States Postal Service (USPS) leadership, and the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) urging immediate action to address the risks extreme temperatures pose to the efficacy of mail-order medications.
This letter comes after alarming reports detailing how unsafe temperature conditions during delivery compromise the safety of medications that millions of Americans depend on.
The letter, citing investigative reporting and research, highlights the vulnerability of essential medications—such as insulin, epinephrine injectors, and rescue inhalers—to extreme heat or freezing conditions during shipping.
“Receiving medications by mail is a crucial lifeline for many, particularly for those who are homebound, elderly, or living in rural areas. As extreme temperatures continue to affect communities across the United States, these patients receiving essential medications via mail are increasingly at risk of receiving compromised products,” wrote the members to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.
The letter further raises concerns over the lack of consistent temperature monitoring and oversight during the delivery process, pointing out that delivery trucks can reach temperatures of up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer months. The lawmakers also reference cases where patients faced life-threatening consequences from receiving damaged medications.
The letter outlines specific questions for USPS and PRC leadership to address, including:
- How many complaints has the Postal Service received related to patients experiencing harm, serious injury and/or death resulting from complications linked to prescriptions delivered that were outside of their safe temperature zones?
- How does the agency ensure that medications are monitored for temperature exposure during shipping, and what protocols are in place to identify and replace compromised products?
- What actions is your agency taking to ensure the safe storage and transportation of perishable medications? What regulations, guidelines, or protocols does your agency have in place for perishable prescriptions? How does your agency enforce these regulations?
The lawmakers have requested a detailed response by January 17, 2025, and urged USPS to take immediate steps to mitigate the risk to public health by mail-order medications that are exposed to extreme temperatures. The effort is part of Congresswoman Garcia’s continued commitment to combatting the effects of extreme temperatures on communities across the nation and ensuring all Americans have access to reliable and safe healthcare services.
Joining Congresswoman Garcia as cosigners on the letter are Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Jeffrey A. Merkley (D-OR), as well as Reps. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM-01), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30), Greg Casar (D-TX-35), Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ-07), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY-09), Dan Goldman (D-NY-10), Henry C. Johnson, Jr. (D-GA-04), Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-CA-44), Dwight Evans (D-PA-03), Barbara Lee (D-TX-12), Nikema Williams (D-GA-05), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12), Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Val Hoyle (D-OR-04), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), and Erica Lee Carter (D-TX-18).
The full letter can be read HERE.