Pappas Helps Launch the Bipartisan Congressional Postal Service Caucus

This week Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), with Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-01), and Congressman Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), announced the launch of the Congressional Postal Service Caucus, a new bipartisan caucus aimed at improving the postal service. The Congressional Postal Service Caucus will focus on improving on-time delivery rates, protecting postal employees, and stopping harmful facility consolidations and threats of privatization that reduce access in rural and underserved areas.

“The U.S. Postal Service provides an essential public service that seniors, families, and businesses rely on for their medications, mail, and packages,” said Congressman Pappas. “I’m joining my colleagues in launching the Congressional Postal Service Caucus so that we can continue working to strengthen mail service for communities in New Hampshire and across the country. I remain committed to improving access to prompt and reliable mail and package deliveries, especially for our rural communities.”

“For years, rural communities like the ones I represent in Central and Southern Illinois have faced lagging delivery rates, facility closures, and neglect from the top leadership from USPS,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “These issues deserve dedicated attention from lawmakers, which is exactly what the Congressional Postal Service Caucus is all about. I’m excited to launch this bipartisan group alongside Congressman Bergman, Congressman Pappas, and Congressman Garbarino to push back against postal privatization, improve speed and service, and protect good-paying union jobs at USPS. I look forward to working together to ensure USPS remains a public good that effectively serves all Americans.”

“I’m proud to co-lead the new Congressional Postal Service Caucus to ensure that the voices of rural communities are front and center in any discussion about postal reform,” said Congressman Bergman. “In Iron Mountain, Michigan, we saw firsthand what happens when rural perspectives are ignored – vital services are put at risk. Through persistence and accountability, we were able to protect the facility and preserve essential postal operations for Veterans and all residents across the Upper Peninsula. The Postal Service is more than just mail delivery in rural America – it’s a critical lifeline for small businesses, seniors, and Veterans. While modernization and reform are necessary for the long-term health of the system, those changes must not come at the expense of rural and remote communities.”

“I’m proud to serve as Co-Chair of the Congressional Postal Service Caucus. USPS provides an essential public service that the American people rely on. I look forward to working with my colleagues to support postal workers, ensure the system operates efficiently and effectively in every community, and advance commonsense reforms that strengthen the Postal Service long term,” said Congressman Garbarino.

Background:

Congressman Pappas is a strong advocate for the U.S. Postal Service and ensuring Granite Staters receive fast, reliable mail and package delivery. Earlier this year he helped introduce the bipartisan Protect Postal Performance Act to prevent the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) from downsizing facilities in underserved areas, provide more oversight over modifications to delivery schedules, and increase public transparency. He has consistently pushed for passage of the Porch Pirates Act, which would increase penalties for package theft by so-called “porch pirates.”

Last year in response to USPS’s nationwide consolidation and review plans that would close the Manchester USPS Processing and Distribution Center, Pappas joined a bipartisan group of his colleagues and the New Hampshire delegation in calling on United States Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to reverse course on these plans, which would disrupt service for Granite Staters. Heeding Pappas and his colleagues’ calls, USPS paused proposed changes to the Manchester facility.

In the 117th Congress, Pappas voted to pass the bipartisan Postal Service Reform Act of 2022, legislation that made urgently-needed reforms to ensure the health and longevity of USPS and was signed into law.