Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, speaks at the Heartland Forum held on the campus of Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, Saturday, March 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
Youngstown, OH – Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13) today urged President Biden to fire the entire United States Postal Service (USPS) Board of Governors and nominate new leadership to begin to rebuild a strong and efficient postal service. In a letter to the President, Ryan highlighted how operational changes imposed by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy continue to negatively impact the quality and timeliness of mail service nationally.
“My offices have been inundated with calls, emails, and letters detailing their unfortunate experiences with the USPS. Too many are receiving bills weeks late, which has caused them to miss car, credit card, and utility payments through no fault of their own. Many are also expressing frustrations that they have not yet received their pension checks that they depend on or the holiday greetings and gifts that their family and friends sent weeks ago. The Postmaster General and the entire Board of Governors have failed the American people,” wrote Congressman Ryan.
“The Postal Service should be an institution the American people unquestionably count on. It is an economic engine for many businesses in my community and my constituents, particularly in rural areas, count on their service. The survival of the Postal Service will require strong leadership if it is to endure. To begin that work, the USPS needs a governing body that can be trusted to represent the public interest,” Ryan continued.
This letter follows after widespread outcries over efforts taken by Trump appointee, Postmaster Louis DeJoy to throw out sorting machines, cut overtime, restrict deliveries, and remove mailboxes – which slowed USPS mail delivery across the United States.
The USPS Board of Governors has the power to remove the Postmaster General from office and appoint a new one.
See the full text of Congressman Ryan’s letter here and below.
Dear Mr. President:
It is no secret that the United States Postal Service (USPS) has been under unprecedented sabotage for many years and is currently facing a complete crisis. As the Postal Service crumbled in plain sight, former President Trump and his cronies on the USPS Board of Governors sat silent. Throughout this, my constituents in Northeast Ohio and the American people have been left to suffer. The response from the leadership of the USPS to the unconscionable delays we are experiencing with the mail is beyond unacceptable. Therefore, I am writing to ask that you fire the entire Board of Governors and nominate new leadership to begin the hard work of rebuilding our Postal Service.
Our postal workers and letter carriers are dedicated public servants who have braved the pandemic and have stepped up in a big way. But, according to a report by the USPS Office of Inspector General (1), operational changes imposed by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy “negatively impacted the quality and timeliness of mail service nationally.” Mr. DeJoy’s efforts to throw out sorting machines, cut overtime, restrict deliveries, and remove mailboxes has slowed mail nationally (2). The men and women of the Postal Service, and the American people, deserve better.
My offices have been inundated with calls, emails, and letters detailing their unfortunate experiences with the USPS. Too many are receiving bills weeks late, which has caused them to miss car, credit card, and utility payments through no fault of their own. Many are also expressing frustrations that they have not yet received their pension checks that they depend on or the holiday greetings and gifts that their family and friends sent weeks ago. The Postmaster General and the entire Board of Governors have failed the American people.
The members of the USPS Board of Governors are tasked with one key responsibility: “represent[ing] the public interest.(3)” Members may be removed by the President “only for cause.” The dereliction of duty with the leadership of the USPS cannot go unnoticed. They have betrayed their duties to the American people, which unquestionably constitutes cause for their removal.
We must do right by the American people, and we must do right by our postal workers and letter carriers. The Postal Service should be an institution the American people unquestionably count on. It is an economic engine for many businesses in my community and my constituents, particularly in rural areas, count on their service. The survival of the Postal Service will require strong leadership if it is to endure. To begin that work, the USPS needs a governing body that can be trusted to represent the public interest. Thank you for your dedication to our Postal Service and I look forward to working with you more on this issue.
Sincerely,
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