WASHINGTON, D.C. [8.4.22] – This week, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy seeking answers about missing and delayed mail deliveries in Minnesota. Sen. Smith’s office has received numerous calls from constituents reporting inconsistent and missing mail, and mail delays of over a week have been reported on by KTTC in Rochester.
“I am deeply concerned about these reports, as many Minnesotans, especially the elderly, disabled people, veterans, and rural communities, rely on the Postal Service as a lifeline,” wrote Smith in her letter. “The Postal Service is an essential service and as such is required by law to maintain a six-day per week delivery schedule with rare exceptions for geographically remote areas, natural disasters, and federal holidays… When service is inconsistent and unreliable, these Minnesotans face late payment fees, days without vital medications, and other serious consequences.”
In her letter, Smith pressed DeJoy to answer the following questions by September 4, 2022:
- Are you aware of irregular, inconsistent, or missing mail deliveries in Minnesota?
- If so, in how many zip codes have these issues occurred in the last six months?
- What is causing these unreliable deliveries?
- What steps are you taking to address critical delivery delays, such as delays of medicine?
- What is the national Postal Service doing to address these root causes?
- When can Minnesotans expect a return to reliable, six-day mail service?
- Will you provide me with regular updates regarding any significant mail delays in Minnesota?
You can access the full letter here.