Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) released the following statement on the recent restructuring and operational changes to the U.S. Postal Service.
“The U.S. Postal Service provides many essential services, delivering prescription medicine; social security checks to the retired and individuals with disabilities; distributing goods to small businesses; and serving as a vital role of connection in rural communities, where there can be little access to broadband services and quite frankly delivering birthday cards and notes of encouragement during a pandemic,” said Rep. Hayes.
“It is unconscionable during a global health crisis when Americans rely on the Postal Service for much-needed goods and services that efforts to delay these critical services would be implemented. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy needs to address the operational changes which have resulted in the delay of mail delivery, census replies, and now election ballots.
I am also deeply concerned the Administration’s proposed cuts to the Postal Service will harm all in CT-05 who rely on these vital door-to-door deliveries.
We must ensure the U.S. Postal Service is able to stay solvent and retain its workforce. The USPS is a service to the American people, they are not a private entity and their goal and the goal of any government agency should not be to turn a profit. The American people expect a government which equips federal agencies with the resources to execute their mission.
It is essential that we protect this institution."
On August 12, 2020, Congresswoman Hayes joined the Speaker of the House in sending a letter to the Postmaster General calling for the reversal of policies that have worsened the crisis facing the Postal Service. She also signed onto a letter to the Postmaster General requesting information on mail-in ballot deadlines for states once she discovered election deadlines in several states, including Connecticut, would prevent ballots from arriving on time.
Congresswoman Hayes is a cosponsor of the following pieces of legislation to support the sustainability of the U.S. Post Office:
- H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act, a bill that prohibits the Postal Service from implementing any changes to operations or level of service it had in place on January 1, 2020.
- H.R. 7015, the Postal Preservation Act, a bill that appropriates $25 billion to the U.S. Postal Service for its Postal Service Fund for revenue lost due to COV-19 and $15 billion for its Office of Inspector General.
- H.R. 6800, the HEROES Act, which includes $25 billion for revenue forgone due to the coronavirus pandemic, plus language providing additional protections to Postal workers. An additional $15 million is provided for the Postal Service Inspector General for oversight of this funding.
- H.R. 6425, the Protect Our Post Offices Act, a bill that appropriates $25 billion to the U.S. Postal Service.
- H.R. 2337, the Federal Leadership in Energy Efficient Transportation (FLEET) Act, a bill that authorizes funding to provide for the upgrade of the Postal Fleet.
- H.Res. 54, a resolution expressing support of 6-day mail delivery.
- H.Res. 33, a resolution expressing opposition to the privatization of the Postal Service.
Congresswoman Hayes has also signed a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture expressing the importance of the U.S. Postal Service to rural communities.
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Rep. Jahana Hayes has been a public school teacher in Connecticut for more than 15 years and was recognized in 2016 as the National Teacher of the Year.
Currently serving her first term in the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Hayes sits on the Committees on Education & Labor and Agriculture and proudly represents Connecticut’s 5th District.