Underwood in USPS Oversight Hearing: “Since Mr. DeJoy became Postmaster General, postal casework in my office has quadrupled.”
WEST CHICAGO – Today, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) pushed U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on the steep decline in United States Postal Service (USPS) delivery reliability in Illinois, and troubling policies introduced by DeJoy that undermine the service. The remarks were part of a field hearing in Chicago held by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, Subcommittee on Government Operations to address the concerns raised by constituents and ensure accountability. Underwood underscored that Postmaster General DeJoy's actions to undermine of the Postal Service harms postal workers, small businesses, and veterans and are part of a systematic effort to degrade one of the most popular government services. Underwood urged her colleagues to pass legislation, such as the USPS Fairness Act, to protect the institution.
"The drastic drop in delivery standards that Illinois has seen under Postmaster General DeJoy's leadership is unacceptable. Seniors and veterans have seen critical medications arrive dangerously late; Small businesses have been hobbled by slow and unreliable delivery; Families separated by a pandemic are missing opportunities to connect," said Underwood in the hearing. " I look forward to working with my colleagues here to conduct oversight and pass legislation to protect, strengthen, and modernize the Postal Service."
Underwood has been a strong supporter of the USPS. Underwood supported the passage of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021, which provided $10 billion in emergency relief for USPS. In August 2020, Underwood supported the House passage of the Delivering for America Act (H.R. 8015), which would have prohibited the Postal Service from implementing any changes to the operations or level of service it had in place on January 1, 2020. Additionally, Underwood joined Senator Durbin in a letter expressing concerns about delays in letter and parcel deliveries in Illinois.
A full transcript of Underwood's remarks as prepared can be found below.
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The drastic drop in delivery standards that Illinois has seen under Postmaster General DeJoy's leadership is unacceptable.
I know we'll hear a lot today about how Chicago has been affected, but I also want you to hear what this has meant for rural and suburban communities like mine, where we are incredibly reliant on USPS.
Since Mr. DeJoy became Postmaster General, postal casework in my office has quadrupled.
Seniors and veterans have seen critical medications arrive dangerously late.
Small businesses have been hobbled by slow and unreliable delivery.
Families separated by a pandemic are missing opportunities to connect. Holiday cards were delivered late or not at all. Passports have taken weeks to arrive after they are mailed. All because of policies from the previous Administration and Postmaster DeJoy that are undermining our postal service.
Let me be clear: this attack on USPS is an attack on seniors, veterans, and small businesses across the country.
It's an attack on frontline workers who have worked harder than ever during this pandemic, and on economic prosperity for Black Americans, who comprise almost a quarter of USPS employees.
It's an attack on voting access, as more of us safely and securely cast our ballots by mail.
I see an all-too-familiar pattern in these attacks.
Regrettably, there are those operating in our political system who want to dismantle and privatize much of our government.
A great way to do that is to degrade our most popular and impactful government services until we are so understandably frustrated that we look elsewhere.
Senator Durbin described Postmaster DeJoy's plan as "designed to sink the postal service, not save it," and sadly, I think he's right.
That's why today's hearing is so important, and I look forward to working with my colleagues here to conduct oversight and pass legislation to protect, strengthen, and modernize the Postal Service.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you to our witnesses for joining us today. I yield back.
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