[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 54 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 54
Objecting to the slowdown in mail delivery and postage rate increase
instituted by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and seeking to halt both
actions pending further investigation.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 12, 2021
Mr. Mfume (for himself, Ms. Norton, Mr. Cicilline, and Mr.
Krishnamoorthi) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which
was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Objecting to the slowdown in mail delivery and postage rate increase
instituted by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and seeking to halt both
actions pending further investigation.
Whereas the United States Postal Service deliberately started slowing its mail
delivery on Friday, October 1, 2021, and plans to add rate hikes for
mail delivery to the slowdown as part of an overt plan by Postmaster
General Louis DeJoy;
Whereas the most widespread and significant changes will affect first-class mail
delivery, items such as letters, small packages, bills, and tax
documents;
Whereas prior to the changes by Postmaster General DeJoy, customers throughout
the United States could expect first-class mail to reach its destination
in 1 to 3 days; now, that timeframe will extend to between 1 and 5 days,
even though the United States Postal Service is required by law to
provide ``prompt, reliable, and efficient services'';
Whereas Postmaster General DeJoy started his tenure in June 2020, then
implemented operational changes at the United States Postal Service soon
after by slowing mail delivery, reassigning and displacing 23 postal
executives, and deactivating 10 percent of mail sorting machines to
create a dayslong mail backlog;
Whereas, on August 24, 2020, the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House
of Representatives held a hearing to hold Postmaster General DeJoy and
the United States Postal Service Board of Governors accountable for a
deterioration in mail delivery reliability in anticipation of the
November 2020 elections;
Whereas the hard work of the on-the-ground employees at the United States Postal
Service combined with congressional intervention prevented the vote-by-
mail components of the November 2020 elections from failing;
Whereas the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives
continued to hold Postmaster General DeJoy accountable after the
November 2020 elections, holding another congressional hearing on
February 24, 2021, that--
(1) examined legislative proposals to improve mail delivery performance
standards; and
(2) led to Postmaster General DeJoy's public apology for slowdowns
through the holiday season;
Whereas the United States Postal Service is required by law to deliver to any
postal address in the United States, no matter what;
Whereas current United States Postal Service slowdowns could most affect the
elderly, people with disabilities, and those in rural areas for whom
mail delivery is critical to their health care, financial security, and
connection to the broader world;
Whereas affordability is a crucial aspect of the United States Postal Service,
which is currently being undercut by price hikes on many first-class
mail products according to the Postmaster General's plan;
Whereas the House of Representatives passed mail-in ballot delivery reforms
through the For the People Act in March 2021, and multiple other
measures have been introduced that could help the United States Postal
Service provide more dependable service for the American people,
including the United States Postal Service Fairness Act, the Vote By
Mail Tracking Act, the Nonpartisan Postmaster General Act, the Postal
Service Improvement Act, the bipartisan Postal Service Reform Act, the
DEJOY Act, and the Postal Vehicle Modernization Act, as well as funding
measures through the Build Back Better Act that could help electrify the
United States Postal Service delivery vehicle fleet and modernize other
equipment used by frontline employees;
Whereas under Federal statute, the United States Postal Service must receive an
advisory opinion from the independent Postal Regulatory Commission,
which serves as a regulatory body for the United States Postal Service,
when it seeks to implement reforms that would affect service on a
nationwide basis;
Whereas the Postal Regulatory Commission has signaled that United States Postal
Service slowdowns under the plan might not have the intended effect, as
the slowdowns are based on ``unproven assumptions'', and that the Postal
Service would achieve only ``paltry'' savings from the Postmaster
General's plan; and
Whereas the Postal Regulatory Commission's advisory opinion does not carry the
force of law, however, and even if the Commission ruled firmly against
Postmaster General DeJoy's plan, the agency could move forward anyway:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That--
(1) Congress objects to the slowdown in mail delivery
instituted by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy in his plan; and
(2) the decisions to slow down mail and to increase postage
rates should be halted immediately pending further
investigation and full substantiation by Postmaster General
Louis DeJoy to the Congress.
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