Norton Highlights D.C. Postal Delivery Concerns, Announces Event with Hoyer, Tomorrow

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In advance of a press conference tomorrow on the Postal Service with members of Congress from the District of Columbia region, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), a senior member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform (COR), which has jurisdiction over the Postal Service, today sent a letter to U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. The letter raised concerns that D.C. residents, especially those in Ward 8, began receiving highly inadequate services from the Postal Service beginning when DeJoy took office. In Ward 8 particularly, residents have reported not receiving their mail for over two weeks and other concerns with the Postal Service. DeJoy will be testifying at a COR hearing on August 24, 2020.

"With changes in leadership at the Postal Service, we are seeing an unprecedented decline in service nationwide," Norton said. "Postal delivery is a constitutionally mandated right of the people. With so many people expected to vote by mail in the upcoming election, postal delivery is directly tied to democracy. We are engaged in hearings, visits to post offices and continuing oversight to see to it that Postal Service leadership fixes its ongoing, self-generated problems and begins serving the American people."

Norton also announced that she will participate in an event with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) tomorrow to further highlight ongoing problems with the Postal Service.

WHAT: Norton participates in Postal Service press event with Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and regional members of Congress.

WHEN: Tomorrow, Tuesday, August 18, at 2:00 pm

WHERE: USPS Headquarters, 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW, Washington, D.C. 20260

Norton's letter follows.

August 17, 2020

The Honorable Louis DeJoy

Postmaster General

and Chief Executive Officer

United States Postal Service

475 L'Enfant Plaza SW

Washington, DC 20260-3500

Dear Postmaster General DeJoy:

I write not only as the representative for the more than 700,000 residents of the nation's capital, but also as a senior member of your oversight committee, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.During your brief tenure, I have experienced a massive increase in constituent complaints regarding mail service and calls for your removal.I am concerned that this failure has impacted almost every part of the nation's capital, but it has been particularly acute in Ward 8, where many residents have not received mail for two weeks.I ask that you take immediate steps to see that mail delivery resumes on track in Ward 8.I ask that you provide a written respond to this letter no later than Wednesday, August 19, 2020.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Holmes Norton

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