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Wyden, Oregon colleagues demand postmaster general end mail delivery delays

August 17, 2020

"In July, you instructed mail carriers to "leave mail behind at distribution centers" if mail could not be completely distributed without overtime, and you eliminated overtime, which letter carriers typically use to complete mail distribution," wrote Wyden, Merkley, DeFazio, Blumenauer, Bonamici and Schrader. "This needless and reckless change in precedent has already led to delayed delivery of bills, checks and prescription drugs."

"Unexpected delays at any point during this window could easily prevent Oregonians' and Americans' ballots from counting in the November 3 general election," the Oregon lawmakers wrote. "USPS' own General Counsel Thomas Marshall has said the same. Make no mistake: We consider these contrived delays to be blatant election interference."

Wyden, Merkley, DeFazio, Blumenauer, Bonamici and Schrader said the Postal Service needs support and investment to continue reliably serving all Americans and our constituents, not arbitrary bureaucratic hurdles and slowdowns.