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Sarbanes, Maryland Congressional Delegation Urge Local USPS Leaders to Improve Mail Delivery

February 5, 2021

In New Letters to Maryland USPS District Leaders, Lawmakers Cite Aggravating Mail Delays, Worsening Problems with Parcels and Plummeting Public Trust

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined the Maryland Congressional Delegation in urging local United States Postal Service (USPS) managers in the Capital District and in the Baltimore District to resolve persistent and widespread mail delivery delays across the state. The local USPS push comes after the Delegation demanded yesterday that USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy use emergency federal funding to help speed up mail delivery nationwide.

"Packages have been delayed while mail has been delivered to the wrong addresses or not delivered at all," the lawmakers wrote. "These problems have not subsided since the end of the holiday season. In fact, we have heard increasingly urgent stories from more and more constituents throughout the past month."

The lawmakers continued: "At a time when so many Marylanders are already experiencing financial hardship, these problems are leading to the imposition of improper late fees after bills are delayed in the mail. The delivery of essential checks, including economic impact payments, has also been affected."

The lawmakers concluded: "We understand that these delays are not unique to the Capital District [and the Baltimore District] and that like other districts nationwide, you are facing both elevated demand and staffing challenges resulting from the accelerated spread of COVID-19 in our region. Based on our conversations with representatives of postal unions and employees in Maryland, we are also aware that many of the operational changes pursued by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy contribute to the delays…. We are committed to working with you to restore reliable postal service as soon as possible."

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