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Charlotte NC

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to Rep. Adams: "I don't know."

August 24, 2020

DeJoy faces criticism for changes in postal operations at committee meeting

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12)questioned Postmaster General Louis DeJoy at a meeting of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

A video of Rep. Adams' question time is available here.

"The recurring theme I kept hearing from Postmaster General DeJoy was 'I don't know'," said Congresswoman Adams. He doesn't know how many blue boxes were taken. He doesn't know why our Veterans are getting their medications late, or why goods that our small businesses rely on are arriving spoiled. He doesn't know the cost of Priority Mail or the kind of stamp he needs to mail a postcard. He doesn't know if his own mail is coming. The fact is: he just don't know. Unfortunately for us, Mr. Postmaster General, not knowing is not good enough."

"What I know is that our most vulnerable neighbors are relying on institutions like the US Postal Service for critical deliveries. Our courageous postal workers and letter carriers have been essential in keeping our country on track during this pandemic. Meanwhile, our Postmaster General has been getting in their way. He doesn't know if he's talked to the Trump Administration, but he's made quite the mess out of something that he's inherited. If I asked him if that sounds like our President, I already know what the answer would be: 'I don't know'," concluded Adams.

The hearing comes at the same time as newly uncovered internal Postal Service documents warning Postmaster General DeJoy about steep declines and increasing delays nationwide over the last two months, delays that are far worse than originally believed.

Yet despite the urgent need for action, Congressional Republicans and the Trump Administration have repeatedly claimed that there are "no delays" with the mail and "no data," suggesting the delays are no more than "conspiracy theories."

Congresswoman Alma Adams represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte) and serves as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture. Additionally, she serves on the House Financial Services Committee and the House Education & Labor Committee, where she serves as Chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee.