Graves and Cleaver Welcome Investigation into Kansas City Mail Delivery Issues, Reiterate Need for Postmaster General to Listen
Washington, D.C – Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05) welcomed news from the United States Postal Service (USPS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) that they will commence an audit of delayed mail and delivery operations in the Northland and Kansas City area.
“I’m glad the Postal Service finally decided to wake up and investigate what’s causing these delivery issues, but this must result in action,” Congressman Graves said. “The people of Kansas City and the Northland have been dealing with these delays for months on end. This can’t just be an investigation with a report—there needs to be a plan to fix these issues. The leadership of the United States Postal Service needs to understand just what they’ve been putting Missourians through and any investigation must take into account the voices of Missourians who have been affected by these delays.”
“After months of mail delivery delays and substandard service for Kansas Citians, I’m pleased the USPS Office of the Inspector General has heard our complaints and is taking action—but more will be needed before I’m satisfied my constituents have been taken care of,” said Congressman Cleaver. “I’m thankful to the workers of the USPS and Office of Inspector General for initiating an audit into the challenges in maintaining the Congressionally mandated six days per week mail service for the Kansas City area; however, until concrete action is taken to actually address these challenges, I believe Postmaster General DeJoy should still hear directly from Missourians to understand how his leadership has created unnecessary difficulties for families and small businesses in the heartland.”
The announcement that the USPS OIG will conduct an audit of delayed mail and delivery operations in the Northland and the Kansas City area follows Reps. Graves and Cleaver’s letter to USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on Monday, demanding the Postmaster General come to Kansas City, listen to the concerns of area residents, deliver a plan to fix mail delivery issues, and fulfill the USPS’s legal obligation to deliver mail 6 days per week.
The Congressmen also sent an October 11, 2022 letter to Postmaster General DeJoy, expressing concerns about the agency’s failure to fulfill their Congressionally mandated duty to provide six-day mail delivery. In December, the Postal Service responded by complaining about low unemployment rates in the Kansas City area and encouraging residents to apply to work at the Postal Service, without offering any plan for the agency to fulfill their Congressional mandate to provide reliable six-day mail delivery.
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