Today in a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) nominations hearing for the United States Postal Service (USPS) Board of Governors, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) questioned Val Demings, William Zollars, and Gordon Hartogensis on their commitment to combatting rural mail delivery issues.
Senator Hawley confronted the nominees about the Postal Service’s proposed “Regional Transportation Optimization” plan that would harm mail delivery in rural areas across the country, including in Missouri. He referenced the letter the Missouri Farm Bureau sent yesterday to the Postmaster General raising similar concerns. The Senator asked for the nominees’ commitment to “reconsider this proposal and make sure rural Americans […] are getting full and regular delivery of the mail.”
Senator Hawley also asked the nominees whether they would prioritize rebuilding and reopening rural post offices that have been damaged by severe weather, especially the Baring, Mo., Post Office, which was destroyed by a tornado roughly a year ago.
“Are you willing to commit to me today that if confirmed, you will work to get rural post offices—all post offices, but it’s particularly acute in our rural areas that have been put out of service—will you commit to me to working to get those reopened on a timely basis?” Senator Hawley asked.
All three nominees pledged to work to reopen the damaged post offices.
Senator Hawley has been a vocal advocate for timely, reliable mail delivery, particularly in rural areas. He played a key role in reopening the post office in Vichy, Mo., which had been closed for three years due to termite damage. He has pressed USPS CEO Louis DeJoy for a timeline to rebuild the Post Office in Baring, Mo., Senator Hawley also introduced the Rural Post Office Reconstruction Act of 2023 which would establish a clear timeframe for reopening rural post offices that experience closure due to natural disaster damage or other unforeseen circumstances.
Since 2022, Senator Hawley has pushed the USPS for answers and improvements on the postal delays across Kansas City, Mo., sending letters to the USPS Inspector General and Mr. DeJoy.
Click here or above to watch the full exchange.