Today in a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC) Committee Hearing U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) pushed Postmaster General and United States Postal Service (USPS) CEO Louis DeJoy for a timeline to rebuild the Post Office in Baring, Mo. that was destroyed in 2023. Senator Hawley also asked for an update on the ongoing postal delays in Kansas City and St. Louis, Mo.
In regard to the Post Office in Baring, Mo., Senator Hawley said, “this is a rural community in my state, and they don’t have a post office at all. What bothers me is I haven’t heard anything about the timeline for getting it rebuilt […] I’m frustrated by the fact that it has been months and months, and I was told ninety days in September, and this is now the middle of April, and here we are.”
Mr. DeJoy did not provide an update on the timeline for the rebuild, but committed to Senator Hawley that he would get him one.
Regarding the ongoing postal delays in Kansas City, Mo. Senator Hawley said, “We have seen a tripling of casework reports in Kansas City, folks who are just saying they’re just not getting their mail […] This is happening in Kansas City, and frankly in St. Louis on the other side of the state as well.”
Senator Hawley then asked for an update on the implementation of the Inspector General’s recommendations on the delayed mail process.
Mr. DeJoy explained that contracting issues resulted in the delays, but claimed that the issue should slowly be resolved and conditions improved.
Click here or above to watch the full exchange.
Background
Following the destruction of the Baring, Mo. post office in 2023, Senator Hawley has continually advocated for a rebuild of the facility. Senator Hawley introducedthe 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.
Most recently, Senator Hawley along with HSGAC Chairman Gary Peters (D-Mich.) sent a letter to Mr. DeJoy urging the United States Postal Service (USPS) to reopen the Baring, Mo., Post Office, and reopen other post offices it has placed under “emergency suspension” due to natural disasters or the need for repairs.
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.