U.S. Congresswoman Cindy Axne

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a bill cosponsored by the Congresswoman for Iowa’s Third District that would block and reverse operational and service level changes at the United States Postal Service.

Representative Cindy Axne (D) says that U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has implemented changes such as removing necessary sorting equipment, directing mail to be left behind, and cutting overtime that have delayed mail delivery times nationwide. Following calls to reverse course, DeJoy has stated he would pause all initiatives until after the November election, but he hasn’t committed to undoing changes that have already been made. Axne says the Delivering for America Act would maintain standards for efficient and effective service while also providing $25 billion in emergency funding for USPS, “The $25 billion for the USPS is part of the funding that the bipartisan United States Postal Service Board of Governors requested in April to help them deal with the impact of coronavirus. So they did request this funding because they need it, you know, they’ve gotten that losses that are up against the same time last year.”

Axne adds that the pandemic has shown what an indispensable service the USPS is to Iowans, especially those who rely on the service for running their small businesses, to receive prescription medication, and communicate with those they love. The six page bill would require that all official election mail be treated as first-class mail, and reverse any already implemented changes that could delay mail delivery.