Sen. Bennet Urges USPS To Put Savings Toward Reducing Mail Delivery Delays

By Sara Wilson, Colorado Newsline

October 26, 2022

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado is urging the country’s top postal officials to keep in mind specific mail-delivery improvements as they work to incorporate savings from a federal reform bill into operations.

“As you plan for the cost savings and transparency measures from the Postal Service Reform Act, it is imperative that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) seize this opportunity to improve on-time deliveries, service, and operations,” Bennet, a Democrat, wrote to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and Postal Regulatory Commission Chairman Michael Kubayanda.

The Postal Service Reform Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law in April, is estimated to save the USPS about $45 billion over the next 10 years in order to move the service into financial stability, mainly by repealing a retiree health benefit pre-funding mandate. For transparency, the law also requires a public online dashboard with performance data.

Bennet wants DeJoy and Kubayanda to consider how to use the significant savings to reduce delivery delays, make it easier for communities that don’t have home delivery to receive mail, and work to improve third-party delivery from companies like Amazon and Walmart.

"During the first quarter of 2022, it took a piece of mail and average of 2.7 days to be delivered," according to the USPS.

Bennet emphasized the importance of timely mail delivery in Colorado with its mail voting system.

“In Colorado, voters also rely on USPS to receive and return their mail-in ballots. It is therefore essential that USPS maintains its delivery standards and honors its commitment to serve every community. Beyond publicizing delivery data, as required by PSRA, meaningful infrastructure improvements at processing facilities and local Post Offices could also help reduce delays,” he wrote.

Bennet also called on DeJoy and Kubayanda to reduce barriers to delivery for communities that don’t have home delivery, which are often rural or remote. In September, USPS announced that "people who live in Buena Vista, which does not have home delivery, will be able to get P.O. boxes for free starting in 2023."

Finally, Bennet urged the two to consider infrastructure investments to ease the strain caused by large e-commerce deliveries for companies like Amazon and Walmart. While those contracts between the companies and USPS bring in needed revenue, the increase in shipments can put stress on facilities and staff.

Bennet and Sen. John Hickenlooper, also a Colorado Democrat, voted for the Postal Service Reform Act, as did Democratic Reps. Jason Crow, Diana DeGette, Joe Neguse and Ed Perlmutter. Republican Reps. Lauren Boebert, Ken Buck and Doug Lamborn voted against it.

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