Due to long-standing operational challenges that have caused persistent mail delays in the St. Louis region, U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO) wants the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to submit a report to Congress detailing mail and package delivery service performance in the area.
“I constantly hear complaints from constituents and neighbors about the complete lack of accountability in the USPS and their frequent inability to deliver mail and critical packages like medications on time,” Rep. Wagner said. “People rely on this service, and we expect the Postal Service to do their job and deliver the mail on time.”
The congresswoman on April 30 cosponsored the St. Louis Postal Accountability and Reform (STL Up To PAR) Act, H.R. 8599, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell (D-MO) and fellow cosponsor U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL) to address the situation.
H.R. 8599 would build upon two audits conducted last year by the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General (OIG), which provided a list of recommendations to improve service in the region. Postmaster General David Steiner has also since engaged with Congress on corrective actions.
If enacted, H.R. 8599 would require USPS to document delivery performance benchmarked against national averages; workforce conditions, including vacancy and turnover rates; the status of corrective actions on all OIG recommendations; and the management systems in place to prevent recurrence.
“I have brought in USPS leadership to hold them accountable for their service failures, but it’s clear more needs to be done,” said Rep. Wagner. “The St. Louis Postal Accountability and Reform Act will provide for clear service benchmarks so we can ensure they are fixing these problems on an appropriate timeline and with full transparency.”
The bill is not to penalize USPS, but to give both Congress and constituents a clearer picture of where things stand and where work remains, according to Rep. Wagner.
“The mail delays in the St. Louis region have gone on for far too long,” added Rep. Bell. “I’ve heard from constituents who wait for weeks on prescription medications, benefit checks, and utility notices — mail that can’t be late. The St. Louis Up To PAR Act will give us real accountability for whether USPS is delivering on its commitments.”