U.S. Reps. Sam Graves (R-MO) and Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) called for an end to U.S. Postal Service price increases on stamps, last week.
In response to the USPS’s fourth rate increase in the last 18 months, the two Congressmen led colleagues in calling for the agency to legitimize another price hike for consumers. In a letter to the USPS Board of Governors Chairman Roman Martinez, the lawmaker said the agency needs to address failings of the Delivering for America Plan and turn around performance issues first.
“We write to express concern over the negative impact these frequent rate increases have had on mail volume, customer volume, the overall financial viability of the USPS, and the pocketbooks of our constituents,” the Congress members wrote. “While price increase may increase profit on one side of their ledger, USPS’s leadership has failed to acknowledge the adverse effects price rates have had on their bottom line.”
In 2021, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced the Delivering for America Plan that he said would make the agency more efficient, competitive and profitable. DeJoy said the plan would lead to the agency breaking even in 2023. However, not only did the USPS not break even, the agency lost $65 billion in Fiscal Year 2023, and expects to lose another $6.3 billion this fiscal year, even after additional stamp increases.
“Given last fiscal year’s disastrous financial results and widespread service issues, we once again echo our concerns regarding the Delivering for America plan, and believe the USPS must pause and reassess its aggressive rate increase strategy,” the lawmakers wrote. “Since USPS management has indicated it does not intend to deviate from twice-yearly postal rate increases, at least through 2026, it is the responsibility of the USPS Board of Governors to intervene before more damage is done to the financial viability of the U.S. mailing industry and the long-term sustainability of the USPS.”
The Missouri Congressmen have voiced concerns numerous times over USPS performance issues in their state, including failure to fulfill the congressionally mandated duty to deliver the mail six days a week. And in March 2023, Graves and Cleaver called on DeJoy to deliver a plan to address mail delivery delays, and fulfill the agency’s obligation for a six-day delivery week. Following the letter, the USPS Office of Inspector General said they would conduct an audit of delayed mail and delivery operations in the state.