Wasserman Schultz Leads Unanimous Bipartisan Push to Ensure Postal Facility Access, Oversight

Washington, June 17, 2024
When the time came for me to inspect a postal facility, to do a walk through, to drop by and really see what was going on there in my district, I was denied – not once, but twice. That’s simply unacceptable. We are Members of Congress. We do oversee the Postal Service. And when there is an issue, that service cannot be an impenetrable forcefield. They do not have the right to block access to us or to our staff to conduct the proper oversight.

Washington D.C. – When mail routinely arrives late or postal employees face workplace and equipment challenges, Congress must be able to transparently inspect and address what causes these problems. Last week, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) led a unanimous vote by the full House Appropriations Committee to ensure Congress Members have unrestrained access to U.S. Postal Service facilities to help ensure delivery delays, lost or undelivered mail, equipment shortages, or worker concerns are fully and swiftly addressed.

“When the time came for me to inspect a postal facility, to do a walk through, to drop by and really see what was going on there in my district, I was denied – not once, but twice,” said Wasserman Schultz. “That’s simply unacceptable. We are Members of Congress. We do oversee the Postal Service. And when there is an issue, that service cannot be an impenetrable forcefield. They do not have the right to block access to us or to our staff to conduct the proper oversight.”

The Wasserman Schultz USPS oversight measure is the only amendment to receive unanimous support in the House Appropriations markup process, so far. Wasserman Schultz began her push for this transparency after she was denied access in previous attempts to inspect South Florida postal facilities. Other members were denied access around the nation.

Her amendment stated that no federal funds could be used to prevent Members from entering “any facility owned or leased by the United States Postal Service used for the delivery of letters, printed materials, or mailable packages, including acceptance, collection, sorting, transportation , or other functions ancillary thereto, or to make any temporary modification at any such facility that in any way alters what is observed by a visiting member of Congress or such designated employee.”

To read the full amendment, which was cosponsored by Rep. Ashley Hinson (IA-02) and Henry Cuellar (TX-28), click here. The bill and amendment now go to the full House, and if approved, on to the Senate. To become law, the amendment must be a part of any legislation signed by President Biden. But the measure enjoyed early unanimous support, and other members, including Republican Members of the committee, spoke in favor of the oversight amendment.

“The USPS’s lack of financial accountability to Congress leads to unresponsiveness to both members of Congress and the public they serve,” said Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, (FL-26), who spoke during debate on the amendment. “Excessive red tape and bureaucracy are just two of the many existing issues. That’s why during the full committee markup for FY25 Financial Services and General Government funding bill, I supported Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s amendment which rejects bureaucratic overreach by allowing unannounced visits by Congress members to USPS facilities, ensuring greater accountability.”

Click here to listen to the Congresswoman’s full remarks on her successful oversight amendment.

 

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