US House Democrats Call on Biden to Appoint New U.S. Postal Board Members, Reported by Reuters

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON – Over 80 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives recently called on President Joe Biden to nominate two candidates to fill open positions on the U.S. Postal Board of Governors. The lawmakers expressed concerns regarding slow mail deliveries and rising costs associated with postal services.

The letter, spearheaded by Representative Jamie Raskin, the ranking Democrat on the committee that oversees the Postal Service, highlighted that there have been five price increases for stamps since 2020. The most recent hike took effect on January 21, raising the price from 66 cents to 68 cents.

The signatories urged Biden to select candidates who would prioritize reducing costs for the public, noting that the terms of two board governors expired in December.

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) reported a net loss of $6.5 billion for the fiscal year ending September 30, and it does not expect to achieve financial stability in 2024 as its first-class mail volume has dropped to its lowest level since 1968.

The letter stated, "Unfortunately, the Postal Service currently suffers from slow rates of delivery service and increased costs." Among other representatives who signed the letter were Raja Krishnamoorthi, Rosa DeLauro, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Gerald Connolly, and Maxine Waters.

The lawmakers expressed concern over the current postal leadership’s decisions. They criticized the continued price increases, which they described as reaching "uncomfortable rates" across the country, citing previous statements from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.

In a letter dated January 10, DeJoy acknowledged USPS’s ongoing losses and emphasized the need for continued cost-cutting measures, warning that failure to do so could lead to cash shortages, creating additional challenges for Congress.

USPS has been implementing significant stamp price increases and is undergoing a 10-year restructuring plan aimed at addressing projected losses of $160 billion over the next decade.

A White House official stated that the administration plans to consult with Congress to fill the two vacant seats, following the same approach used for all previous board nominees.

USPS has indicated its openness to new board members who can provide diverse insights, unique perspectives, and professional experience to enhance decision-making processes.

In April 2022, Biden signed legislation that allocated approximately $50 billion in financial relief to the USPS over a ten-year period.

In 2023, first-class mail volume fell by 6.1% to 46 billion pieces, marking a 53% decrease since 2006. However, increased stamp prices resulted in a revenue boost of $515 million. Stamp prices have risen by 36% since early 2019. First-class mail, which many individuals use for sending letters and paying bills, remains the USPS’s highest revenue-generating category, accounting for $24.5 billion, or 31% of the agency’s revenue in 2023.