Sen. Ossoff Introduces Major Legislation to Strengthen Congressional Oversight over Postmaster General, U.S. Postal Service

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is introducing legislation to strengthen Congressional oversight over the United States Postmaster General and the U.S. Postal Service.

Today, Sen. Ossoff introduced the Postmaster General Reform Act of 2024, which would make the position of Postmaster General subject to a Presidential appointment with confirmation required by the U.S. Senate, similar to other Administration positions.

Currently, the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors appoints a new Postmaster General, without any action by Congress.

Sen. Ossoff's Postmaster General Reform Act would also create Term Limits for the Postmaster General, with a maximum of two, 5-year terms. Currently, there are no term limits for the position.

Under Sen. Ossoff's new legislation, the Senate-confirmed Postmaster General must again win confirmation by the U.S. Senate in order to serve a second 5-year term, establishing greater oversight and accountability.

If passed into law, Sen. Ossoff's Postmaster General Reform Act would go into effect with the next appointment of an individual to serve as Postmaster General, requiring a Presidential appointment and Senate confirmation

"What we have seen in the State of Georgia over the last year has been abysmal performance by U.S. Postal Service leadership," Sen. Ossoff said in a virtual news conference. "This is about whether seniors are receiving their medication in the mail, whether citizens are receiving vital notices from the court, and whether small businesses can function. High-quality postal service can't be a luxury; it is a necessity, and we see the importance now of holding the Postmaster General accountable to the elected representatives of the people in the U.S. Senate."

Sen. Ossoff has remained focused on applying maximum pressure on USPS leadership and conducting vigorous oversight of the USPS to resolve challenges Georgia families and businesses continue facing since issues arose early this year with the failed rollout of the new Regional Processing and Distribution Center in Palmetto.

Last month, Sen. Ossoff launched an inquiry with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) after receiving reports from Georgia constituents that they are being charged penalties and interest fees on late or missing filings and payments that they mailed to the IRS via USPS.

In July, Sen. Ossoff met in Washington, D.C. with USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to continue pressing for improved mail delivery service for Georgia families and businesses.

In June, Sen. Ossoff launched an inquiry with the U.S. Postal Service Inspector General after Fulton County Clerk of Courts Ché Alexander uncovered that over 1,100 official pieces of Court correspondence - including notices of hearings, orders from the Court, and other legal documents - never reached intended recipients and had returned to the Court marked as "return to sender" by USPS.

In May, Sen. Ossoff launched a new inquiry requesting an update from USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on the current on-time delivery statistics in the metro Atlanta area as families and businesses continue to face lengthy delays.

On April 16, Sen. Ossoff questioned Postmaster General DeJoy under oath during a U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing about the delays.

In March, Sen. Ossoff launched a first inquiry with USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to provide detailed answers and explanation amid growing reports of missing and delayed mail processed through the Regional Processing and Distribution Center.

Click here to read the Postmaster General Reform Act of 2024.

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