Chairman Connolly to Hold Field Hearing on Postal Service’s Poor Delivery Performance in Baltimore
Washington D.C. (February 10, 2022)—On Monday, February 14, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. ET, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations will hold a field hearing in Baltimore, Maryland to examine the longstanding poor performance of the U.S. Postal Service in the greater Baltimore area, including an examination of the root causes and potential solutions to slow mail service.
Baltimore residents experience some of the worst postal service performance in the country. Single-Piece First-Class Mail designated for three-to-five-day delivery in the Baltimore area arrived on time only 63.2% of the time in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2021.
Throughout 2020, Postal Service senior staff, including the Postmaster General, made consequential operational changes to mail and package delivery without consulting customers. These changes worsened delivery service performance in the Baltimore area and disrupted critical delivery services amidst a global pandemic to the detriment of mailers and customers. Recent performance in Baltimore has improved, but Baltimore has more often than not underperformed the nationwide average since Fiscal Year 2012.
This hearing will examine the root causes of postal service delays and the Postal Service’s plans to address them, as well as highlight the need for robust congressional oversight of the Postal Service.
At approximately 2:00 p.m. ET, at the conclusion of the field hearing, Chairman Connolly and members of the Maryland congressional delegation will hold a press conference to recap the information uncovered at the hearing.
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WHAT:
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Subcommittee on Government Operations hearing entitled “Waiting on the Mail: Postal Service Standard Drops in Baltimore and the Surrounding Area.”
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WHEN:
WHERE: |
Monday, February 14, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. ET
University of Baltimore John and Frances Angelos Law Center Baetjer Howard Moot Court Room 1401 North Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21201 |
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WHO:
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Mr. Eric Gilbert Acting Executive Postmaster, Baltimore U.S. Postal Service
Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Audit Office of Inspector General U.S. Postal Service
Mail Processing Clerk and Shop Steward U.S. Postal Service
Mr. Chuck Metzger Controller ReBUILD Metro |
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WATCH: |
A livestream will be available on YouTube and the Committee on Oversight and Reform website. |
PRESS CONFERENCE:
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WHEN: |
2:00 p.m. ET (or immediately following the hearing)
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WHERE: |
12th Floor Reading Room |
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WHO:
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Rep. Gerald E. Connolly Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations Senator Ben Cardin
Senator Chris Van Hollen
Rep. Kweisi Mfume
Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger
Rep. John Sarbanes |
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MEDIA:
In light of current guidance from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and OAP, all members of the press must wear must properly fitted, medical-grade, filtration face masks (KN95 or N95 masks) masks at all times, regardless of vaccination status. The University of Baltimore expects all visitors, including members of the press, will also be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Seating in the hearing room is limited and as a result, credentialed media must RSVP to the Oversight Committee Democrats Press Office at oversightpress@mail.house.gov no later than 5 p.m. ET on February 13, 2022.
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