The United States Postal Service (USPS) needs to get its act together – it is not serving the American people in the most efficient and expeditious ways possible. This is a problem that you have probably either experienced first-hand or have heard about from friends, family, or even neighbors, or even in the media. As you know, I read the mail that I receive from constituents, and one of the most common topics that people write to me about is their utter disappointment with the current state of the USPS. It’s a persistent, nagging issue for so many, me included. This is certainly something that I’ve put my time and efforts into addressing in the People’s House.

On Tuesday, at the House Oversight Committee’s hearing on the financial future of the USPS, I questioned the current Postmaster General about the glaring deficiencies of the USPS, and what he plans to do to fix them. In my line of questioning to the Postmaster General, I outlined just a few select instances – and believe me, there are many more I could have called his attention to – of problems that I have experienced with the USPS personally, as well as problems my staff have run into as well. One such example provided was how I had mailed valentines to members of my family and they are still over 30 days late in being delivered. Of course, another glaring issue that all of us understand is that while the productivity of the USPS has declined, Americans have been getting repeated rate increases and lower service. This is unacceptable.

Another pertinent issue that is always on my mind is how rural communities, like many across our beautiful district, are getting the short end of the stick in terms of the service they receive from the USPS. The service in rural areas has been degraded significantly, and many people have been hurt by this. I brought this issue to the attention of the Postmaster General as well during the hearing. With compounding financial losses, a serious lapse in operational efficiency, and slower service being provided, the USPS should get its act together and find ways to reform its glaring problems. This is something that I will continue to call attention to, and demand answers every step of the way.

An Interesting Read

Recently, Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) penned a pointed op-ed in Fox News that calls attention to the Democrats’ refusal to fund the Department of Homeland Security. In his piece, he highlights the numerous threats to the American homeland that have occurred over the past couple of weeks, and why delay in funding this critical agency leaves the nation vulnerable to all manner of threats. I certainly share his sentiments – it’s past time for Washington Democrats to stop playing political games and vote alongside Republicans to keep our homeland safe.

Here’s a short excerpt:

We all know some Democrats hate President Trump more than the Devil hates holy water, but we’ve seen four apparent terrorist attacks in two weeks. The Department of Homeland Security isn’t a pawn in a political game. We need these officers focused on spotting sleeper cells, not their missing paychecks.

To read the full op-ed, click here.

A Piece of American History

In 1774, the First Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Association in response to Britain’s enactment of the Intolerable Acts. The Articles asserted that the colonies would “encourage frugality, economy, and industry, and promote agriculture, arts and the manufactures of this country.” Its writers believed that for the colonies to survive without Great Britain, they should turn to self-reliance and a preservation of resources. The Articles also served as inspiration for the drafting and adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

To learn more, click here. 

Quote of The Week

“Sometimes it seems as if there are more solutions than problems. On closer scrutiny, it turns out that many of today's problems are a result of yesterday's solutions.”

-Thomas Sowell

Have a blessed weekend,