Transcripts For CSPAN3 U.S. Postal Service Officials Testify On Holiday Preparations 20221116

Going on in this country. I mean the unemployment is ridiculous. And it is just going to get worse. It is like, things follow things. No employment, no sales, no money. And it just keeps escalating. Not escalating, but going downhill. Okay. Lets hear from karen in pennsylvania, democrats. Line yeah, hi. I was really just just to say the least about Donald Trumps announcement. I did listen to it briefly. We will leave this here to continue with live coverage this afternoon. U. S. Postal Service Officials are testifying on holiday preparations before a house subcommittee. Live coverage here on cspan 3. Welcome everybody todays hybrid hearing. Sorry to keep you waiting. I got stuck on the floor. The for the house rules, some appear in persons other faux pas appear by zoom. We are all familiar with soon by now. First the house rules will require that we see you, so please have the chemist or not at all times. Second, members appearing remotely who are not right i should remain muted to minimize background noise and feedback. And they can, if they seek recognition, they can do so verbally or by chat room or contacting staff. We will begin the hearing now. Thank you, aiden. Okay, committee will come to order. Without objection, chairs offer. Mister chair, i dont have a question. Weve all been here almost half an hour. In view of things that we have going on here, could we motion to adjourn so that we can actually start on time and be prepared to be able to spend the full time here . Because we are not going to run half an hour past where we were and i have got other things going on and i would like to participate in the meeting. And we planned on the, we were here on time, as were all these people. We are here to talk about the post office of service, and they are not the ones who showed up 25 minutes late. So id make a motion to adjourn i think the gentleman for his courtesy and civility. He has moved to adjourn. The motion is not debatable. All of those in favor, say. I i. All those opposed, no. The noes have it. A vote has been requested, i asked the clerk to join the meeting, given the fact that the gentleman is so concerned about the expenditure of time, im a little surprised that we are going to spend this time on this motion, but we are. If you can waste, time i can do. Again, i think the gentleman for his ability. A great way to start the session. It is the clerk, the clerk is on the way. I apologize to our panel for this delay. I will make a note while we are waiting for the clerk. We have request to waive members onto the subcommittee as participants for the purpose of the hearing. Those members are Debbie Wasserman scholes, william pascrell, josh and crazy mchugh me. I just noted it, i didnt ask for consent yet. I thought i would feel of the time. So we are not. We are also joined by our distinguished chairwoman, Carolyn Maloney. For the purpose of this committee. I would necessitate, let me introduce them informally, our Tammy Wickham homes Inspector General for u. S. Postal service, paul had golden, National Presence of National Postal Mail Handlers Union. Edmund carly, National Presence in the united postmasters and managers of america, michael plunk, president xi projects that couldve officer of the postal commerce. Gregory white, executive manager of Strategic Initiatives for the u. S. Postal service. We look forward to your testimony and we will swear you in as soon as this motion. We are still trying to get the clerk to come. With. I will hope that members are alerted to the fact that there is a recorded vote pending, and make themselves available. We have a clerk. The clerk will call the roll the motion is to adjourn. All those in favor will say i and all those opposed will say nay. The chair has already ruled that verbally the nays have it. The clerk will call the roll. Mr. Connolly. They. Miss norton. Could you repeat, miss norton. I dont think she heard. It no. Miss norton votes no. Mr. Davis. Mr. Sarbanes . Miss lawrence . No. Miss lawrence about snow. Mr. Lynch . Mr. Raskin . Raskin vote no on adjournment. Mr. Raskin votes. No mister colonel . Miss porter . Porter votes. No miss porter votes. No miss brown . Brown folks know. Miss brown votes. No mister heiss . Yes. Mr. Hice votes yes. Mr. Color . Yes. Mr. Keller votes yes. Mr. Cline . If mr. Biggs . Miss mays . Mr. Laturner . Miss herrell . Miss maloney . Miss maloney votes no. The clerk will record the vote. We have two eyes and seven maze. The motion is not agreed to. I recognize myself for my Opening Statement. Last year we held a hearing in chicago too messy with deteriorating meld of liberal performance this february we visited baltimore. The city with the worst mealtime delivery rating in the nation. Two months ago we met in philadelphia, a city beside for postal performance and onside conditions for postal workers. Today we are back in d. C. We are here right before the Postal Service is pivotal holiday rush. For our fourth hearing, examining postal delivery in just 13 months. During the season a rush of packages place additional strain on the workforce and logistics network. Resulting inconsistent drops in on time delivery for home mail. Todays hearing will thoughtfully and thoroughly examined i hope, the Postal Service is preparations for peak season. We will hear from postal Service Officials, Postal Service workers, managers, mailers, and Inspector General. About what flows down mail delivery and what steps the Postal Service has taken it could take to mitigate those delays. In fact today the Postal Service office of the fire general released a new report entitled fiscal year 2023 peak season preparedness. Which examines the Postal Services peak season preparations. We look forward to hearing insights from the Inspector General. Families, businesses, and communities rely on a male yearround, and a particular during the season. Our subcommittee aims to ensure that the Postal Service is taking all steps possible to deliver this Holiday Season. In 2020, at the height of the covid19 pandemic, the Postal Service had its worst peak season in recent years, with a nationwide on time delivery performance in game two lows of 67. 4 . In december for first class single piece letters. Fortunately, nation wide ontime delivery performance improved. During the following year. While we certainly recognize this progress, some of the improving this is the result of the Poll Services on changes to delivery standards making it easier for them to meet lower standards. Costeffective Reliable Service is vital for the Postal Services long term survival. Late or lost deliveries can humbug the holiday spirit. In the short term, and may drive mill as a way in of the long term. The Postal Service preparing for this years peak season by hiring seasonablys, leasing additional facilities, and taking other measures. And that is good. Unfortunately, early recent reports indicate that the Postal Service is struggling to hire those temporary workers because of tight labor market and insufficient wages and benefits. Especially in communities with high cost of living. Failure to meet these targets puts additional strain on frontline employees, mail handlers, managers, and those along the emails by chain. Injuries can increase delivery and slow it. In april, Congress Passed the Postal Service reform act. Which i was proud to sponsor with our chair and the Ranking Member. This mountain generational legislation puts a Postal Service on the path to financial solvency. In fact, just last week the Postal Service reported that the bill added 57 billion dollars to fiscal year 2022 revenue. It is our job in congress to make certain that the peaceful service use insists new authorities and seize opportunities to grow its profitability. Congress remains police to ensure that the Postal Service executes its new about appropriately. Congress also needs to make certain that the Postal Service is accessible to everybody. We must ensure that rate increases for shipping mailing packages to not make the Postal Service a service for the privileged. That is why we introduced the ensuring accurate postal rates act. This bill would require the Postal Regulatory Commission to reconsider if the Postal Service needs increased right making 40 when accounting for the positive financial effects of the postal reform act. The Postal Service has a statutory obligation to deliver the mail to 163 million households across the country every day. Peak Holiday Season should be the time for the Postal Service to showcase its ability to deliver for this nation. Today we will ensure that the Postal Service is ready to meet that moment. The chair now recognizes the Ranking Member for his Opening Statement. Thank you, very much chairman calm connally. I think it is important not to lose sight of a very important facts. That is that despite the passage of the Postal Service reform act, the Postal Service is still in very bad Financial Condition. With, we have like wise asked louis dejoy to perform something just shy of a miracle. The Postal Service may be a beloved and vital american institution, but the p. S. Are a did not change the fact that it is based on an outdated Business Model when it comes to delivering mail. Mr. Dejoy has come up with a plan to try to save the Postal Service, but obviously implementing such a plan involves change. And it has to. Doing the same old thing is simply not going to work. And look, i appreciate the fact that they change makes people nervous. I understand that. And i appreciate the message that stakeholders want more information about the Postal Services plan. And i would encourage Postal Service leadership to be as forthcoming as a county with respect to what they have in mind. It also involves acknowledging mistakes. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle were quick to condemn mr. Dejoy for his initial attempts to improve efficiency. These moves, which involve curtailing unapproved overtime, making sure bluecollar, or blue collection boxes were located in the right places. And making sure that trucks ran on time. All of these portrayed as attempts to steal the 2020 election. I think that is very unfortunate. The Postal Service delivered in that election, both literally and figuratively. And if this election that we are currently involved in, frankly if it ever wraps up unbelievable learn how well the Postal Service did this time around as well. I am given to understand, mr. Dejoy acknowledges his attempts to get the trucks running on time did not work. And that he does not want to repeat that mistake. That is what leaders do. They try, they act, they acknowledge their mistakes, they learn from them and they move on. But quite frankly, if democrats are going to hold mr. Dejoy to a zero fault standard, then they should apply the same standard to the Biden Administration. Lets just say there will be a lot of vacancies. The most important thing is that we have to take action. The most conventional wisdom in all too frequent truth in any kind of federal service is to go along headlong. And that simply is not going to work now. The attitude of dont to rock the boat is unacceptable. The fact is, the boat in this case is sinking. And i applaud mr. Dejoy for trying to keep it afloat. There are no other good options that im aware of. Throughout history this country has struggled to make the Postal Service a viable institution. With the current model fails, i suspect my Democrat Friends wont be lining up to privatized the Postal Service. Entering the Postal Service to appropriated agencies, has filled in spectacular fashion. That is why we have a Postal Service and not a postal department. We have to let the Postal Service focus on its core mission of delivering mail and packages. The democrats want to use a Postal Service i think any pagan for progressive agenda. Why would anyone think that postal banking would be a success . And the insistence that the Postal Service become a Vehicle Charger for the nation is just absolutely misguided in every way. With respect to peak season, it sounds from the Inspector General that the Postal Service has a good plan in place. Obviously that does not guarantee success. But it is a plan. And i look forward to hearing more of that in this hearing. It seems supposed services learned, to me at least from past mistakes. And is proactively working to correct them. And that is why we can fairly be in this hearing today and ask the questions that will be asked. Once the peak season is over, the committee can then take a look at how this peak season went. And i certainly hope to be able to tune into that wherever i may be. With that mister chairman, i think you. And hell. Back i think the gentleman and a note that this is i think his penultimate hearing on the subcommittee and i think of her service and his cooperation and partnership. The chair listed other members seeking to be waived on to the subcommittee for the purpose of course its a painting in this hearing. As our niche action . Seeing and hearing none, it is agreed. If our witnesses whom i have introduced would rise and raise their right hand to be sworn in. Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you are about to get is a truth, whole, truth and nothing but the truth so help you. God let the record show that all the witnesses have answered in the affirmative. I answer i think you. And i now call on our distinguished chairwoman who helped lead a successful effort for postal reform. The First Comprehensive Police Reform in 16 years, Carolyn Maloney for any Opening Statement she may have. Thank you very much chairman connally. And Ranking Member hice. For holding this important and timely hearing. The Postal Service is one of our most cherished and valuable institutions. It is one of the few, i think is really the only Government Service that is mentioned in the constitution of the United States of america. Indicating how important the Postal Services to unify us as a country. I have always been very proud of the fact that one stamp can go to alaska or across the street in new york city and it costs the same. Everyone is treated equally and it, it is a democracy, and everybody receives their male. Our dedicated postal employees deliver to more than 160 million locations. Six days a week, it was one of the provisions of our bill that went from five days to six days, it is now the law that they will be operating six days a week. They operate out the center of a 1. 6 trillion dollar milling industry. That employs more than 7 Million People and nearly delivers, delivers nearly half a world male. Postal workers truly binds our nation to gather. Ensuring that millions of americans have access to essential items like medicine, and Social Security checks. And i might add that through the covid crisis, all of our mail was delivered. Our employees were heroic. Many of them became sick because they were interacting with the public every day with their responsibilities and we owe it out of gratitude to the Postal Service on the role that they played during the covid crisis. We were reminded just last week of the Critical Role the Postal Service plays as millions of americans once again opted to vote by mail. During the Midterm Elections. And in the coming weeks, activity at post offices and Mail Processing plants around the country will ramp up significantly with a wave of holiday mail and packages will be hearing about in this hearing. Unfortunately we all know too well that sometimes oppose a Service Performance has been slower and thus unreliable. We are concerned about operational changes in 2020 that happen without testing them first and without communicating fully with employees or customers. So i am proud that this committee has delivered for pose a gust of hers in recent years. We have delivered with strong oversight and historic bipartisan legislative reform. Earlier this year President Biden signed the bipartisan Postal Service reform act into law. The law which i was proud to coauthor with Ranking Member comer, put the Postal Service on sound financial footing after decades of decline. The new law, lowered Postal Service Retiree Health cost benefits and removed the burdensome retiree profundity obligation. Although preserving sixday delivery and free the Postal Service to experiment with new products and services to help their financial bottom line. I do want to say and ask unanimous consent to put into the record postal moves, the u. S. Postal Service Report for fiscal year 2022. And it shows that our revenue of 78. 5 billion, which is up 1. 5 billion over the previous fiscal year, and also showed a one time non cash benefit of 57 billion due to the Postal Service bipartisan reform legislation. This committee has also led the way in providing. We thank you, mister chairman. This committee has also led the way in providing the Postal Service new resources to replace old unreliable gas guzzling delivery out of date vehicles. At my urging, along with many members of this committee on both sides, the Postal Service will now be using billions of dollars made available in the Inflation Reduction Act to deploy a new electric vehicle flee. And im grateful that the Postal Service has agreed that at least half of the initial order of next generation delivery vehicles will be electric. Now the Postal Service needs to go fully electric and build a robust charging network to support these vehicles, particularly in our rural areas where they complain important role. Over time these investments will reduce costs, improve a liability, and help People Service more efficiently deliver letters and packages. While also contributing to our urgent efforts to cut Greenhouse Gas emissions. Thanks to the work of the committee, the Postal Service is an excellent position to move past the challenges that have held it back in recent years. But i still have concerns about Service Quality of the Postal Service. On time performance has rebounded from a steep decline. We saw in 2020, first class mail is once again delivered on schedule about 90 of the time. But the perfect Postal Service achieve these gains at least in part by weakening its own Service Standards. And as chairman connally has noted, other troubling recent trends like a spike in male fifths threatens americas trust in the mail. We i want to give one, we need to look at the new tenure plan. Which proposes moving sorting and processing activities from local post offices to larger regional facilities. Even though the Inspector General found that a similar plan implemented 20 ton, may not have cut costs or improved operations at all. So i look forward to the igs comments on these proposed changes and whether it will achieve its goal. It is the responsibility of the Postal Service to find ways to overcome difficulties they face and get mail delivered on time. To do this, it is critical to Postal Service leadership remember that it is not a private business, but a public service. Essential to our country. We all want the Postal Service to be financially viable. I understand the need for making tweets is. But offering worse service for higher prices will not increase the publics face in Postal Service. In fact, it might end up pushing people and businesses away from using the Postal Service. We must not allow those service to fail. We have to be there to help them in every way. It must continue providing the Critical Services that millions of americans depend on. This committee is doing its part, and this hearing is an important part of that work. I look forward to todays discussion and again, i think chairman connally and Ranking Member hice for holding this important hearing in and for their leadership on this Critical Service for america. I yield back my balance the time and i look forward to all of the panelists testimony today. Thank you so much. I think the distinguished chairwoman. We have introduced and sworn in the panel. Your full statements will be entered into the record. I know on miss hall for your five minutes of testimony. Welcome. We think. You good afternoon chairman connally, Ranking Member, highs in members of the subcommittee. Thank you for inviting me here today to discuss our work related to the Postal Services readiness for peak season. Our mission is to ensure efficiency, accountability, and integrity and our nations Postal Service and it is a mission we take very seriously. We provide oversight of the puzzle Service Throughout the year, with additional focus on at times when america relies on both service the most such as during elections and the holiday peak season. Our goal is to quickly identify and report problems allowing the Postal Service or promptly address them and providing transparency to postal stakeholders. Each year, we review the Postal Services readiness for the upcoming preseason and report on what we see. After the holidays, we are sure port on in performance during peak season. Last year the Postal Service moved to a strategy of maintaining more employees and facilities base yearround. This strategy along with hiring temporary employees and leasing temporary facilities space, allowed successful delivery of more mail on time throughout the Holiday Season. We just released this years report on the Postal Services readiness for the current peak season. It plans to hire fewer temporary employees and leaves less temporary space than last year. Postal management said it will still be able to provide Timely Delivery because it has more experienced employees, higher employee availability, increased package Processing Capacity and an overall more stable workforce. They also do not expect an increase in volume compared to last year. We have a list of us as a reasonable plan for peak, we did not issue any recommendations. We did however find Postal Services at risk of not being able to lease as much temporary facility space as planned. The Postal Service said acquiring temporary annexes can be difficult in space and not available in some locations. It will activate contingency plans if needed. Using tens, and transferring meals to other postal facilities of needed. Election Mail Processing is another focus of the oig. This past timber, we published a report on the bill services readiness for the 2022 Midterm Elections. We found the Postal Service which ready but not all pose a facilities were compliant with election mail policies. We are wrapping up our review of the 2022 Midterm Election mail performance. And we will report on that in early 2023. For that, work in october, and early november, we conducted more than 800 observations at postal facilities covering all 50 states, washington d. C. , and puerto rico. This extensive effort is used to identify the late election mail, determine compliance with policies and evaluate Service Performance. Leveraging in oig engineered mobile app, we provide Timely Feedback during our field visits to the Postal Service for immediate action. In addition to our peak season election mail offereds, we have other audit work that is focused on quickly recognizing and reporting issues for resolution throughout the year. Last fall we created new audit teams that perform localized facilities specific reviews. These teams perform a cluster of audits simultaneously, while one team of visits a Mail Processing plant, other teams visit 3 to 4 delivery units that receive mail from that plant. This enables us to better focus on surfaces using specific geographic areas that span across processing and delivery. We have also began recent work to address concerns about male theft. Specifically focused on checks and other sensitive documents. One reason for increased theft has been the Postal Service is permitted when controls over keys. The keys that are used by carriers to open collection boxes, parcel occurs and cluster boxing units. In response to this concern, we increased focus on iraqi management during our facility but does that have recently started an audit on how the for Postal Services responding to belfast. We have also increased our investigative work on this critical topic. Another focus of our work is the importance of mail to people who live in rural areas. One of our upcoming audit reports will evaluate how the Postal Service manages change to rule routes. Another will assist the Postal Service is oversight of its contract postal units and village post offices, which are often used in rural areas. We are dedicated to ensuring proper oversight of the Postal Service. We appreciate the opportunity to discuss our work and i am happy to answer your questions. Thank you very much. Mr. Carly will you are recognized for five minutes of testimony. Thank, you chairman connally. Ranking member hice, and members of the subcommittee. On behalf of the United States postmasters and measures of america, my name is edmund farley. I am p e pm National President. Epl may is a Management Association representing more than 24,000 active and retired postmasters, managers, supervisors, and many associate members, clerks, carriers, marylanders and others who would like to be able to management. Ema managers oversee the delivery of over five other million pieces of mail every day to 163 million households in businesses of all sizes in the United States. Went on november 1st, 2021 i begin the second elected National President a vp m. A. Our organization is recognized such currently under title 39th u. S. Code. The statue directs that we consult with the usps to participate directly in the development of trade policies and schedules, fringe benefit programs, and other programs related to supervisory and other managerial employees. I am committed to recruiting, engaging, and developing future leaders for you p m a and the Postal Service. Improving you pm a members work situations, and helping move all those someplace forward as we continue to deliver for the American People. I want to express our strong appreciation of the work of the subcommittee and congress. I cannot overstate how important the positive doubles reform act was two People Services ability to pivot on its path to Self Reliance instability, protecting many pay members rely on most, their post careers and retirement. P. S. Are a address many internal issues that hamper the post office and growing in planning for the future of mail delivery. The relief from retiree pre finding a medicare integration, especially has enabled us to clear up forced passport for the service. The Regulatory Commission positive actions are. Have allowed the usps to continue to see growth and revenues while some mailbox continue to fall. The volume has now is now. To further reduce costs, increase efficiencies, and modernize our system is critical network. I want to highlight the extraordinary measures put in place by postal management and the herculean effort from epa members and the rest of the 650,000 men and women to pose a service. This past election cycle. I would point to those plants and that effort as a great insight into how my members will ensure that the we peak season will be successful. Of course like every business, the Postal Service faces real pressure to perform at the standards that its customs and stakeholders expects a significant responsibility a postmasters. The usps today with sidestepping inflationary challenges across the board, but this doesnt tell the whole story of what my members face in our local post offices. We take our mission seriously. Postmaster that are short staffed many areas of the country are personally delivering mail on some routes in order to fulfill that mission. In some regions, advertise vacancies get no advocates for many posting cycles. Labor market talented are not unique to the Postal Service. The extra security measures involved in hiring federal employees does make the process more difficult. Sometimes when we are able to get an applicant, by the time iran background checks, et cetera, they may have taken other jobs. When you compound that with the retirements and other separations from the service, it will not be an easy to achieve the stated Service Standards that we have, however the Postal Service has weathered situations like this in the past. The upma members are proud of the people that they manage in executing ontime delivery and extraordinary circumstances. Each piece season presents extraordinary challenges. In 2020 we saw delays in plants and transportation. Pandemic related absences crippled the pollster network. Now in 2022, we see a record amount of elected male again. Inflation is a distraction that is heating up many of our resources. Private sector pay and initial benefits are enticing applicants away from the Postal Service. Employee seeking postmaster positions see long hours and difficult working conditions as challenges that may deter them from upward mobility. Making it even more difficult for the Postal Service to attract and retrain qualifying members. The Postal Service has historically managed to deliver for america, despite many factors being against us. I have spoken personally about post issues to many of the members of this Crucial Committee over the past decade. A philosophy of how we make those necessary changes might have deferred, we always agree that a strong, thriving vibrant Postal Service is necessary for america, american democracy, the american economy, and the thousands of dedicated Public Services that rely on usps jobs to support the family. Thank you for the opportunity to share upmas views on the issues facing the United States Postal Service. I look forward to your questions. Thank you. Exactly on time. Incredible sorry, for your testimony. Chairman connally Ranking Member mamers of the subcommittee my name is paul hogriagiaj i am the National President of the local postal union in position that ive held since 2015 i previously served on the local president for the new york metropolitan area i started my career with the Postal Service in 1971 as a casual letter carrier in my hometown of dumont new jersey and later became interest impeaching clerk in hackensack new jersey, before becoming a man handler in 1976. What is now called the new jersey and d. C. In new jersey city, new jersey. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the performance of the Postal Service during peak season. The exclusive bargaining representative of over 50,000 mail handlers employed by the United States Postal Service. Mail handlers are in the central part of the Mail Processing network and removed billions of pieces of mail each year. Our members work across all of the nations large postal plants. They are responsible for loading and unloading trucks, transporting mayo within the facility, operating machinery an automated quid mint, in addition to many other functions. Mail handlers are generally but first and last employees to handle the mail as it comes to, goes through, and leans most postal plants. Pcs in is considered to take place from november to january each calendar year. And its driven mostly by holidays and gift giving among family and friends. The Postal Service has seen a sharp increase in parcel mail, caused mostly by the growth of ecommerce. To increase in volume required a increase in hiring temporary non career employees, as well as acquiring additional physical space for parcels, installing more sorting machines for processing that mail. Recent increases in personnel and property can be attributed to the need to overcome staffing issues that arose during the 2020 calendar year, peak season. Mostly caused by the covid19 pandemic. By the end of the 2020 peak season, there were over 11,500 postal employees reported as infected with covid19. Almost 3000 of whom were male handlers. Even with the best efforts taken by the Postal Service to meet the demands of peak season, it was difficult to overcome the Personnel Shortages caused by medical necessity. The Postal Service remains one of the best and most trusted federal agencies. The Postal Services in try and in the constitution. Mail handlers, and all postal workers, take their mission to deliver mail to every address in america seriously and with great pride. Additionally, since 2020, we have seen the peak season begins earlier each Election Year as more and more eligible voters turn to vote to mail initiatives to take part in the democratic process. At least 21 states allow for ballots to be mailed to eligible voters 45 days or more before each election. The Postal Service now delivers millions about each Election Year by the end of september. To answer the subcommittees question, yes, the Postal Service is ready for the holiday rush expected during the 2022 peak season. The Postal Service has hired 28,000 seasonal employees. 52 peaks season annexes, installed 249 new package processing machines across the nation. We have the people, we have the equipment, and we have the Space Available to get the job done. I thank the chairman, the Ranking Member, in the members of the subcommittee for their time today to address these important issues. The Mail Handlers Union looks forward to our continued Work Together to promote a sustainable Postal Service for the American People. Im ready to answer questions he may have. Thank you. Thank you mr. Mr. Punk it. You are recognized for a year or five minutes of testimony. Thank you chair connally, Ranking Member highest, and the members of the subcommittee. Thank you to talk about the upcoming readiness for the Postal Service for the peak season im here as a member of post calm. World Class Organization talking medication logistic male Communications Technology and shipping this reliance on the Postal Service and is committed to ensuring that reliable enforceable Postal Services remain available to all u. S. Businesses and citizens. Just over two years ago, i appeared before the subcommittee to discuss the state of the postal system. Priorities for ensuring its continued viability. Shortly thereafter, Unprecedented Demand for shipping services overwhelmed shipping networks in the United States, including the Postal Service. That surge eventually hobbled usps network in december, 2020. Two years later there has been a remarkable turnaround. Today, im happy to report that post management has made tremendous strides in stabilizing its network and expanding p capacity. 2021 peak season was a significant piece improvement over the previous year. With very limited exceptions as we will dress in the testimony that the Postal Service will successfully navigate the upcoming peak season. Changes in the Postal Service financial status have been equally remarkable, thanks to continue demand for shipping, Inflation Reduction Act, the cares act, and most importantly, the Postal Service reform act. The Postal Services bound sheet has improved dramatically. The future, though, its perhaps less clear. The Postal Service is preparing for extensive reconfiguration of its network over the next five years as part of its delivering for america plan. We agree that modernization of postal system is overdue and necessary for the Postal Service to remain and efficient and affordable provider of Delivery Services for the entire nation. Post calm embers are equally sure that the best way to ensure the revamped Postal Network can meet the needs of its customers is by communicating in collaborating with customers and Business Partners who rely on and pay for universal delivery service. We have asked for and continue to urge the Postal Service to being more forthcoming with its modernization and deployment plans to optimize the complimentary capabilities of the Postal Service and its Business Partners. Network modernization aside, the affordability of now is increasingly concerning. In january, postage rates will increase for the first time in two years. When the increase takes effect, some products will be experiencing cumulative rate increases nearing 50 in just over two years the most recent increase was approved by the government just weeks after the previous rate increase took effect. In effect, the governors have approved aggressive compounding of rate increases without any data on how unprecedented rate increases are impacting customers. Further, at the most recent board of governors, meeting the Postal Service was clear that continue to take the price, even as driven from the system. The Postal Service would not meet its breakeven target for 2023 despite record revenues and predict volume loss of 6. 4 million pieces that year. The Postal Service called for the Biden Administration to revisit the Postal Service Civil Service retirement obligation to receive some obligation the post khan agrees that the administration should consider all possible remedies to reduce these inequities and to predict barriers that will not be sufficient post comments already positioned the Regulatory Commission which enabled the rate increases over the last two years to revisit its regulation given the Postal Service recent good fortune. We appreciate the general connally has proceeded with regulation that would require anomalous rate excesses. A members are concerned that mail volume decline will accelerate to dangerous levels. Postcoms millions of americans providing jobs in the race day and accounting for more than a trillion dollars in world revenue. As this Committee Considers the Postal Services readiness to meet peak service requirements, we caution that despite recent improvements sustained rating increases provide a existential threat to the continued viability of the Postal Service. Management prepare to fear their fair share. They should not be required to shoulder the entire burden to sustain universal service during the challenging times. Thank. You thank you mr. Plunkettt, mr. White i believe this is your first time before congress, we will go plunkett easy on you. Thank you. Good afternoon, chair connolly, Ranking Member hice, and members of the chair committee. In this role i am responsible in assisting the development and execution of that delivering for a plan within the office of postmaster general. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss what the Postal Service has discussed for the peak holidays at all levels of the organization. Specifically i will detail our ongoing hiring campaign, improvement to our ongoing capacity. Facility acquisition. Optimization of our vehicle flee. And implementation of new technology to expedite processing in delivery. Most importantly, Service Delivery remain strong throughout the country. Performance is better now than the same period in 2020 and 2021. The average time for delivery of a male piece of package across the Postal Network is just 2. 5 days. Our service an operational improvements were demonstrated in the covid19 test kit fulfillment program, which required the expanding of Inventory Management systems, establishing 40 Fulfillment Centers to pack, label, and ship test kits, and ensure a Timely Delivery from homes across america. 680 test kits, package and shipped with 96. 4 test kits being delivered on time with an average delivery time of just 1. 2 days. And service hold steady throughout the nation, the Postal Service continues preparation throughout the holidays including investments and improvements to operational decisions. Asked relates to staffing, we are actively hiring 20,000 seasonal employees. Beyond that, as part of the delivery for america plan, we have deployed strategies to stabilize the work forth. The Postal Service has converted more than 100,000 employees from parttime to fulltime careered positions over the past two years. 41,000 of those conversions since january of this year. Employee vela biloxi has improved. Supervisor vacancies have been significantly reduced. The combination of experience queer staff and robust Seasonal Hiring is powerful. In addition, as part of the 40 billion dollars in delivering for american investments, we have added new package processing equipment. We have installed 249 new package processing machines across the nation since the launch of the deliver for america plan. Paired with operational the Postal Service is expanding its Processing Capacity to nearly 60 million packages every day this Holiday Season. Expedited exploitation will label prompt and Reliable Delivery by ensuring a fishing flow of oil products into integrated processing facilities. The Postal Service also have multiin the leases and annex is. An 8. 5 million square feet to a footprint. These facilities are strategically located throughout the country to augment spatial shortages in existing postal sites. We are not the organization that we were two years ago during the challenging 2020 peak season, in the midst of a global pandemic. While headwinds remain, we are now structured for precision. We are an Organization Better position to meet the countries evolving mailing in shipping needs, working to do so in a financially self supporting manner. The Postal Service is preparing to deliver a successful holiday for the American Public. I want to thank the dedicated men and women of the organization. A successful peak is not possible without the hardworking commitment of our employees. Thank you connolly, Ranking Member hice, and members of the subcommittee for opportunity to speak today. I welcome any questions you in the subcommittee may have. Thank you mister way. See, it wasnt so bad. All right. The distinguished chairwoman of the full Committee Miss mfume thank you chairman connally, Ranking Member hice, for holding this important in very timely hearing. I want to really talk about mail in ballots. In new york and across the country, people really turned to milan ballots. It is more convenient, particular during covid. This past week showed, once again, the vital wall that the Postal Service plays as millions of americans cast their ballots through the mail. What is more important than an honest and Fair Election . To accommodate growers interest in vote by mail, the Postal Service ig has recommended the creation of a separate, simplified, male product exclusively for election mail for federal elections. This product would support uniform Mail Processing and have standards of liability, honesty, and transparency. I responded to the igs recommendation by introducing the vote by mail tracking act. Right now we can put a bar code on a package and track it all around the world. Why cant we put a bar code on a male invalid and track it from the voters hands to the Election Office . The bill would require that all mail in ballots through the bar code are easier to store and track. Our committee will markup this bill tomorrow. I hope it can be enacted into law this year. This bill needs to be bipartisan. What is more bipartisan we all have a stake in honest and Fair Elections i would like to ask mr. White, miss white know, mr. White. Right over here, what progress has the Postal Service made in developing a simplified uniformed product . As the ig has recommended. Im not an expert that is outside my area of expertise. Can you get back to us in writing after you have looked into that . Absolutely we will miss halt, do you agree with my assessment and how would products like those envisioned in my legislation improve tracking into the reof election mail . As you mentioned, we made that recommendation in 2020 because we saw how important the Postal Service became in that critical election. It continues to be in this mid term. We just saw the midterm readiness as we liked that we looked at where the Postal Service was involved in the primary election. We found that the Postal Service rate being able to track man with bar codes improved about 53 in the 2020 election to 83 in this past primary election season. It gives a great tool to track where those bouts are in the system challenging, as you know, the number of Election Offices that are involved in protecting ballots, the postal risk is obviously not in control of all that. I appreciate the efforts in your attempt to make those improvements. Our other witnesses have a stake in the whole system. Mr. Amin carly the united postmasters and managers of america. Could you tom and a little bit on that legislation . Oh, im interested in the product. The post office are imposed after since 2008 in the county seat. I work very closely with election officials. There is no standardize product for mailing ballots. We do extraordinary measures i mentioned in my comments. Postmasters going in on sunday before the election we dont normally do collection at a blue boxes. We went in and collect blue boxes major that merit in monday to make sure it gets for the election we go above and beyond. I would be very interested in a specific product that we could mark it to the county seats and the people that do the actual elections. It is all different. Thank you mister hogrogian, happens to be a constituent welcome. Thank you. Thank you madam chairwoman. And the chairman for all of your help, and all the committee, for all your help in the postal reform. For all of her members think all of you. Like new york, thank all of you s. Thank you for your question im not im not but if it makes it more efficient processes than i am all in favor of. It that being said, no matter how you mail the ballot. You mail it, we will move. It that is good to hear. Thank you mr. Hogrogian, the gentleladys time has expired. May i ask mr. Plunkett and anyone else on the panel to answer in writing. Absolutely, i would be happy. To mr. Hice you are recognized for five minutes and questions. Thank you mr. White let me begin with you. A real simple explanation, what is the primary mission of the Postal Service . The primary mission of the Postal Service is to deliver mail and packages to 163 million addresses, six days a week, in a financially selfsustaining manner. What is a bit baffling to me, as you well know democrats introduced legislation to have the Postal Service offer Financial Services, including making loans and offering checking accounts. Does the Postal Service have any expertise and offering Financial Services . I dont focus on policy or regulatory decisions thats not my question. Does the Postal Service have any expertise and offering Financial Services . I can speak that i personally do not and do not know of representatives close to me with that expertise. Again, i am focused on pcs and and our peak season success. Okay. The mission, as you said, is to deliver mail and packages. My question is, is there any expertise and offering Financial Services . That is kind of a yes or no answer. I do not know the answer to that question. Okay. Well i feel pretty confident that i know the answer to that question. I believe the vast majority of americans do as well. Would offering Financial Services just direct the Postal Service from its mission . I appreciate the question but we will follow the mission. That mission currently state that we will deliver to an insult to 3 million addresses iran, a senior refusal to answer. Let me ask you another question. Democrats recently gave the Postal Service 3 million for electric vehicles through the Inflation Reduction Act. Also, they say the Postal Service should provide charging stations to the general public. Is it part of the mission or the duty or responsibility of the Postal Service to offer charging stations to local . I will state again our mission is to deliver 263 million addresses would you say that your mission is not to offer charging stations . I think we will follow the policy guidance isnt the missing of the Postal Service to offer charging stations to the American People . The missing of the Postal Service is to deliver 263 million absences 16th weakening financially sustaining manner. That is the mission of the Postal Service. That mission does not include charging stations or Financial Services, is that correct . The method in to deliver, we will deliver. That is the mission. So the mission, as you have stated several time, does not include Financial Services or charging stations . Is that correct . Again, the mission is to deliver to ended 63 million addresses, six days a week in a financially selfsustaining manner. You are doing a good job of avoiding the question. We all know the answer. You have stated the mission over and over. It does not include Financial Services or some of these other things which would absolutely distract and hinder the Postal Service from doing its job. And this whole brought up a while ago another concern that we all have in c, that is a crime, postal theft. Let me just ask you this. Are you seeing, in relation to postal theft, the department of justice aggressively prosecuting postal crimes . The Inspection Service as the Law Enforcement arm of the Postal Service. They are the experts on matters related to massacred e and employee security. I would have to refer questions to the Inspection Service. I will be happy to work with them to provide an answer for the record, following this. You are not aware of the Justice Department being involved . The Inspection Service is the arm of will you find the answer to that . Would you commit to providing this committee with data regarding the number of crimes that have been referred to the department of justice . Sure we will provide an answer back for. I see my time has expired. Are you back. I think the gentleman. I would note that our hearing in philadelphia this question came up. There is growing concern about, a, the rules of engagement in terms of pursuing crime off of postal property. Secondly, the shrinkage of the Postal Police force at a time when crime, as the gentleman suggests, is actually going up. You might add that to your response back as well. Miss lawrence, you are recognized for your five minutes of questions. Thank you so much. I remind the committee of 30 years of service with the Postal Service. Few people recognize on this panel and in this committee, are uniquely aware of the complexity, the multiple levels, of responsibility and expectation that have been placed on the organization. On february 22nd, 1921, frank yeager set out to prove that mail could be flown from coast to coast in record time f night and day he made it from San Francisco to new york in 33 hours, 20 minutes. A third of the time we were take by train. Today, a century later, we have moved backwards. It takes the Postal Service more than 120 hours to deliver mail the same distance, almost four times as long. That is because under the plan of our current postmaster general, dejoy, he ordered the Postal Service to reduce the amount of mail transported by air. Today, people arent more reliant than ever on the Postal Service to deliver medicine, ballots, holiday gifts, and other goods. The Postal Service, however, has slowed down its delivery Standard Service standard from 2 to 3 days from 2 to 5. Up to 40 of the first class mail packages mr. Plunkett, how has this new decision to reduce delivery standards how has it changed affected your members and your businesses . Post calm does have members that uses commercial first class and periodical class in their businesses. In both businesses the reduction in Service Standards has reduced the quality of those aquatics and reduce their value. In some cases, specifically with regard to bills and statements, some of our members operate in regulated industries where adding a day or two on to delivery times can create significant regulatorily compliance challenges. When the Postal Service sought their change in Service Standards, we filed comment to the Postal Regulatory Commission imposing those changes. We were dismayed that the Postal Service chose to go service with them, despite a negative report from the Postal Regulatory Commission. Thank you. As stated earlier, we are not a business, we are a service. The Postal Service also rapidly increasing its rates. If you look at the screen you will see the table showing rate increases for mail and packages since august of 2020. We know that when we increased costs, everyone is talking about how much it cost to exist now as an american. Mr. Plunkett, again, and what will happen to your members businesses if rates continue to increase at an uncomfortable rate . It really depends on the product that they use. Users of first class mail, they will undoubtedly end up redoubling their efforts to convince their efforts to adopt electronic bill preeminent payment. Mail becomes increasingly on economical as the rates rise. Marketing mail they will cut back on the volumes that they send. They will have to have smaller campaigns, reduce frequency, mail becomes less competitive relative to other Advertising Media as rates continue to rise. In both cases, we can expect to see reductions in mail volume in response to the rate increases. So, this is a question for miss law. Does oig expand or do you have plans to examine the effects of the tenyear plan of the Postal Service Financial Condition and Postal Service delivery. Hearing that there are options to all of our customers. As they continue to reduce the mail volume, i worked there at a time when we literally, during the holidays, it was all hands on deck it was a force just mounds of male, as you can imagine. If people start using Electronic Systems and other options, what is the impact on the Postal Service . Have we included that in the tenyear plan . Yes, we are paying close attention to how the Postal Service implements to delivering for america plan. We are looking at how service if there are declines in service, how they might impact that we also look at the financial impacts of the tenyear plan. We likely will be looking at volume impacts, as well, as we move forward. Thank, you my time has expired. I yield back. I think the gentlelady. Mister chairman may ask you question before we go to mr. . Keller in light of the comments he made between the questioning, i have a question as well. Obviously the Postal Police may be an issue. To get them more training and beyond the postal facilities and the other prosecution seems we asked mr. White, earlier, and i want to ask you if we can expand this. Can we also get a Strategic Plan from the Postal Service as to antitheft strategies. Also a timeline to get that . Absolutely, absolutely. It would be very consistent with the hearing we had in philadelphia where that issue was front and center. I would echo that recommendation thank you, mr. Hice. Mr. Keller is recognized for his five minutes to questions. Thank you i think all the witnesses for being here today. I know its been mentioned that the Postal Service of the service, not a business. Prior to coming to congress being elected at state office i was in private industry. We provide a service. That is what businesses do. That is what enterprises do. Call it whatever you want, they have got to be effective and efficient to be able to do with. They have to have the tools to do it. I want to, you know, one of the things i like that is if you tell me how you manage me, ill tell you how i will perform. That is what the Postal Service needs. Clear performance metrics. I think hunter postmaster general dejoy we have seen some of that. We are here to provide oversight. I heard today that congress is going to ensure that the usps will perform. We witnessed today that we can even start a hearing on time with someone here to take a roll call though. We are here to try to beat up on the post office. Im not here to do that. Im here to simply say that there are things that i looked at, miss hull, im create that he sent me the report on the preparedness. Looking at these things, you know . I would just say, and according to your sentiment, you believe the Postal Service is capable of executing its plan for the upcoming peak season. Do you think they can do that . I gather from this that they are ready. Yeah, i think one of the things that we saw that will really help them out as the deployment of additional package processing packages jam up. They are great, the volume is important. The revenues important. But they are challenging to move. More automation in that area, more focus on that is gonna be really helpful. Let me ask this question. Talking about handling packages, i know you saw the other places that handle packages that are not the Postal Service. How we looked at how they do . It to look at a benchmark or best practice on how we do that . We benchmark against private sector Delivery Companies all the time in our work. The Postal Service does, as well. Have we not handed out some pensions, they had to charge across for what they had to cover the services. We might be a little more competitive to. Let me just say that. Mr. Plunkett, you talked about rate increases. Yes. When i look at delivering services it takes energy to do that, right . Absolutely. You mentioned the. Let me go back to miss hull or mr. White, how much of the increase, how much of an increase have we seen in fuel for the Postal Service to be able to execute its mission and deliver the mail . Do we know that . Do we have an answer . How much more we are spending for fuel than we did two years ago . I dont have an answer. Can somebody get that for us please . Quite frankly, here we are politicians, right . In some cases when we look at the federal government, some people in the government can run a good hot dog show. They want to try to tell you how to run the Postal Service. I experience with running things. I ran a 50 Million Dollar a year budget before i got elected into office. We had to be effective and efficient. I would like to be able to see what that is. We have politicians talking about all kinds of things that have increased, like fuel costs. Now they are griping at you because, things that they have done, Inflation Reduction Act, they are placed on new. Shutting down american energy. Now they are gripping issue you had to read prices. What did they think was going to happen when you have 40 year high inflation . The Postal Service isnt affected by inflation . You are affected by decisions that the white house makes, congress makes, when it regards energy policy, are you . I think we would all agree that the answer is yes. Here we have a bunch of people that cant start a meeting on time, dont have a meeting have a roll call. They make your way, the cause inflation. And then they want to bang on you and tell you that you cant run things properly. Bang on the postmaster general. I just dont think that is fair, quite frankly. I look at these things. It goes back to the banking, you know . That is the post office do any kind of assessment on the services its customers are looking for . I mean, do you have people coming to you and say i will post office to be my banking. Or i want to post office to provide electric charging stations . Is the post office aware of any customers businesses you have customers, are you aware of any of that mr. White or miss hull . We have work in the path to use the media infrastructure. I you know no one has come to me and said i really wish we had a bank here. I could write checks. Or, i wish we had a place to plug in my vehicle. That is not your group. We did focus Group Activities at the part of that. Im not aware of those two things coming up as part of the focus group. Like i said, i think we see that the post Office Goodbye to his mission. When we as a body have trouble running things here, telling you had two things. Thank, you i yield back. The gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from maryland mr. Raskin is recognized. The gentleman from ohio mrs. Brown is recognized for her five minutes. Thank you mr. Connolly, thank you for this timely hearing annual holiday rush. Throughout this congress, this committee has held several hearings including some bill hearings focus on Postal Service performance and ways to support the agency. Based on historical trends, the Holiday Season results in an increase in gifts, greeting cards, and other seasonal mail. If you look at the screen, you will see that the Postal Service preparation for the upcoming Holiday Season including career employees hiring 20,000 temporary employees installing 50 million temporary package processing machines, we sought temporary Mail Processing facilities. Like many other, as my constituents in ohio depend on the Postal Service to deliver important items like medicine, unemployment benefits, and Social Security checks. My question to all the witnesses is, does the Postal Service have the right staff, equipment, and facilities in place to get mail and packages on time throughout the upcoming Holiday Season . I guess ill give it a shot. Yes, i believe we do. Earlier, we started preparation for the peak season earlier this year than we ever have in the past. We started in july where the postal union when we entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Postal Service where we agreed to convert 2700 temporary employees to fulltime career status. We also agreed, there is eight weeks during the year where the Postal Service contractually can exceed the 24 and a half percent temporary employees. What has been happening is the Postal Service in the past has been using two or three of those weeks just to hire the people and get them on board. We reached an agreement to allow them to start an extra two weeks where they can hire people and bring them on board. That being said, they have hired additional they replaced the one thing converted. They have hired an additional 28,000. If its 20, 000, that was correct i was told it was 28,000. That being said, our regular forces ready willing and able to work any overtime theyre asked to do. An answer to your question, yes i think they are properly stuff to address the peak season this year. I would also like to speak to this. The Postal Service is absolutely ready for this Holiday Season. I appreciate some of the stats that he pulled up on the screen. I could speak more broadly. Over the past two years, we have converted over 100,000 parttime employees into fulltime employees. We have least 8. 5 million square feet of multi year annexes. Not just specific to one or two months, but something we can up fifth over the course of the year to make sure that we are ready for the december month. Our employee availability has improved. Supervisor vacancies have gone down. From a staffing standpoint we are ready. From a facility standpoint we are ready. From an equipment standpoint, we have installed 249 packages orders. Again, since march of 2021, we have done 112 last year. Another 137 this year. We are moving packages, and a much faster rate than we were at this time last year. We are very confident of a move forward into the holidays. If i could add to that, the Postal Service and their customers fully expect a successful peak season. They have added capacity necessary to meet the increased demand. They seem to have a solid plan in place. Because the Postal Service operates in virtually every community in the u. S. , we fully expect there might be local instances of outages because of weather events, perhaps localized employee shortages. We hope that the Postal Service is able to communicate effectively when those inevitable things to happen. In no way should anyone anticipate any sort of systemic problems like we had two years ago. Thank you. Our audit work also indicated the Postal Service was ready. They had a reasonable plan and contingency plans around any issue that came up during the peak season. Speaking of a post master, delivered mail last new years eve during peak. The question was, do we have the right staff, equipment, and facilities . A criminal facilities or things, they dont remove the mail. People move mail. We never have enough people. Ive been doing it for 25 years. But we manage, we manage with people around. People work overtime. People do extraordinary things. It is a continual. We have hired, the past couple of years, over 400,000 people. We continue to hire. I dont think that im ever fully staffed. We are always working. But we will deliver, it will be a successful season. Im sure. Thank you for that. I think i can say this, people across the country are counting on the Postal Service, especially during the Holiday Season. My hope is that the Postal Service will be able to maintain ontime delivery performance. I look forward to working with you and my colleagues to make sure the Police Services continues to provide an Excellent Customer Service service. Thank you miss brown thing for for your faithfulness as a member of the subcommittee mr. Karlyn the gentleman from new york is recognized. What did i say . I met new jersey. Im sorry. Mr. Im from new jersey too, all right . Originally . Yeah see. Mr. Pressley from new jersey is recognized. Thats a big mistake. We will discuss that later. Good afternoon. Im honored to be here today. I want to thank our panel. I thought you were excellent, on target, and i am thrilled to see my friend, garden states own hall hogrogian. Long been a tremendous leader for our mail handlers. Weve tried to get substantive postal reform done for over a decade at least we finally passed the Postal Service reform act into law this year i thought it was a major victory for the congress. Our reforms will free up a lot of money. We finally got rid of the prefunding strangulation that shouldve been done and couldve been done several years ago to help our Postal Service flourish i think we have to think bigger and bolder there must be affordable, fast, and reliable mail first and foremost. I know that that is what all of you want. The current postmaster general, i think they have put together a good plan. Our post office is a public utility. We cannot sacrifice Timely Delivery of mail. We must also ensure our postal workers have the benefits of compensation and their support to thrive. I stand by that statement. Postal employees do not receive locality play. Postal workers in manhattan, kansas, and in manhattan new york are treated and paid the same way. The Postal Service has struggled to hire workers for the peak season. That locality pay, the post office cant compete in areas with higher cost of living. Where where i live, in north jersey. Mr. Hogrogian, why doesnt post a leadership raise wages for high cost of living areas . How important is this change for a state like new jersey . That is an interesting question, congressman. It seems very simplistic. I believe people in the new york metropolitan area have high cost areas who should get more money making more. They live in a higher cost of living area. But that is very simplistic. I represent the entire country i represent people in new york mississippi and other places where the cost of living is not as high. I am fine if you want to pay the more money. How you gonna pay for . I know at the post office is gonna do. Okay, well give you more in San Francisco but they will cut it somewhere else. Somehow get the money to pay the, more is fine with me. Tammy hull, over the past two years the Postal Service has struggled mightily during the Holiday Season. Haphazard leadership and endemic staffing shortages have led to unprecedented slowdowns. This is our first Holiday Season the postmaster plans to slow down first class mail and some packages implemented this is where it is going to be implemented. The Postal Regulatory Commission blasted the United States Postal Service for failing to adequately research this misguided overhaul. Miss hull, it is your office committed to providing rigorous oversight and timely and transparent reporting on the impact of the operational staffing changes during the upcoming peak season . Yes sir, we are. Thank you. I yield back. I think the gentleman from new jersey for who is inside for questioning. Thank you. Before i call on mr. Davis, the gentleman from illinois, i would ask his consent of mr. Hice and others have raised a question of, what is the role of the Postal Service in respect to Financial Services and providing Financial Services. The fact is, actually, there is a history of providing certain Financial Services. I would simply ask that the report of the Inspector General, going back to 2015, simply laying out what are those options, if any, with respect to the future Financial Services of the Postal Service. Without objection, so ordered. Mr. Davis, the gentleman from illinois is recognized for his five minutes of questioning. Thank you mister chairman. Let me thank you for not only calling this hearing but let me thank all of the witnesses for being here. Sharing their testimony with us. I have always had a great deal of interest in the Postal Service. Since i started work, it was my first real job. I enjoyed it. As a matter of fact, we enjoyed it the pay was good, not as good as it should have been, couldve been. [laughs] but there was tremendous opportunities. I was young, healthy, i had a lot of energy. I worked as much overtime as i could get. After working for about a year and a half, i took another job. I also continue to work part time. They had what they called short hours. So that interest, that affinity for the Postal Service has lasted. As a matter of fact, we had a model we used to use where i worked, clean hands, gentle touch, surely we owe a letter that much. We would joke and do our work. But during every peak season, the Postal Service hires a large number of temporary employees. This year, of course, that is no exception. As someone who has always been a staunch defender of workers rights, i am concerned about the conditions that temporary and noncareer workers at the Postal Service face. Unfortunately many of these employees receive lower wages and benefits and of course lack union protections. Further, according to the Government Accountability office, temporary and noncareer employees have between a 16 and 22 higher injury rate than career employees. Miss hull, can you describe the results of the 2022 audit entitled changes in mail mix implications for carriers physical health . Yes, we looked at how the increases impact in volume have an impact on the carriers. One of the things that we found is, particularly temporary precareer employees had a higher injury rate from carrying large loads of packages. Career employees we looked at how the injuries were associated with their time in service and korean status. We did find exactly what you are referring to. Precareer employees had a higher injury rate. All carriers carrying more packages have had an impact on their injury rates. Did you get any indication that there were serious effort underway to change these outcomes . That might be a better question for mr. White. We did get comments from the Postal Service in the space. I believe that they are working on solutions to address this. Particularly, policies around the weight of packages. How that might impact carrier some selves. Mr. White, . What yes, absolutely. We have made significant progress in converting employees to fulltime career employees. Understanding the difference between parttime or seasonal higher and a fulltime employee. Those employees are more experienced. The other thing i wouldve had. Some of the package sorted that we have deployed to handle larger boxes. Boxes up to 22 inches that can improve the ergonomics for the employees on some of the large packages that miss hull is referencing. Let me thank you for that. I want to try and find what is happening with temporary employees. Mr. Hogrogian, do non permanent employees have a clear path to becoming career employees . Yes, yes they do. Let me preface that by saying that im speaking on behalf of just the local poster union right now. Our contract, which was ratified september 20th, we made sufficient progress where we extended bargaining. We are continue to bargain, after the fact. Two days ago we made our last meeting. We are very close to an agreement. One of the issues is addressing precareer employees and establishing a clear and definitive path to korean status. I dont want to bargain here on cspan or whatever but, we are gonna get the job done, congressman. I think you will be happy. We will send you a copy of agreement when we get it. Thank you, thank you for that. Let me ask you, mr. White . And as we approach, of course, the Holiday Season and their efforts i know in my city it seems like there is some difficulty getting individuals to apply. The gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman may answer his question. That is a great question. Since june, we have actually held 3000 hiring fares for just that reason. Two on board additional employees. I do want to publicly think of members of congress who have promoted those hiring fairs. That is very beneficial to us. It is very beneficial to people from your local committees to apply to the Postal Service. Thank you. The chair now recognizes representatives from florida. Representative debbie schultz. You are now recognized. Thank you madam chair. Thank you so much madam chair. I thank you for allowing me to waive on to this Important Committee hearing. This nations sacred elections by always land during the peak post season. It is absolutely critical that the postmaster general provide confidence and transparency to the American People. They need to know that not only gives, medicine, and bills all arrive on time but that the Postal Service can also meet the weighty demands of our democracy. Despite the herculean efforts of our Postal Service to deliver every day, the postmaster general dejoy still close to find work in secrecy and faulty legal reasoning. Last month, the postmaster denied my entry to tour a south florida postal facility, yet again, were timely about delivery problems were specifically documented. My office coordinated tour with the local facility. I had Postal Service employees available to tour me according to the joint staff, it would violate the rules and run the risk of causing their employees supposedly to violate the hatchet around member of congress being on the ballot. After my tour request was blocked, i reached out to the usps Inspector General for a hail mary. She agreed to expect this facility prior to election day. I want to extend my deep appreciation to your team, miss hall, who thankfully were able to conduct to the speedy throw inspections of the facility. Fortunately, they found no issues. Can inspection disrupt usps operation . We do our best to be as on obtrusive is possible when we come into our work. Im sure there is some impact of us coming in the facility and looking at how processes are being conducted. You are not turning things upside down to these inspections Provider Office a public with greater confidence that ballots are being delivered in a timely manner . I believe the ngo. Now you were youre able to get a team the very next day. But with all of coastal cities across the country is a realistic view to build a 1770 where that quickly . Or at all . No. There are over 30,000 delivery units across the country and post offices. We visit many during election season but nowhere close to a majority or even a measurable percentage. We have about 90 field offices and we go to many places. But we cant scratch the surface on the number of postal facilities. Thank you. And just as important, because of the discreet nature of your work and in this case we need to follow up, your team is handcuffed and what you can say publicly about the results, and to your credit, we dont see a lot of ig press conferences for the usps. How is congress opposed to be able to conduct our oversight role and something is important of weather vote by mail ballots are delivered efficiently and on time to count if we cannot enter postal facilities for 45 days before an election. That is mr. Dejoys position. The ig has nowhere near the personnel to ensure this accountability and the office of special counsel who has jurisdiction over the hatch act has clearly said that the hatch act does not prohibit members of congress from conducting their official duties in overseeing the usps even earn election. Yet the usps prohibits its oversight. That begs the question, mr. , way what are you trying to hide . I would like to really understand why members of congress, and how this committee, would be able to stop their oversight for 45 days when that is a critical time to make sure that you are absolutely able to do your job efficiently. I do understand that there are long standing postal policy is on congressional visits. I would have to point you to our legal and Government Relations team for more detail of those. I would also add that we to work closely with the office of the Inspector General and her staff. Okay, but it begs the question, what are you trying to hide . A key reason that i needed to visit the south florida facility was because of past problems with election Mail Processing their. The other key reason my restricted access is for the public. Is because they cant share the work being done with the committee. And therefore people will carry the unfounded fear that their relatives and safe in the mail. And that has to change. Finally, mr. , white what will postmaster general to do a pledge to members today . Because mr. Mcconnell has been denied access to postal facilities. As other members across the country. What will post master general dejoy pledge today to bolster access, transparency, and how usps manages vital ballot deliveries . What would you commit to today, because it meet needs improvement. Again i will say that i do understand that there are longstanding policies on congressional visits. That is not my question. I want to know, reclaiming my, time i want to know what the postmaster general will pledge to members today to bolster our access, our ability to conduct this committees ability to conduct our responsibility for overseeing the post office and how it is okay in your mind for us to be unable to do that in the 45 days before election. Our Government Relations team will reach out to you in the next day. I dont wanna talk to your Government Relations, team i want an answer to this question. From mr. Digital. I am not mr. Dejoy. The Postal Service i understand has longstanding policies. We would have to get back to eight more information. The time has expired on the question. We absolutely as a committee, madam chair, and for whoever is our next chair to have the ability and not forfeit the ability of a committee to oversee the post office. All 365 days here. What we also hear that goal and look forward to the response from the post office. I would now like to call upon the representative from new jersey for his five minutes. Thank you so much, madam chairwoman. Thank you mr. Erroneous and the other witnesses for testifying today. We appreciate your expertise on post related matters. Very grateful. More than three years ago, still injection incidents of mail fraud were reported in new jersey. Many victims your constituents of mine had checks altered offered only them off of the post office. And from [inaudible] the recipients name to inflating checks. Many different types of issues have been faced. Initially these reports were referred to the local police and then to the postal inspector. The lead agency for investigating male fast in response, then the postal Inspection Service made recommendations on what to improve mill security in and around tina. Three years later, and forcing my constituents and i are still dealing with these issues. We made a call to the office of the Inspector General. Your agency told me that he would have a resolution on these cases. Back in july of this year. It is not the end of november and im trying to give a sense of all the money that has been stolen from families, seniors, and veterans. And try to understand why we cant get answers. Can you have a better understand why it takes so long to complete these investigations, what the Postal Service is doing about it to get a resolution . I am sorry, it was the question for me is the Inspector General . Yeah, im sorry. Yes. Sure. Yes, we are currently working that aggressively and sometimes these investigations take more time than we would like. We are definitely working that investigation, do we are both best to keep staff updated about the progress. I also want to emphasize that we are starting a more broad look at mill fast and the Postal Services response to belfast. Because as we mentioned several times in this hearing, it is becoming a bigger bigger problem and so we are looking at its more broadly. But in the cases that you are referring to, we are working those as aggressively as we can. It just seems that it keeps taking months to get any answer. An obvious air constituents are very frustrated. Families, seniors, veterans who are coming to us who literally keep facing issues. And is it because you dont have enough staff to be able to do these investigations . Inspector general, what is the issue that keeps dragging on . We would always like or staff but im not sure that that is the problem in this case. I think it is just the time it takes to investigate some of these matters. It, some of these things are complicated. What we have seen, and i dont know if it is in this case, but we have seen situations where groups have organized, organized criminals are working together to recruit postal employees to show for the mail and other things. So it is, it has become a bigger bigger deal in these cases have become much more complex than they used to be. So well theft cases have always been a big part of our inventory of casework. The cases that we are working now though are much more complicated than they used to be and involve a lot of external activity, not just postal employees. So we are working with the Inspection Service on this case and we will continue to do so and we will do our best to keep your staff updated when we get to resolution. Can you help me get information on this case . Because literally, we havent heard from anybody. The regional post inspector refuses to return our calls, we cant get any answers. Can you help me call up. Yes, we will definitely get back with you. I would really appreciate that because i would like to go back to my constituents. Nationwide we know that the partial service into tournaments and delays and package delivery, life medication to seniors, Social Security checks, its been talks for today. In northern jersey ive had many constituents tell me that post offices routinely lose their mail. And amid the holidays, you might imagine that this is particularly stressing for our families. Inspector general, if i can also talk to you on this one. What is being done to protect our Senior Citizens in veterans to make sure that they receive their mail, if when its medication or their hard earned benefits. Do you have a sense of what percentage of mail actually goes missing by state, and by area has that contract . Im not sure would be able to do that. We do have a lot of Data Analytics efforts that bring together the complaints that are raised by customers of the Postal Service as well as complaints that come into our hotline. We look for trends and things like that in those complaints. And identify routes and post offices that are most problematic. And we send out teams of auditors to go look at that. But the Postal Service, as you can imagine, being the size that it is receives thousands of complaints every day from customers. So it is a big challenge. The gentlemans time has expired. It thank, you are. Yield thank you so much. Miss norton, representative norton from the district of columbia is now recognized. Miss norton you are muted, we cannot hear. You can you hear me now . We can hear you. Our. Im this is a question for mr. White. I am deeply concerned about the increase in milltown that we have seen in my district, the district of columbia. And other areas across the country as well. I have been contacted by constituents who have had their mail checks stolen and altered and thousands of dollars taken from their accounts. The increase in facts put the safety of our hardworking postal workers at risk. Mr. White, what measures were supposed service taking to reduce mill felt . Thank you for the question. The Inspection Service as a Law Enforcement arm of the Postal Service. It is my understanding recently met with chief barksdale regarding that matter. I would not be able to give a better answer than chief barksdale can. Okay, does anyone else have a response to that question . Okay, let me move. On the Postal Service hires additional employees during the peak season. To account for increased mail volume. An Inspector General report released today indicates a tight labor market has hindered the Postal Services ability to hire sufficient workers this year. Last thursday, postmaster general dejoy announced that Postal Service, the Postal Service had reduced attire angles for peak season by almost a third. From 28,000 to 20,000 temper employees. Mr. White, does a puzzle service at the right stat in place to get male and practiced delivered throughout the coming Holiday Season . Yes, we do. The reality is that this year we are less dependent on peaks ease and heroics that we happen in the past. We have converted 100,000 employees to fulltime career status, which will help us with experience employees with high retention rates. Supervisor vacancies are down so we have more experience, knowledgeable management within those facilities. And if employee availability is up throughout the country. So yes, we are staffed. Okay, mr. Hall, mr. Carlee, mr. Hala again, mr. Pink and. With all of you agree. For the most part, yes. We expect the Postal Service to have adequate resources to successfully navigate the peak season. I believe that we do have enough staffing and whatever the additional staffing fall short, our regular workforces ready willing and able to work whatever overtime is necessary to get the job done. And we would agree that the Postal Service has a really good plan. Looking for to the peak season, and we believe that if it executes on that play will be in good shape. We thank you very much. My time is expired. The gentleladys time has expired, we have no further members asking questions. I now yield to mr. Hice for a closing statement. I think you, madam chair. And before chairman connally had to leave we were discussing between the two of us mr. White if you could add to the information that you are already going to provide. The number of crimes that have been referred to the department justice, we would also appreciate that information if you could add to it. And with that it goes right along with what miss norton was saying. I would also like to say in regard to the information was provided to the committee earlier, to mr. Connolly regarding the Financial Services. We are not talking about goes beyond what he was mentioning. We are not talking about we a Postal Service that is like a sinking ship to financially that isnt in trouble financially. And we all know it. And for that organization to now be offering loans, is absolutely insane up we are going with the recommendation in the legislation for it to become a Financial Service offering loans and the lake. So i just wanted clarification on that issue. It just makes no sense and it far goes beyond the mission of the Postal Service to deliver mail and packages. With all of that, and you want to extend a sincere thank you to each of you as our Witnesses Today. You have an enormous weight on your shoulders and an enormous constitutional responsibility and i know that each of you and hundreds of thousands who work within the Postal Service are giving a lot of effort and we deeply appreciate that. And im grateful for you coming and testifying before this committee today. And wish you a great thanksgiving and christmas and spite of a very busy time that you are about to embark on. Thank you for joining us. I now recognize representative Brenda Lawrence for a closing statement. Thank, you so much. We have heard testimony today that indicates the Postal Service has taken many steps to ensure that you are ready for the nations p call it a season. But we know there are still more to do. We are looking forward to the reports from, to look at our operations of how we are continuing to move forward and meet the needs of americans. As we have known all along, as we talk about these measures, that it is the people, the workforce, and the stakeholders community that make this thing the Postal Service work. I have dedicated 30 years of my life as part of this essential thing we call the post office. And i know firsthand the dedication and the focus on the mission mr. Gardner has said often, we will get it done. At the end of the day, it is always like ringing a bell. We have got all the mail out of the building and sometimes exhausted, sometimes but overtime other issues. And i appreciate the postmaster who said he delivered mail on new years eve. I know that feeling. We will get the job done. I have served in this committee for the Postal Service because i wanted to make sure that the company that gave me so many opportunities, the organization, the service industry, that we continue to provide service. As you know, this committee is committed to the Postal Service whos the nations favorite federal agency. You continue to be the highest ranked agency in our federal government. In closing, i just want to say to our witness, thank you for being here. Thank you for your remarks. I she want to wish you an amazing Holiday Season, safe Holiday Season. We said the lock in the fall special service because we know, like in michigan. Holiday season is rough once you walk at the door. And i want to also wish you a joyful fan Holiday Season and think michael leagues for all their efforts to here and to make sure we are moving forward. Thank you. The gentlelady yields. Back i now recognize myself for closing statement. I want to thank all of our extraordinary Witnesses Today for your public service, first of. All and then for your testimony today and your insights. And i want to commend all of my colleagues that participated in this important conversation today. And i would like to insert, and show you the record the Postal Service officers of Inspector Generals report entitled fiscal year 2023 peak season preparedness. And statement for the record from keep us posted. The american catalog mailers association, the National Association of supervisors, and i just want to say that the Postal Service like all of americans i treat it as a service that i really treasure and in fact, on a personal note when i first ran for congress 30 years ago i challenged a 15year republican whose top priority, we leave it or not, was to privatized the post office. So that was a clear item between us. We needed Postal Services, people were constantly asking for more post offices, more services, yet he wanted to privatized the postal office. So when i came to congress i too wanted to serve on this committee to protect Postal Services in our country and to make sure that this Vital Service was available to everybody who want it, everybody needed it. And its been said before, it is in the constitution, and it is the one institution the one agency that unites and nuts this country together. One postal stamp can go to any address in america for the same price. And you would not have that if that was privatized. So it has been a very strong purpose of myself to keep it vital and that is why i worked so hard this year to make sure that we passed postal reform, got rid of unnecessary requirements that hundred im, and it has shown in the report that we have gotten that it has helped move the Postal Service to a stronger, more sound financial footing. And we have already recently seen that the bipartisan postal reform law is having a positive impact, and we need to continue to build on that impact on that legislation. I am looking forward to the Postal Service continuing to move rapidly towards electric vehicle fleet using the funds. The over three billion dollars that Congress Approved for this purpose. And again, thanks to leadership from this committee. Two years ago our committee raised serious concerns about declining Service Performance. And i am pleased that the Postal Service has made efforts to improve its Service Since then but concerns about service and quality remain. To be clear, lorraine Service Standards to increase ontime percentages is not the solution. It is also critical that the Postal Service closely examine planned Service Changes that could negatively impact Service Quality, especially as we move into peak season. The American Public deserves a high quality Postal Service that as reliable, affordable, and exhaustible to all. I look forward to this committee continuing to work with the Postal Service to ensure that the American Public is getting in the service that it expects and deserves. And this committee will always be a partner in improving services and supporting the post office. With that, and without objection, all members have five legislative days in which to submit additional written questions for the witnesses to the chair, which will be forwarded to the witnesses for the response. I ask our witnesses to please respond as promptly as you are able. I also joined my colleagues in wishing all of you a very happy Holiday Season for thanksgiving in for the holiday Heineken Christmas season. Thank you all for being here today, this hearing is adjourned. Think. You on thursday hearing looksa National Security threats to the u. S. Homeland security secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas is joined by fbi director christopher wray. D National Counter terrorism director christine abizaid. D giving testimony onthe Homeland Security in Governmental Affairs committee. Live coverage starts at 10 15 am on cspan eastern three. You can also watch our free mobile video app, cspan now, or online at cspan. Org. This is just over one hour and 15 minutes. [silence] good morning, welcome to the legault morning, everyone. Welcome to the subcommittee on oversight and management and accountability. I understand a Ranking Member is unable to be at this proceeding. He is on his way. I know there are a lot of contradicting messages this morning. You are supposed to be on the floor, both or neither. Subcommittee on oversight management of will now come to order. Without objection, declares all the rest to clear the