Dear john,
I led a bipartisan letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy urging him to prioritize deliveries of Next Generation Delivery Vehicles to letter carriers in South Texas. These new, air-conditioned vehicles are expected to become available in October 2023, replacing the Postal Service’s existing fleet of vehicles that entered service in 1987 and lack air conditioning.
Given the extreme heat that South Texas communities regularly experience, the letter calls on Postmaster DeJoy to ensure that they are among the first in the nation to receive new, air-conditioned vehicles. This past summer was one of the hottest on record in South Texas. San Antonio, Texas, saw 58 100-degree days in 2022, while Laredo, Texas, had 89. A recent study conducted by Texas A&M University predicts that the average number of 100-degree days in the region will double by 2036.
America’s postal employees work day and night, rain or shine to deliver for our country. They ensure our seniors get their social security checks on time. They deliver life-saving medication to Americans living with chronic illnesses. And they ensure that everyone, even those living in the most rural areas, can receive mail. It’s essential that South Texas letter carriers, who work in one of the hottest climates in the country, should be at the very top of the list to receive new delivery vehicles.
Joining me in the letter's submission were Representatives Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), Greg Casar (D-TX-35), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX-34), Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23), and Monica De La Cruz (R-TX-15).
To read a copy of the letter, please click here.
