August 18, 2020

Dear John,

I’ve heard from many North Texans concerned about the recent moves to undermine the U.S. Postal Service. I want you to know that I won’t let any politician get in the way of the postal service doing its job on behalf of the American people. As your Representative, my top priority is the health and safety of our community. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans are relying more than ever on the postal service for their medicine, paychecks, stimulus checks, and the right to vote.

More than 80 percent of veterans who receive care through the VA rely on the post office for delivery of their prescription medications. The postal service allows our economy to function smoothly and it connects our community safely while we continue to limit our in-person transactions.

Please take a moment to let me know about your experience:

Have you noticed recent changes to your post office service?

Like many of you, I too am deeply concerned with the Trump Administration’s recent appointment of a former campaign donor, Louis DeJoy, as the new Postmaster General. He has since enacted policies to cut costs, which have resulted in long mail delays, undelivered mail, removal of sorting machines and public mail drop boxes, and the elimination of overtime pay for our essential postal workers. The quiet dismantling of our mail system comes as the president has publicly expressed his opposition to mail-in ballots for the upcoming election.

This is unacceptable. As a former voting rights attorney, I am fighting back against this deliberate attack on our right to safely vote. I joined with my colleagues in the House to urge Postmaster DeJoy to address the concerns regarding his operational changes to the postal service. The United States Postal Service has been a pillar of our democracy since our Founding Fathers wrote it into the Constitution. So many of our seniors, disabled veterans, and military service members overseas rely on mail-in ballots every election cycle.

Today, the Postmaster General stated he will pause cuts to service until after the election in November. I believe the post office provides an essential service and there is more work to do to protect the postal service and ensure it continues to provide this essential service to North Texans.

In May, I helped to pass the Heroes Act, which would provide funding for the postal service and security for the 2020 election as part of a second major coronavirus relief package. I will fight to save the post office and continue to push for answers in regards to the Administration’s sudden changes to the postal service.

If you would like to register to vote by mail or find your polling place, you can go to https://www.votetexas.gov. Our democracy works best when everyone participates. If you have been experiencing issues with your mail service, please contact my Richardson office at (972) 972-7949.

Sincerely,

Colin Allred
Member of Congress