Jon Ossoff's Postmaster General Reform Act

Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia has proposed the Postmaster General Reform Act, which would require the U.S. Senate to confirm the President's appointment of the U.S. Postmaster General. The legislation also aims to impose term limits of two five-year terms for the position, which currently has no term limits.

• Currently, the Postmaster General is appointed by the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors without Congressional confirmation.
• Ossoff's legislation seeks to increase Congressional oversight and accountability for the Postmaster General's role.

Motivation: Mail Service Breakdown in Georgia

Ossoff's proposed legislation comes in response to the mail service breakdown in Georgia, which he attributes to the "incompetent leadership and management" of the current Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy.

• Georgia was ranked as the worst-performing state in a Postal Service service performance report for the second quarter of 2024, tracking transit time for mail delivery.
• Ossoff has regularly pressed DeJoy for updates on plans to improve the agency's operations, a concern echoed by some Republican U.S. House members from Georgia.

Operational Issues and Consolidation of Facilities

Georgia lawmakers have blamed operational issues at the postal facility in suburban Atlanta for many of the state's delivery hiccups. The USPS consolidated multiple facilities into one in Palmetto, which was supposed to make the delivery process more efficient.

• Similar hubs were created in Richmond, Virginia, and Portland, Oregon, as the Postal Service has tried to deal with nationwide slowdowns in delivery and financial losses.
• After the Palmetto facility opened, delivery rates in Georgia slowed, dropping below 40% on-time delivery for first-class mail in March, though it has since rebounded above 80%.

Criticism of DeJoy's Management

Ossoff has strongly criticized DeJoy's management of the Postal Service, calling it a "failure of leadership and a failure of management."

• Ossoff visited the Palmetto facility in June and called out DeJoy for poor management as employees from across the state had to move to the Palmetto location.
• DeJoy told local leaders he planned to add staff and noted that mail service in the state was improving, but Ossoff believes Georgians deserve better.

Bipartisan Support and Importance of Postal Service

Ossoff expects bipartisan support for the Postmaster General Reform Act, emphasizing the importance of the Postal Service for various sectors of society.

• "This is about whether seniors are receiving their medication in the mail," Ossoff said.
• "This is about whether citizens are receiving vital notices from the court -- notices to appear, notices of eviction."
• "This is about whether small businesses can function. High quality postal service can't be a luxury. It is a necessity."

Declining Mail Volume and Financial Losses

The Postal Service has faced declining mail volume and financial losses in recent years, leading to changes in operations.

• The volume of first-class mail has dropped 80% since 1997 as packaged shipments have grown.
• The Postal Service reported losses of $87 billion from 2007 to 2020.

Calls for Congressional Oversight

Ossoff believes the Postmaster General's role is of such importance that it warrants a "real job interview" with those elected to confirm the most important officials in the federal government.

• The proposed legislation aims to increase Congressional oversight and accountability for the Postmaster General's position.
• Ossoff sees it as a necessary step to ensure the proper functioning of the vital Postal Service.