Cape News

U.S. Representative Jason Smith, along with fellow Missouri Representatives Sam Graves, Ann Wagner, and Blaine Luetkemeyer, has called for an investigation into mail delivery delays affecting rural communities in eastern Missouri. In a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, they urged the United States Postal Service (USPS) Office of Inspector General to audit the Sorting and Distribution Center in Hazelwood, Missouri.

Smith expressed concerns about the impact of these delays on local residents. "The rural mail crisis is taking a major toll on the quality of life in communities across southeast and south-central Missouri," he stated. He highlighted issues such as seniors not receiving Social Security checks on time and veterans missing out on benefits. Small businesses are also affected by lost packages and payments.

"Enough is enough," Smith declared. He emphasized the need for accountability from USPS due to what he described as "poor decisions and years of mismanagement." Smith is calling for an immediate investigation into the delays and a detailed plan from USPS to improve service.

In addition to auditing the Hazelwood facility, Smith and his colleagues requested that USPS outline its plans to address unreliable mail service in rural areas. They also asked for a report on absentee ballot issues ahead of the November election and details on how USPS's rural delivery proposal will impact regional post offices.

Addressing the rural mail crisis remains a priority for Smith. Last year, he wrote to DeJoy seeking answers about long mail delays following USPS's decision to close the Cape Girardeau Processing Facility in February 2022. In 2021, Smith joined a bipartisan group urging DeJoy to halt further postal facility consolidations under the Delivering for America plan.