Charleston, WV – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) visited and toured four U.S. Postal Service (USPS) locations in West Virginia, showing his gratitude to the postal workers for getting mail to West Virginians and to show his appreciation for the U.S. Postal Service. To view photos from the visits, please click here.
“The Administration is launching an all-out war on the U.S. Postal Service. Several weeks ago we learned they had unexpectedly announced closures of several West Virginia post offices. Then we learned the Postal Service was considering changing their longstanding practice of treating all election mail as first-class mail, which could result in slower delivery times and increase risks that voters would not receive and return ballots in time for the election. Now we’re hearing reports that the post office is removing sorting machines and reducing capacity a few months before an election where we’ll see more mail-in ballots than ever before. This is unacceptable,” said Senator Manchin. “I have already filed the POST Act to prevent post office closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. I am filing another to prevent any more major, fundamental changes during this pandemic. Now is not the time to play politics with our mail. People need their medicine. People need their checks. And yes – people need their ballots to vote. I am so proud of our post offices and our postal workers and while the current Administration may be working against them, I won’t stop fighting to protect our rural post offices across America.”
Timeline of Senator Manchin’s efforts to protect the Postal Service
August 14, 2020 – Senator Manchin condemned operational changes being implemented in post offices and processing centers. These actions are currently causing mail delays in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 Census, and election cycle.
August 12, 2020 – Senator Manchin expressed significant concern to U.S. Postmaster General DeJoy that the USPS is implementing changes that could increase delivery time and costs of election mail and urged him to not take any further action that makes it harder and more expensive for states and election jurisdictions to mail ballots.
August 4, 2020 – Senator Manchin introduced the Protect Our Services Today (POST) Act to save post offices from closure during the COVID-19 pandemic.
July 31, 2020 – Senator Manchin received assurances from the USPS that the post office closings throughout West Virginia were a misunderstanding and there would be no post office closings at the time.
July 28, 2020 – Senator Manchin requested clarification from U.S. Postmaster General DeJoy on reported post office closures across West Virginia.
July 8, 2020 – Senator Manchin led a resolution pressing for more funding in future COVID-19 relief packages to offset costs incurred by the USPS due to the pandemic.
October 26, 2018 – Senator Manchin co-sponsored a resolution opposing the privatization of USPS.
May 9, 2012 – Senator Manchin announced that 3,700 rural post offices would remain open.
May 3, 2012 – Senator Manchin led a bipartisan letter to extend the moratorium on post office closures until postal service reform bill was passed into law.
August 8, 2011 – Senator Manchin led the West Virginia Congressional Delegation in warning against the consolidation of postal facilities.
July 26, 2011 – Senator Manchin condemned the potential closures of 150 post offices in West Virginia.
