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WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy expressing concerns about delayed postal deliveries across Michigan’s 12^th Congressional District. Dingell urged for Postmaster DeJoy to address these delays and present a timetable for restored mail service to Dearborn, MI.

Representative Dingell wrote, “Problems with undelivered mail, sporadic delivery, and mail delays are significant and widespread issues being reported across my district. Residents have been left waiting weeks for important deliveries of mail and packages, and others have been frustrated with prolonged delivery times for standard mail sent within the district. Community members have incurred significant late fees, missed deadlines, and have been forced to forgo taking critical medications due to delivery disruptions. In addition to bills arriving late, there are issues with payments not arriving at their intended recipients. As a result, individuals have had their phones turned off, insurance cancelled, and credit scores reduced, among many other negative implications. Most recently, the Postal Service misplaced a passport expedited by the State Department that should have arrived well in advance of a constituent’s flight. However, the passport was held in Tucson, Arizona, where it remained for two weeks before my office was able to intervene. Still, the passport unfortunately did not arrive before the constituent’s flight.

“I am deeply alarmed by the current delivery schedule in Dearborn, Michigan. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Postal Service has stated consumers in the Detroit area may receive mail every other day as a result of pandemic-related challenges. However, delivery every other day has become a standard practice in Dearborn. While I understand this is longstanding postal policy during staff shortages, this cannot remain common practice. It is critical daily delivery is restored in a timely manner to ensure the Postal Service can meet the needs of residents throughout Dearborn.

“I understand the Postal Service is facing a shortage of employees, and I appreciate the long and hard hours current employees have been working to try to compensate. However, these persisting postal issues are unacceptable and must be resolved in a timely manner.”

You may view the full letter here.

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