Indiana lawmakers taking action to address mail delays

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - Indiana lawmakers are reaching out to USPS to address ongoing mail concerns for Hoosiers.

U.S. Senator Todd Young says the entire Indiana delegation sent a letter to the United States Postal Service, written by Representative Jefferson Shreve.

“These delays have had real consequences for individuals and businesses alike. Constituents have reported late deliveries of medications, critical financial documents, and essential business shipments. This is primarily reflected in the issues found with the USPS Regional Processing Center on the east side of Indianapolis,” the delegation wrote in the letter.

The letter requests a detailed explanation for why the delays are occurring and specific steps USPS is taking to address the delays.

Full text of the letter can be found below:

Dear Postmaster General DeJoy,

We write today to express serious concerns about the mail and package delivery delays in Indiana, particularly those linked to the Indianapolis distribution hub. The Indiana Congressional delegation has received dozens of calls over the past week from Hoosiers who have experienced significant disruptions in their mail service. These interruptions have continued to skyrocket in recent days, as local news stations are also highlighting the pain constituents are facing with these delays.

These delays have had real consequences for individuals and businesses alike. Constituents have reported late deliveries of medications, critical financial documents, and essential business shipments. This is primarily reflected in the issues found with the USPS Regional Processing Center on the east side of Indianapolis. Constituents consistently have packages “stuck in transit” unmoving from the processing center for days to weeks. Additionally in other parts of the state, we have heard of issues with mail being routed through Louisville, Kentucky, instead of the Evansville, Indiana, hub due to restructuring. This additional and further removed step prevents communities from accessing their mail system.

These delays and restructuring issues ripple out to rural communities in Indiana. The delegation has heard of multiple post offices shuttering, or limiting services, requiring rural residents to drive longer distances for daily services. For rural communities that rely heavily on the Postal Service, these issues are particularly disruptive.

Given the importance of USPS in ensuring timely and reliable mail service, we request a detailed explanation of the causes of these delays and the specific steps the Postal Service is taking to address them.

Additionally, we request that USPS update the Indiana Congressional delegation on the immediate changes at the Indianapolis facility to reduce package wait times, as well as a long-term strategy to ensure Hoosiers have reliable access to these essential services.

Southern Indiana’s Representative Mark Messmer had strong words when speaking about the current system that sends Evansville’s mail to Louisville.

“To send an envelope across town, it has to go through Louisville, Kentucky,” Rep. Messmer said. “How is it not possible, when you have local, interjurisdictional mail to not be able to bring it, have the capability to process it, and get it back out the next day or two back out to those same route drivers. Whoever concocted this current program should probably be fired.”

That letter, sent to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, was signed by all 11 members of Indiana’s delegation. Messmer says it’s time people questions are answered.

“If this doesn’t generate any adequate responses, or if the answers are unacceptable, we’ll talk to leadership and see what we can do from here,” he said.

Messmer says that could mean taking the problem to a higher level. The President is tasked with appointing a bipartisan Postal Service Board of Governors, who select the Postmaster General — the same person Indiana’s delegation is now pressing for more answers.

“We want to help try to solve this problem for our constituents,” he said.

Evansville area mail has been shipped to a regional processing facility in Louisville since last year. USPS officials tell us it’s part of their Delivering For America Plan, that they hope will increase efficiency in the Postal Service.

You can read our previous stories on that plan and other mail service issues below:

[Snail mail: Tracking delays in USPS delivery]

[USPS responds to questions about mail delays]

[USPS mail delays extend beyond just ballots]

[Clerks point to post office for major delays in ballots]

[Haubstadt city government scrambles after no one receives their water bills]

[McLean Co. Court calls for USPS to improve services]

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