by Dave Williams | Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA – U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., is taking his efforts to improve mail delivery in Georgia to the state’s veterans.
“In addition to issues with receiving prescription medications over the mail, I have heard from constituents that notices for Veterans Affairs claim exams are not being delivered in a timely manner,” Ossoff wrote in a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy dated Wednesday. “These notices with time-sensitive information, such as appointment information, must be delivered on time.
“Access to medical information in a timely manner is vital for the wellbeing and health of all veterans who have served our nation. “I urge you to investigate these issues specific to veterans’ health care.”
Ossoff has been pressuring DeJoy for nearly a year to resolve delays in mail delivery Georgia families and businesses have been facing.
Delays first surfaced last winter after the postal service opened a new regional mail distribution center in Palmetto. In April, Ossoff reported that only 36% of inbound mail handled by the center was being delivered on time.
DeJoy attributed the delays to problems launching a postal service restructuring plan aimed at making the agency financially self-sufficient. He put the plan on hold while the postal service works to resolve the issues encountered in Georgia.
While DeJoy said last May the problem would be fixed within 60 days, Ossoff said during a Senate committee hearing last month that he is still getting complaints of delays in delivering important mail.
Ossoff introduced legislation last September that would make the position of postmaster general subject to a presidential appointment with confirmation required by the Senate, similar to other administration positions.
President-elect Donald Trump has talked about privatizing the postal service.
