US House Rep Susan Davis' office issued the following:
Rep. Susan Davis Re-Introduces Bipartisan Resolution to Protect Door Delivery of Mail
Washington, January 7, 2019
WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-CA) re-introduced her bipartisan bill, H. Res. 23,
that would put the House on record saying postal door delivery must not
end. Rep. Peter King (R-NY) and Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) joined Davis as
lead cosponsors of the resolution.
“I have heard overwhelming opposition to ending door delivery,” said Rep. Davis. “A move to stop door delivery of mail would be bad for postal customers, businesses, and the Postal Service. Seniors and people living with disabilities would be hit particularly hard.”
“I have heard overwhelming opposition to ending door delivery,” said Rep. Davis. “A move to stop door delivery of mail would be bad for postal customers, businesses, and the Postal Service. Seniors and people living with disabilities would be hit particularly hard.”
If door delivery of mail ends, residents would be forced to
pick up their mail at shared cluster mailboxes, many of which are in
unsecured locations, poorly maintained and far from people’s homes. In
many older San Diego communities, neighbors do not want cluster boxes
installed in their yards.
“I’ve heard stories from constituents who are forced to use
cluster mailboxes and they report all kinds of problems with them from
theft to graffiti,” added Davis. “My constituents with door delivery are
very vocal about wanting to keep this critical service.”
Seniors and people with disabilities would be particularly hurt by the forced adoption of cluster boxes, especially for prescription deliveries. Studies show that in the digital age, these groups rely more than ever on getting mail right to their door.
Besides inaccessibility, cluster box maintenance is an added issue. Numerous reports have detailed neighborhood cluster box theft, damage, or vandalism and residents are ultimately responsible for maintenance and repair of the cluster boxes.
Neighbors all have to pitch in, which can create community tensions. In some cases, it has taken months for residents to raise enough money to replace them. Residents then have to pick up mail at the post office while they wait.
Eliminating door delivery would drive mail and revenue from the Postal Service, devaluing postal mail in the long run as individuals and businesses advertisers would likely send less mail.
Davis’s resolution is the same as the one she introduced in the 115th Congress, which had 247 bipartisan cosponsors. The bill has support from Members of Congress representing urban, rural and suburban constituencies who all rely on the door delivery.
Seniors and people with disabilities would be particularly hurt by the forced adoption of cluster boxes, especially for prescription deliveries. Studies show that in the digital age, these groups rely more than ever on getting mail right to their door.
Besides inaccessibility, cluster box maintenance is an added issue. Numerous reports have detailed neighborhood cluster box theft, damage, or vandalism and residents are ultimately responsible for maintenance and repair of the cluster boxes.
Neighbors all have to pitch in, which can create community tensions. In some cases, it has taken months for residents to raise enough money to replace them. Residents then have to pick up mail at the post office while they wait.
Eliminating door delivery would drive mail and revenue from the Postal Service, devaluing postal mail in the long run as individuals and businesses advertisers would likely send less mail.
Davis’s resolution is the same as the one she introduced in the 115th Congress, which had 247 bipartisan cosponsors. The bill has support from Members of Congress representing urban, rural and suburban constituencies who all rely on the door delivery.
