Beatty Tells Trump ‘Don’t Mess With USPS’

COLUMBUS, OH—U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) convened a press conference today in front of the Oakland Park Station Post Office, located at 2200 Innis Road in Ohio's Third Congressional District, to call out the Trump Administration's efforts to undercut the postal service and to discuss legislation the House will vote on this week to guarantee that no changes concerning postal operations and delivery occur prior to the 2020 Presidential Election. Beatty was joined at the press conference by Franklin County Board of Commissioners President John O'Grady, Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin, State Senator Hearcel Craig, State Representative David Leland and Urbancrest Mayor Joseph Barnes.

"They cannot delay our democracy," Beatty said to open press conference. "Let me be clear that the White House's baseless and senseless attacks on the USPS must be stopped." She continued, "So, I call on President Trump and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to stop this nonsense, stop the sabotage, and to put the health, safety and well-being of Americans first."

Beatty's press conference comes on the heels of the Trump Administration and DeJoy's ongoing onslaught against the USPS, which has resulted in inexcusable mail delivery delays and a notice to the State of Ohio and 45 additional states that there was substantial risk that mail-in ballots may not be processed in time to be counted for the 2020 Presidential Election.

In response to the backlash and pressure from Beatty, fellow Democrats and the American people, DeJoy reversed course, pledging to suspend all overhaul efforts until after the election. However, he has not yet clarified his intentions on bringing back into service previously removed sorting machines and mailboxes.

"Today's announcement by the Postmaster General is a small victory, but the battles continues." Beatty added, "We must join together to ensure that the Trump Administration follows through on their promises because so much is at stake—we must hold their feet to the fire."

Every day, millions of seniors, veterans, consumers, and American families rely on the postal service for the delivery of lifesaving prescriptions, to pay their bills and taxes, as well as to receive packages, paychecks and Social Security benefits, not to mention vote by mail during election season.

Of note, Beatty will be returning to the nation's capital later this week to vote on the Delivering for America Act, of which she is a cosponsor. If enacted, the bill would prohibit USPS leadership from implementing changes to reduce postal operations and levels of service that were in place prior to January 1, 2020. In addition, Beatty joined her colleagues in May to pass The Heroes Act, H.R. 6800, a piece of legislation that would provide $25 billion in emergency funding for USPS to make up for lost revenue and to purchase personal protective equipment as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Moreover, Beatty has been outspoken in the need for the immediate dismissal of DeJoy.