Texas congressman calls for transparency from USPS amid shipping delays

HOUSTON, Texas (KBTX) – A Houston-area congressman spoke out Monday about ongoing shipping delays at a Missouri City USPS facility.

Rep. Al Green called these delays, which have caused issues with missing packages in the Brazos Valley, concerning.

During a press conference held Monday, Green called on the USPS to take action and be transparent with customers experiencing delays. Some of those customers spoke at the press conference, said that they were late receiving medication; and one says she still hasn’t received her wedding dress.

USPS shared in a statement that the delays are a “temporary disruption” caused by efforts to restructure the postal service nationwide. Part of that plan includes setting up what USPS calls Local Processing Centers, which included repurposing their facility in Missouri City. However, it’s unknown exactly what is causing the shipping delays.

Green said since the USPS receives federal funding, they should answer to their customers.

”When they have a line of credit with the federal government, they ought to be standing before the cameras answering these questions. And we’re going to push them in that direction,” he said.

Green isn’t the only legislator speaking out about these delays. Representative Michael McCaul’s office stated they are working with constituents to solve problems, and are looking into oversight options.

McCaul’s office said he and his team have been in contact with Green’s office to collaborate.

Green said he plans to tour the facility, as he’s concerned about what these delays could mean for future mail, especially during an election year.

In the meantime, he’s called on the postal service to be transparent.

”You have to assume that every package is important. Every package may have something that can actually have a circumstance associated with a person’s life,” Green said.

Multiple news outlets, including KBTX, have reached out to the postal service about these delays. They’ve sent the same six paragraphs in response, encouraging customers to reach out directly with issues and blaming delays on network upgrades.

Read their full statement below