North Birmingham Times

Congressman Robert B. Aderholt (R-AL) and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) have reintroduced the Deliver for Democracy Act in the 119th Congress. This bipartisan bill aims to enhance the efficiency and reliability of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), focusing on improving the delivery of periodicals and newspapers.

"For far too long, we’ve seen the United States Postal Service struggle to meet the expectations of the American people, particularly in delivering newspapers and periodicals in a timely manner,” said Congressman Aderholt. “As information moves faster than ever in today’s world, it is unacceptable that our postal system is falling behind."

Congressman Cleaver added, “Local news is the lifeblood of a thriving democracy, ensuring that Americans are well-informed about the current events consuming their communities.”

The legislation proposes three main objectives: requiring USPS to achieve at least a 95% on-time delivery rate for periodicals or improve by at least 2 percentage points; mandating annual reporting to the Postal Regulatory Commission on progress; and instructing the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study alternative pricing schemes.

The bill has garnered support from several members of Congress including Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Donald Davis (D-NC), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Angie Craig (D-MN), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Buddy Carter (R-GA), Tom Cole (R-OK), Jim Costa (D-CA), Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Mike Lawler (R-NY), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL).

President Trump has also voiced his concerns regarding USPS performance and suggested additional reforms.

The National Newspaper Association and News Media Alliance have expressed their support for this act.