Pelosi weighing bringing House back from August recess early over USPS issues: reports

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Democratic leadership are considering returning from August recess as early as next week to consider legislation addressing issues at the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), Democratic aides confirmed to CNN and Politico.

The chamber is currently in recess, with no votes scheduled until the week of Sept. 14, though they could reportedly return to vote within the next two weeks.

“Yes there are discussions to bring the House back to address the Postal Service crisis, timing not clear yet. Next week and week after (are) being discussed,” one aide told CNN after a Saturday call with party leadership.

The news comes as some members are reportedly facing criticism in their districts this recess period for not coming back to Washington, D.C., and addressing issues within the Postal Service. 

Other lawmakers are calling on the speaker to bring members of the lower chamber back to the nation’s capital. 

Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.), tweeted Saturday that he asked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to call back the House because “Trump is attempting to sabotage the USPS.”

Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), a moderate freshman facing a tough reelection this November, also voiced her support for returning to Washington.

“Enough is enough: the House Oversight Committee, which oversees the U.S. Postal Service, should come back to Washington as soon as possible to hold a public hearing with the Postmaster General,” Slotkin tweeted.

Democrats are reportedly discussing legislation that would build upon a bill introduced by House Oversight Chair Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) earlier this week. The legislation would forbid the Postal Service from making changes that Democrats and critics say would hinder mail-in voting.

Democrats are also considering including language in the bill that requires all ballot deliveries to have first class status.

Postmaster General Louis Dejoy, a GOP donor and Trump appointee, recently made sweeping policy changes such as adjusting delivery policies and reassigning or displacing over 20 agency officials including two top officials in charge of day-to-day operations. 

A USPS watchdog on Friday announced that Dejoy’s policies were undergoing review after Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) requested an inquiry into the changes. 

House action could include prohibiting the Post Office from changing mail sorting devices, preventing the closure of postal facilities, stopping efforts to prohibit overtime pay and ensuring expedient mail delivery, according to the source familiar with the matter, CNN reported. 

News of these potential actions from the House come as the USPS faces a potentially large influx of mail this fall due to expected increase in mail-in ballots for the November election. 

In a Friday statement, Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called on DeJoy to “quickly reverse his operational changes that have led to delays and service reductions for too many Americans and threaten to undermine our democracy.”

Trump backed Dejoy at a Saturday press conference at his Bedminster, N.J., property, saying that he is a “fantastic man” who wants to “make the Post Office great again.”

“I don’t know what he’s doing, I can only tell you he is a very smart man,” Trump said when asked about the changes in the Post Office.

The Hill has reached out Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and House Majority Whip James Clyburn’s (D-S.C.) offices for comment. 

Updated at 10:22 p.m.