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Guest Commentary February 18, 2002
Neither Snow, Nor Rain ... Nor a Nation Challenged
The Honorable Jo Ann Emerson
In the wake of September 11th and the anthrax-tainted mail attacks that followed, many challenges remain -- specifically here in Congress where we are still working to ensure that your mail is delivered to Congressional offices as quickly as possible. For although mail service has likely returned to "normal" at home in Southern Missouri, sometimes I feel as though it takes longer to get your letter at my Washington, DC office than it does for a bill to become a law!
Even though mail service has resumed in Congress, the mail service is far from "normal." Instead, mail processing and delivery is limited and much slower than prior to October 12th. That is the day before our mail service was suspended due to the anthrax-tainted mail. Mail processing resumed for first class letters on December 21st, while processing for flats resumed on December 31st. According to the USPS, the last batch of backlogged first class mail and flats was sent for irradiation on January 17th. That still leaves us with packages which are still going through the process and 3rd class mail which has not entered the process. The long and short of it is that although it's February, much of the mail we are getting right now is from October, November and December.
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According to the Committee on House Administration which works closely with USPS, the letters you send me have several additional stops once you send it before it reaches my office in Washington, DC. First, mail sent from a constituent arrives at the House mail and then is sent off for irradiation at one of two facilities. After that is complete, the mail is then sent back to the House mail processing center. Upon its return it undergoes a 48 hour "off-gassing" period -- basically to allow the mail to "air out." The mail is then in the hands of the House mail processing center, which puts the mail through a rigorous sampling procedure for security's sake. This sampling period lasts about three days. Upon its conclusion the mail is finally delivered to my office.
Just as the current mail situation is frustrating for you it's also frustrating for me and my office staff because we can't respond to your letters as quickly as we have prior to September 11th. But we are looking for ways to improve and shorten the response time to your inquiries. One way is to mail your letters to my district offices. They are not subject to the mail delays that we are experiencing in Washington, DC and will reach staff more quickly than mailing letters to the Washington office. Another way would be to send me an e-mail. You can e-mail me by logging on to my website at www.house.gov/emerson.
While the terrorist attacks of September 11, and the anthrax attacks may have shaken us to the core, we will not be deterred. It just requires some creativity, perseverance and patience -- by everyone. As the US Postal Service said and I agree, "We're letting America know. We're still here. We're not going away. We're processing and delivering the mail. 'Neither snow, nor rain ... nor a nation challenged'."
Jo Ann Emerson, a Republican, represents the 8th Congressional District of Missouri in the U.S. House of Representatives. The above commentary has been adapted from a weekly column Rep. Emerson issues, February 15, 2002. To contact her, Click Here.
The above column has been distributed by PoliticsOL.com.
