Democrats urge postmaster to support electric vehicles

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), climate hawk Democrats in Congress are pressing PostmasterGeneral Louis DeJoyLouis DeJoyHouse votes for a bill to overhaul the Postal Service. Virginia lawmakers block ex Trump EPA chief Postmaster General’s plan to purchase gasoline-powered trucks.To rescind the purchase of thousands more gasoline-powered U.S. vehicles Postal Service vehicles and a confrontation with one federal official President BidenJoe BidenTrump tightens his grip on RNC. White House: Top health official to resign. MOREIt is impossible to replace at will.

Biden issued in 2021 an executive order asking the federal government for net-zero greenhouse gas emission by 2050. This ambitious goal would need the cooperation of the Postal Service. The Postal Service has the largest civilian vehicle fleet.

However, Oshkosh was awarded the vehicle contract in February 2021 by the Postal Service. This was for a predominantly gasoline-powered fleet. DeJoy has only committed that 10 percent of the 165,000 new electric vehicles will be electric.

Last week, the EPA and the White House Council on Environmental Quality, along with 17 Democratic senators, representatives, called on DeJoy (a long-time donor to the former). President TrumpDonald TrumpMcConnell laughs at Trump’s nickname ‘Old Crow’: ‘It’s my favorite Bourbon’ North Carolina elections board states it has the power to stop Cawthorn running over Jan. 6. Trump endorses Noem’s re-election bid in South Dakotawho was appointed in 2020 to amend and expand the Postal Service’s procurement plan to increase electric vehicles. Chairman, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Tom CarperThomas (Tom), Richard CarperOvernight Energie & Environment Biden OKs solar tariffs with modifications Democratic senator presses Postal Service to approve electric vehicle purchasing plans Nearly 200 Democrats support EPA in Supreme Court emission case MORE (D-Del.(D-Del.

The EPA noted the vehicles in the contract would get 8.6 mpg. This is a small improvement over their predecessors 8.2 mpg.

The transportation sector is responsible for approximately one-third of all U.S. annual greenhouse gas emissions, making it the largest single source of emissions.

Democrats were already dissatisfied with DeJoy’s decision and blasted it.

Rep. Gerry ConnollyGerald (Gerry), Edward Connolly Former Washington football team staffers reveal sexual harassment, humiliation and racism to House panel. Lawmakers battle at Washington Football Team Roundtable on Sexual Harassment NY attorney general subpoenas GSA records on Trump hotel deal: Report MORE(D-Va.), who chairs House Oversight and Reform subcommittee overseeing the Postal Service, said that DeJoy’s decision to purchase the vehicles was another reason why he was not the right choice in 2020 and that he is the wrong choice now to lead it into the future.

Connolly stated to The Hill that if he was to win this contract, it would be a huge missed opportunity.

Louis DeJoy is not delivering on the potential to have a healthier, more affordable, and more environmentally-friendly fleet of mail truck trucks. He is instead undermining our government-wide goals. Ed MarkeyEd MarkeyOvernight Medical Care Medicare to cover athome COVID-19 testing FDA nominee meets unexpected hurdles Energy & Environment Interior hot seat after court halts sale of drilling MORE (D-Mass.The Hill received a statement from, who was the leader of the letter. This is unacceptable and shortsighted. Our postal carriers and customers in the United States deserve better.

According to the Postal Service, fully electrifying the fleet would add $300 billion.

Although we can understand why some might prefer to purchase more electric vehicles than those who are responsible for the financial sustainability, the law demands that we be self sufficient, the Postal Service stated in a statement last Thursday.

It said that it is ready to electrify at an even faster rate if a solution is found that is not financially harmful to the Postal Service.

DeJoy released a statement Sunday stating that the proposed action, which is being evaluated under the National Environmental Policy Act, (NEPA), includes an order plan for 5,000 e-vehicles and the flexibility of increasing the number if additional funding becomes available. Without such funding, we must make fiscally responsible choices that will result in safer and cleaner vehicles for the men who deliver America’s mail.

DeJoy defended the move in a similar manner at a Tuesday Postal Service board session, saying that he is compelled by the American public to act prudently.

He said that this responsibility should not be confused with an ambivalent commitment for operating a cleaner fleet of postal vehicles for our country. We will, as with all other things we do, be firm in taking decisions that are based on our financial situation and what is realistically possible.

Reached for comment, a spokesperson from the Postal Service referred The Hill directly to the Friday statement.

Democratic scrutiny has been brought to bear on DeJoys past donations to Trump and Republicans. This was especially true in 2020 when Trump made numerous baseless claims about mail-in voting being used to commit widespread voter fraud.

The Postal Service announced a 10-year cost-cutting strategy last March. It would see the closing of 18 mail-sorting centers nationwide and consolidating services from the closed facilities to other cities within their respective regions. The American Postal Workers Union was outraged by the plan. Leaders claimed that the planned cuts and consolidations would cause service to suffer.

Rep. Jared HuffmanJared William Henry HuffmanHouse Democrats warn of delay in agenda Democrats press cryptomining businesses on energy consumption In the words of their own words: Lawmakers, employees remember Jan. 6 insurrection(D.Calif.), who introduced legislation 2021 to make 75 percent electrified the Postal Service fleet, dismissed DeJoys reply to criticisms of its purchasing plans as hostage taking, telling The Hill DeJoy suggested[ed]If Congress made the deal sweet enough, he could electrify.

Huffman said that it shouldn’t be that difficult. He noted that many of the largest Postal Services competitors, such FedEx and Amazon, are actively electrifying fleets based on economics.

Unfortunately, the Postal Service still has not received any of these documents. [Request for Proposal]He added that the contract could have been written in 1980s. If Louis DeJoy gets his way, he will buy a lot of gas guzzlers which in 15 or 20 year’s time will be the last internal-combustion fleet vehicles on the roads.

DeJoy was appointed to the Postal Service Board of Governors by Trump’s own names and cannot be removed. Connolly said that Congress’s ability to legislate on postal issues is limited. He cited the 2006 vote that rejected a proposal to change mail delivery to six to five days a weeks.

He stated that Congress has legislative oversight. Therefore, we have options and will examine them carefully.

DeJoy can’t be ordered by Congress or the Biden Administration to reconsider the order. However, they can exert public pressure. This was the case in 2020 when lawmakers pressured DeJoy into making operational changes, such as the removal some public mailboxes.

DeJoy also delayed several planned cost-cutting measures within his department due to widespread concern that they could impact mail-in voting during the COVID-19 pandemic.