{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/media-center/news-releases/at-senate-hearing-mccaskill-urges-postal-nominee-to-prioritize-reliable-service-for-missourians-in-rural-communities", "At Senate Hearing, McCaskill Urges Postal Nominee to Prioritize Reliable Service for Missourians in Rural Communities", "2018-10-03", "2018", "2018-10", "Democrat", "House", "MO", "Claire McCaskill", "M001170", "www.mccaskill.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "At Senate Hearing, McCaskill Urges Postal Nominee to Prioritize Reliable Service for Missourians in Rural Communities \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t Senator highlights reliable mail service as key to keeping next generation in rural communities \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, October 3, 2018\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON At a Senate hearing today to consider a nomination for the Postal Regulatory Commission, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill pressed the nominee to prioritize reliable mail delivery for Missourians living in rural communities. McCaskill serves as the top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which has jurisdiction over the United States Postal Service.\r\n\r\nI'm really worried aboutthe quality of rural mail service, McCaskill said. I hear from people all the time in Missouri about the increasing service delays, and the key to rural Missouri in terms of them keeping people in their communitieskeeping the next generation in their communitiesis in fact reliable mail service, because many of them are starting small businesses. The one-two partnership that is essential for rural Missouri is high speed broadband combined with reliable mail service. That is where you can start businesses and allow businesses to thriveno matter where you liveif you have those two ingredients.\r\n\r\nThe hearing was held to consider Michael Kubayanda to be a Commissioner on the Postal Regulatory Commission and Steven Dillingham to be Director of the Census.\r\n\r\nClickHEREto watch McCaskill's statement during the hearing.\r\n\r\nMcCaskill has long worked to improve postal service and hold the agency accountable, particular for Missourians in rural communities. Last month, she announced that following her advocacy, the Postal Service hadsuccessfully fixed a quirkin which some Missouri residents had Iowa and Arkansas mailing addresses, causing unnecessary problems for the affected Missourians. She alsoled a bipartisan groupof 41 Senate colleagues in a resolution making clear Congress' opposition to privatizing the Postal Service. Earlier this year, shesent a letterto the Administration's Postal Task Force, urging it to prioritize reliable access in rural communities and improved delivery times.\r\n\r\nMcCaskillcalled for postal reformsafter a Postal Service Inspector General report found that mismanagement led to up to two billion pieces of delayed mail. She called for answers from the Postmaster General followingreports from Missouri postal managersthat their staffing needs have been disregarded. McCaskill also joined a bipartisan group of Senators to introduce acomprehensive postal reform billthat will put the Postal Service on firm financial footing, improve performance in rural communities, and allow for the development of new products and services. She is widely credited with havingwaged a successful campaignover several years to save rural post offices in Missouri and maintain delivery standards.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/media-center/news-releases/at-senate-hearing-mccaskill-urges-postal-nominee-to-prioritize-reliable-service-for-missourians-in-rural-communities"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.480990020558238, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}