Fighting for your Postal Service; Census deadline approaches

I have heard from over 6,000 Philadelphians about delayed mail or your support for maintaining the U.S. Postal Service, and I have been taking action. I know how important this service is for many seniors and veterans to receive their prescription medications on time, for people who receive Social Security checks by mail, for anyone who wants to vote by mail during the Covid-19 pandemic, and more.

That's why I came to Washington for a special Saturday session to vote for the Delivering for America Act, which would prohibit the Postal Service from implementing any changes to operations or the level of service it had in place on January 1, 2020. The House passed it with bipartisan support, and I urge the Senate to act on it quickly.

I also visited four Philadelphia post offices last week to show my support for maintaining your Postal Service and to learn more about these issues.

The House also held a hearing Monday where members questioned new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy about the recent changes he has overseen.

If you are having a problem with your mail delivery and would like my office to look into it, you can fill out the required federal privacy form by clicking here. Some constituents have also found it useful to sign up for USPS' Informed Delivery service, which can help you watch for important mail and notify USPS if it doesn't arrive. You can click here to learn more.

Census deadline approaching

The U.S. Census only happens once every 10 years and helps to determine how much federal funding your neighborhood and city receive. For every Philadelphian not counted, we lose an estimated $21,000 over 10 years for vital services such as schools, transit and health care.

The administration has decided to end the Census on Sept. 30, a month earlier than planned. I believe this makes it more important than ever for everyone to get counted now. It only takes 5 to 10 minutes and you can do it at 2020census.gov or by phone at 844-330-2020. Please share this information!

PA eviction and foreclosure moratorium expiring

Gov. Tom Wolf has announced the state moratorium on evictions and foreclosures will expire Aug. 31, and he is requesting the legislature extend it. I voted for a similar national moratorium in the Heroes Act that passed the U.S. House on May 15. I continue to urge the Senate to act on that bill! I believe a recently announced federal executive order fails to provide adequate protection for renters or homeowners.

You can find resources on the websites of the Philadelphia Housing Authority and the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. The Philadelphia Inquirer has also provided a guide on the rules about when a landlord can come into a tenant's home, and what amount of notice is required in Pennsylvania.

For Philadelphia homeowners: The city has a Basic Systems Repair Program, which provides free repairs to correct electrical, plumbing, heating, structural and roofing emergencies in eligible owner-occupied homes in Philadelphia. You can learn more by clicking here.

Sincerely,

Dwight Evans

Member of Congress