Mail Service Must Meet Our Expectations

I hear you. Mail delays are still impacting life and business in the CNMI. This week, I wrote to Postmaster General David Steiner to raise continued concerns about mail delays affecting families and businesses in the CNMI. While I appreciate past engagement, the reality is that service outcomes for our community have not meaningfully improved. For residents who rely on the mail for medications, supplies, and everyday needs, these delays remain unacceptable. In my letter, I pointed to a simple comparison. More than a century ago, mail traveled from Europe to Saipan by steamship faster than some packages arrive today from the mainland. With modern aviation and logistics, that should give all of us pause. This is not about blaming local USPS employees, who work hard under difficult conditions. It is about holding ourselves to a higher standard. Reliable mail service is not a convenience for the CNMI. It is essential. I will continue pressing for an objective review of how service to the territories is planned and measured, guided by equal expectations and fairness under the law.