Lower Bucks Today

In Washington, D.C., a new bipartisan legislative initiative has been introduced by Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Congressman Greg Landsman of Ohio to address the rising violence against mail carriers. The Protect Our Letter Carriers Act aims to improve the safety and security of Postal Service workers through infrastructure modernization, enhanced prosecutorial efforts, and updated sentencing guidelines.

According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, robberies targeting letter carriers have surged nearly sevenfold from 2019 to 2023. These crimes increasingly involve firearms and target "arrow keys," which are used by letter carriers to access mailboxes. The theft of these keys allows criminals greater access to various mailboxes, expanding their illegal activities.

The proposed legislation includes several measures: introducing high-security collection boxes, replacing arrow keys with more secure electronic alternatives, creating a position within every U.S. Attorney’s office to expedite investigations into crimes against letter carriers, and strengthening penalties for those convicted of assault or robbery against a letter carrier.

Rep. Fitzpatrick emphasized the urgency of the issue: “The continued surge in robberies and violent assaults against our dedicated letter carriers is a national disgrace, and Congress can no longer afford to delay action.” He highlighted a recent attack on a postal manager in New York as evidence of the dangers faced by postal workers.

Rep. Landsman underscored the importance of passing this bill for both postal workers and the communities they serve: “Our letter carriers and postal workers do so much for us, and we have to keep them safe – our bipartisan bill does that.”

The bill has garnered support from major organizations such as the Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) and National Rural Letter Carriers' Association (NRCLA). NALC President Brian L. Renfroe stated, “Any assault against a letter carrier is one too many,” urging Congress to pass the bill. NRCLA President Don Maston expressed gratitude for the legislation's introduction, emphasizing its role in protecting not just letter carriers but also community safety.