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President Joe Biden on Wednesday nominated three people to fill vacancies on the United States Postal Service Board of Governors.
The nominations came the same day Postmaster General Louis DeJoy apologized to a congressional panel about poor mail service but insisted the problems existed before he took over the USPS.
Congressional Democrats have written letters and publicly called on the president to fill board vacancies in a move that could ultimately result in DeJoy being out of a job.
The board vacancies were a major topic of debate during a hearing Wednesday of the House Oversight and Reform Committee.
Ron Bloom, the board chairman, told lawmakers that the board has lacked full attendance for at least six or seven years. The 11-member board has nine members in staggered terms chosen by the president. The board selects the postmaster general, and then the board and the postmaster general appoint the deputy postmaster general (a position also currently vacant).
During the hearing, Rep. Cori Bush called for diversity on the Board.
“Do you see it as a problem that the Board of Governors for the United States Postal Service looks like a millionaire white boys club?”
Biden’s nominees should address that lack of diversity and unlike Dejoy, they all have some degree of experience with the postal industry.
Anton Hajjar is the former general counsel of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) and has also served as an advisor and pro bono attorney in employment discrimination cases.
Amber McReynolds is the CEO of the National Vote at Home Institute, a non-partisan non-profit dedicated to expanding and improving vote-by-mail systems in all fifty states.
The third nominee, Ronald Stroman, recently served as deputy postmaster general and chief governmental relations officer for the USPS.
Biden’s nominees will have to be confirmed by the Senate. If approved, the newly-filled board could move in the direction Democrats are hoping for – adding two men of color and a woman – and create a majority to take action to replace DeJoy.
