Letter to Postmaster General Megan Brennan - Ship Trees and Save Christmas for Soldiers Serving Abroad

Letter

Dear Postmaster General Brennan:

I write to seek your immediate assistance in addressing an issue for members of the United States Armed Forces serving abroad. Each year farmers in New York work with their local community to collect donations and package and ship Christmas trees during the holiday season to soldiers serving overseas. This is an important tradition, and is one that brings holiday cheer to brave members of the United States Armed Forces serving overseas. Unfortunately, this year a number of those Christmas trees donated by local communities were returned to sender by the United States Postal Service, according to the farmers who received the returned trees. My understanding is that this is because of a last-minute policy change that severely limited the size of packages that can be shipped to military bases.

It's incredibly disappointing that this change was made with little notice and that it resulted in at least 40 Christmas Trees being sent back, rather than making their way to service members in time for Christmas. It is a mistake with unintended consequences that can and must be rectified ASAP. What's also concerning is that because of the last minute nature of the policy change many local postmasters accepted the trees and payment for shipment from the local farmers without being aware that they'd be returned.

To address this issue urge you work together and take immediate action to rectify the situation. I strongly encourage you to work with local postmasters to ensure that these already packaged trees can be shipped immediately without additional cost to the communities that have donated them. Any trees that have been returned should be re-accepted free of charge by the postal service and receive expedited shipping to their final destination. Such a decision needs to be made quickly so that trees can arrive in time for Christmas. Second, I'd ask that you make a permanent waiver to military shipping size restrictions for Christmas trees so that in future years this same unfortunate situation does not occur and this valuable holiday tradition can continue.

It's important that swift action is taken to address this issue so that the communities and farmers who worked so hard to bring holiday cheer to our brave soldiers can rest easier knowing the Christmas trees are on their way to their intended recipients. I appreciate your attention to this matter, should you need further information please do not hesitate to contact my office.

Sincerely,

Senator Charles E. Schumer

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