Update On Postal Delays

Because of lengthy mail delays relating to security precautions prompted by the anthrax incidents, the members of Vermont’’s Congressional Delegation –– Senator Patrick Leahy, Senator Jim Jeffords, and Congressman Bernie Sanders –– today invited constituents to use e-mail and phones to expedite messages to their offices in the meantime.

They said that even when mail service is fully resumed, new procedures will change the way congressional mail is handled, possibly creating new delays. They said that law enforcement and security authorities have also raised the possibility that a portion of the congressional mail already being held may be destroyed.

They noted that those who do not have personal access to the Internet may be able to e-mail from local libraries by using the Internet to go to their Web pages and sending messages from there.

In a joint comment, the Delegation members said: "We regret any inconveniences resulting from these delays, and we appreciate the extra efforts that Vermonters are making to contact us. We are determined to do all we can to keep open the lines of communication that have long characterized the relationship between Vermonters and their representatives in Congress."

# # # # #

Contacting Members Of The Vermont Congressional Delegation
By Phone And E-Mail

Senator Patrick Leahy
Toll-Free: 800-642-3193
TTY (Burlington): 802-862-6314
Burlington: 863-2525
Montpelier: 229-0569
Washington: 202-224-4242
Home Page: http://leahy.senate.gov
e-mail: senator_leahy@leahy.senate.gov

Senator Jim Jeffords
Toll-Free: 800-835-5500
TTY: 800-835-5500
Burlington: 658-6001
Montpelier: 223-5273
Rutland: 773-3875
Washington: 202-224-5141
Home Page: http://www.senate.gov/~jeffords
e-mail: vermont@jeffords.senate.gov

Congressman Bernie Sanders
Toll-Free: 800-339-9834
TTY: (Burlington) 802-862-0697
Burlington: 862-0697
Washington: 202-225-4115
Home Page: http://bernie.house.gov
e-mail: Bernie@mail.house.gov