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Dear Neighbor, Throughout this crisis, the US Postal Service has provided consistent mail and package delivery to all of us. It has been a critical lifeline for the millions of Americans, particularly seniors and people living with disabilities, who would otherwise be forced to leave their homes for necessities like prescription medications and household essentials. We have never needed USPS more than we do today. That's why it's outrageous that the Trump administration is allowing the Postal Service to collapse. Like many businesses across the country, USPS has been hit hard by this crisis. Last week, mail volume dropped by 30% when compared to the same time last year. Mail volume is projected to plummet to 50% below last year’s sales by June. That loss of revenue, combined with added costs related to the COVID-19 response, would leave USPS an additional $13 billion in the red in the third and fourth quarters of this fiscal year. No organization could sustain a revenue drop of that magnitude. The Postmaster General informed Congress that USPS will be unable to make payroll in October absent urgent congressional intervention, putting at risk the livelihoods of the Postal Service's 630,000 employees and the 7.3 million people who are part of the larger mailing industry. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, which bears responsibility for oversight of the Postal Service, this issue has been a top priority of mine. I, along with House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney, introduced a plan to authorize $25 billion in emergency funding for USPS, eliminate their current debt, and provide them with the flexibility they need to continue operating under these conditions. Our plan was included in the Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act, House Democrats' original phase three stimulus proposal. We were making progress until Donald Trump personally rejected the plan, and refused to sign any legislation that included funding to save the Postal Service. USPS needs $25 billion dollars and debt forgiveness right now to stay afloat, and the President is single-handedly holding it up. For context, $25 billion is much less than the passenger airlines were given in the stimulus, and they've turned record profits in recent years. The discrepancy is unconscionable. I've urged House and Senate leadership to include meaningful relief for USPS in the next phase of coronavirus response legislation. It is my sincere hope that the President will back down and finally work with us to save the Postal Service. I will continue to do everything I can to make sure that happens. Lastly, I'd like to offer my personal thanks to every USPS employee in our community and across the country. USPS is a beloved American institution, and that's entirely due to the excellent service its 630,000 employees provide, and the lasting relationships they form with the people in their communities. Be sure to give your mail carrier a smile and a wave the next time you see him or her. They are putting themselves at risk each and every day, and they deserve our gratitude. Please take care of yourselves and each other, and remember that my office is here to help. Be sure to visit the COVID-19 page on my website for more information and resources. If you have any questions or concerns, or if you need assistance, please don't hesitate to call us at (703) 256-3071. Sincerely,
Member of Congress |
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