07.02.20

Cantwell, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Defending USPS, Urging More Funding to Offset COVID-19 Losses

Without federal assistance, USPS is projected to run out of money by the end of FY2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, joined U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Gary Peters (D-MI) in introducing a resolution outlining the importance of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and urging Congress to increase funding for USPS in the next COVID-19 relief package to help the agency offset losses incurred due to the pandemic. The resolution also makes clear that the USPS should not have to reduce its services, close post office facilities, or excessively raise rates.

“Congress should appropriate funds to offset lost revenues of the United States Postal Service during the COVID–19 emergency and should take all appropriate measures to ensure the United States Postal Service maintains its services and remains an accessible, independent establishment of the Federal Government,” the senators wrote.

With 546 facilities and more than 12,000 workers across Washington state, the U.S. Postal Service has been a lifeline to households, businesses, and healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic, as Americans stay home to help fight the virus. The Postal Service enables the delivery of prescription medication, goods sold by small businesses, vote-by-mail ballots, and critical supplies to households across the country, especially in rural areas, as it famously delivers to “the last mile.” Nationwide, the U.S. Postal Service employs more than 630,000 people, including 97,000 military veterans.

However, without federal assistance, the USPS is projected to run out of money by the end of FY 2020.

While the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act included a $10 billion emergency loan to the U.S. Postal Service from the U.S. Treasury Department, the Trump administration has said it will not make the loan unless USPS closes post offices, raises rates, and scales back services.

Senator Cantwell has consistently supported efforts to ensure that the USPS remains independent and continues providing affordable service to all areas of the country. She is also a cosponsor of S. Res. 99, which states that Congress should ensure that the USPS is not subject to privatization.

In addition to Senators Cantwell, Booker, Schumer, and Peters, the resolution is also cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Tom Carper (D-DE), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Doug Jones (D-AL), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jackie Rosen (D-NV), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tom Udall (D-NM), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Angus King (I-ME), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Tester (D-MT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Brian Schatz (D-HI).

The full text of the resolution is available HERE.

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