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Lujan Statement on Passage of Legislation to Protect USPS

Statement

Date: Aug. 22, 2020
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Infrastructure Legislative Branch

U.S. House Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after the House passed the Delivering for America Act by a 257-150 vote. This vital legislation protects the U.S. Postal Service from the Trump administration's efforts to disrupt and slow mail service ahead of the November election.

"Every day, the U.S. Postal Service sends carriers into every corner of the United States, delivering life-saving medications, our parents' and grandparents' hard-earned Social Security checks, and packages from small businesses struggling to survive the COVID-19 pandemic. Come this fall, they'll also carry the ballots of millions of American voters.

"But this critical work -- and our democracy -- is under threat. President Trump and Postmaster General DeJoy have intentionally hindered the USPS' ability to deliver the mail efficiently.

"The Delivering for America Act will reverse the damage President Trump and Postmaster General DeJoy have caused, prevent further attacks on mail service until January 2021 or the end of the pandemic, and ensure the agency is prepared for the 2020 election. I urge the Senate to follow the House's lead by passing this vital legislation immediately."

BACKGROUND:

The Delivering for America Act prohibits the U.S. Postal Service from implementing any changes to operations or level of service it had in place on January 1, 2020, and requires any changes already made to be reversed, including: post office closures, changes in hours of operation, removal of mail sorting machines, prohibitions on overtime, or any other change that would cause mail to be delayed or undelivered.

The bill provides $25 billion in critical funding to support the Postal Service, the same level of funding recommended by the Trump-appointed USPS Board of Governors.

Lastly, this legislation requires the Postal Service to treat all election mail as first-class mail to ensure all eligible Americans can cast their votes through the mail in the upcoming election.


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