Napolitano Votes to Protect & Fund the United States Postal Service

Statement

On Saturday, August 22, 2020, Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-El Monte) voted for H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act, legislation to prohibit the United States Postal Service (USPS) from implementing any changes to operations or the level of service it had in place on January 1, 2020. The bill also provides the USPS $25 billion to address COVID-19 revenue losses and costs, fulfilling the request made by the USPS Board of Governors, composed of 6 members who were all appointed by President Trump.

"Like the more than 1,700 constituents who have contacted my office over the last week, I am frustrated and angered by the Trump administration's sabotage of the Postal Service," Napolitano said. "Delivering medications, Social Security benefits, paychecks, tax returns, and absentee ballots to millions of Americans, the Postal Service is an indispensable public service. Yet new USPS policies, cheered by Trump and enacted by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy have taken 671 mail sorting machines out of commission, removed mailboxes from street corners, and denied overtime pay to essential Postal Service employees and letter carriers during the pandemic. These changes are threatening to further degrade the Postal Service, delay the mail, and deny the ability of eligible Americans to safely cast their votes through the mail in the upcoming elections. This not only puts at risk our democracy but also the health and economic security of millions of Americans by delaying delivery of payments and life-saving prescriptions, including prescriptions from the VA, 80% of which are delivered through the mail for our veterans usually within 3 to 5 days. We know why Trump is doing this, and we can't let him get away with it. Our legislation supports the Postal Service, its workers, essential services, and families in the San Gabriel Valley and across the country, who rely on safe, timely mail delivery each day. We must protect USPS, and we must protect the vote. My constituents and I have a message for President Trump and Postmaster General DeJoy; don't mess with the USPS!"

H.R. 8015 passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 257 to 150 and now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Napolitano has also taken the following congressional actions to support the Postal Service:

Joined 5 fellow Southern California Democratic colleagues at a virtual press conference on August 18 to speak against the Trump administration's efforts to sabotage the Postal Service.
Cosigned a letter authored by Reps. Donald Payne, Jr. and Ayanna Pressley to House leadership urging continued support of USPS through all possible legislative packages.
Cosigned a letter authored by Rep. Mark Pocan to the USPS Board of Governors urging them to immediately remove Postmaster General DeJoy. In the brief time he has led the USPS, it is clear the public cannot trust him to act in the best interest of the USPS or the people who rely on it.
Cosigned a letter authored by Rep. Ami Bera letter to Postmaster General DeJoy requesting that the USPS address the dangerous delays in mail-order prescriptions for veterans and provide a clear explanation and plan of what actions the USPS is taking to mitigate the situation.
Voted for the Heroes Act which provides $25 billion in emergency relief for USPS to address COVID-19 revenue losses and costs.

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