Stevens Joins Push to Support the United States Postal Service During Coronavirus Pandemic

WASHINGTON — Today, Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11) announced she is backing an effort to support funding for the United States Postal Service (USPS) in future COVID-19 relief packages.

Earlier this month, Postmaster General Megan Brennan indicated that due to the unprecedented drop in mail during this pandemic, the Postal Service may not have enough cash to make it through this fiscal year without direct financial assistance from Congress and the administration. Especially for those without reliable access to home internet, the USPS is a critical tool for Americans sending or receiving important documents for places of employment, universities, or even government agencies, and for delivery of important packages such as life-saving medicines.

“If Congress fails in our duty to protect this critical government agency, it will do lasting damage to our economy at a time when our nation’s economic situation is already far too precarious,” wrote the group of Members, led by Representative Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO-5), in a letter to House leadership. “This support not only safeguards hundreds of thousands of jobs, but also protects an underlying safety net that the citizens of this country and businesses in every district rely on daily.”

The full letter can be read here or below.

“Dear Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader McCarthy:

We write to express our sincere appreciation for the work you have done to pass the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help protect the American public during this difficult time. However, we wish to urge that a much stronger level of support be given to the United States Postal Service in the next package developed to respond to the harms of COVID-19.  

Underscoring a $1.6 trillion U.S. mailing industry, our U.S. Postal Service handles 48% of the world’s mail and cumulatively traveled 1.34 billion miles delivering mail during Fiscal Year 2019. Across more than 31,600 retail locations, they employ more than 650,000 people. Each day, individuals use the Postal Service not only for daily correspondence, both personal and professional, but for delivery of important packages such as life-saving medicines. Especially for those without reliable access to home internet, the USPS is a critical tool for Americans sending or receiving important documents for places of employment, universities, or even government agencies. Many businesses and families are reliant on the services that USPS employees have continued to provide as essential workers on the front lines of the American economy.

While the current epidemic has wreaked economic damage on nearly all sectors of our country, the U.S. Postal Service has been hit particularly hard. Coming into this crisis, their financial outlook was already dire. As the economy grinds to a standstill, our country has also seen an unprecedented drop in mail. When Postmaster General Megan Brennan spoke to the House Oversight Committee on April 9, she explained that they are projecting a $13 billion revenue loss directly from COVID-19 this fiscal year and $54.3 billion in additional losses over ten years. She also made clear that they will not have enough cash to make it through this fiscal year without direct financial assistance from Congress and the administration.

Despite bipartisan discussions and agreement for the need to solve this problem, the first three Coronavirus relief packages have provided no direct funding to support the U.S. Postal Service. The recent package included language for a $10 billion loan, but it is far too little to keep our post offices solvent. President Trump’s own bipartisan Postal Service Board of Governors has asked for the Postal Service to be provided $50 billion in emergency grants and appropriations as well as access to $25 billion in borrowing authority. We encourage Congress and the Administration to quickly act in approving this or a commensurate level of funding to provide real relief for our Postal Service. Without significant support on this level, they will not be able to weather this storm.

As members of Congress, we have been encouraged by the important work that the House Oversight & Reform Committee has been doing to bring attention to this critical issue. Both Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney and Subcommittee on Government Operations Chairman Gerry Connolly have shown strength and leadership in their advocacy for the USPS in recent weeks. Our offices commend them and stand in unison with them in their push to protect this vital institution and safeguard all of those who rely on its operation each day. 

If Congress fails in our duty to protect this critical government agency, it will do lasting damage to our economy at a time when our nation’s economic situation is already far too precarious. This support not only safeguards hundreds of thousands of jobs, but also protects an underlying safety net that the citizens of this country and businesses in every district rely on daily.

Thank you in advance for your attention to ensuring the lasting health of the U.S. Postal Service. We welcome any opportunity to further discuss this important priority with you and hope to see this necessary support included in upcoming legislation.”

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