Find Your Branch

Express Your Support of the USPS to Congress

Express Your Support of the USPS to Congress
Ivan D. Butts
NAPS Executive Vice President

Hello, NAPS brothers and sisters. The “HEROES Act” (H.R. 6800), a massive $3 trillion coronavirus recovery bill (1,815 pages) unveiled on May 12, passed in the House on May 15 is now awaiting a Senate vote. This legislation includes funding for state and local governments, additional relief payments to individuals and hazard pay for essential workers, as well as significant support for America’s Postal Service.

Also, bipartisan postal-specific bills have been introduced in the House and Senate to help lessen the financial impact on the USPS of COVID-19, such as HR 7015 that was introduced by Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Peter King (R-NY) and S. 4174 that was introduced by Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Diane Feinstein (D-CA).

The benefits to the Postal Service contained in H.R. 6800 include:

• Payment of $25 billion to the Postal Service to offset revenues lost due to coronavirus, with those funds remaining available until Sept. 30, 2022 (Section 10302).
• A loan of up to $10 billion to the Postal Service and prohibiting the secretary of the Treasury from setting conditions on the availability of the funds (Section 70603).
• A federal commitment to provide premium pay to essential workers, paid at a rate equal to $13 per hour (up to $10,000) for work performed from Jan. 27, 2020, until 60 days after the pandemic public health emergency has ended (Section 170102).
• A presumption of eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits for federal employees diagnosed with coronavirus (Section 70303).
• Authorization to the USPS OIG to provide oversight, audits and investigations of projects and activities carried out with funds provided by the legislation (Section 70105).

Not all Washington lawmakers have greeted the bill with enthusiasm. Some have said the bill “is not urgent,” the law “is made up of pet priorities” and the bill “is dead on arrival.” But the bill’s provisions covering the Postal Service are consistent with the attitudes of many Americans who are proponents for providing support for the Postal Service and its hardworking, brave employees who continue to move America’s mail during this worldwide pandemic.

Public opinion polls by ScottRasmussen.com, Hart Research Associates and North Star Opinion Research reveal the strength of public support for COVID-19 relief legislation and the Postal Service. Lawmakers wary of voting for relief for the Postal Service should take the following data points into account:

• 82% of Democrats, 63% of Republicans and 71% of Independents support additional COVID-19 federal spending.
• 94% of registered voters say the USPS is vital to them. This is reflected in a bipartisan attitude, with 96% of Democrats and 92% of Republicans expressing support for the Postal Service.
• Widespread numbers of Americans support the Postal Service, regardless of geography—91% of urban respondents, 94% of suburban respondents and 94%of rural respondents support the USPS.
• Overall, 92% of America’s registered voters support funding for the USPS, with 96% of Democrats and 90% of Republicans favoring funding.
• A wide majority (78%) of registered voters support funding for the USPS, compared to increased shipping rates; 83% of Democrats and 74% of Republicans feel this way.

I think it is more than fair to say the vast majority of Americans are standing with the Postal Service, just as they have in past years when they ranked the Postal Service as the government's most trusted agency. So, if most Americans support congressional action that would sustain the Postal Service, why aren’t those priorities on the agendas of more of our elected leaders?

What does that require of us as postal stakeholders? We must make sure that every voice of support in our own communities is heard by Congress through both our NAPS legislative grassroots efforts and our political action committee, SPAC.

Remember, it is never too late to join in NAPS’ grassroots efforts. Please contact your NAPS state Legislative chair, NAPS regional vice president, NAPS area vice president or NAPS Headquarters to get involved. You may also find the contact information of your elected representatives at https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials.

In solidarity…