U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) and members of New York’s congressional delegation urged their chamber’s leaders to provide funding relief to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in any forthcoming federal pandemic relief package.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, central New Yorkers are more dependent than ever on the USPS to deliver life-saving medications, economic impact payments, unemployment benefits, and many other important deliveries,” Rep. Katko said. “Unfortunately, as more Americans rely on these services, without additional support, the Postal Service is at risk of cutting deliveries and services by the start of the summer.”
For instance, first-class and business mail volume across the country have dropped considerably, with mail volume down by more than 30 percent from the same period last year, according to the lawmakers’ letter, which noted that over the next 10 years, the USPS estimates that losses caused by the coronavirus crisis would be $54 billion.
“This is a national emergency,” wrote Rep. Katko and his colleagues. “The American people rely on the Postal Service to deliver crucial goods and services every day, including more than a billion life-saving medications last year alone, millions of economic stimulus checks and unemployment benefits to help during this crisis, and 2020 Census forms for every household in America.
“Both Democrats and Republicans supported large infusions of liquidity for other industries and companies that are critical to our nation’s economy, and we must do the same now to save the Postal Service,” they wrote.
Rep. Katko and the members noted that the Postal Board of Governors has asked for a package that includes $25 billion in emergency appropriations to offset coronavirus-related losses, $25 billion for “shovel-ready” projects to modernize USPS, and access to $25 billion in unrestricted borrowing authority from the U.S. Treasury Department.
“To be clear, these requests were put forth unanimously by a Board of Governors with a Republican majority — all of whom were appointed by President Trump,” wrote the lawmakers in support of the board’s request.
“Since coming to Congress, I have consistently supported the U.S. Postal Service and the men and women who work there,” added Rep. Katko. “The services that the USPS provides are critical to central New York and our nation, and even more so now.”