August 21, 2020

New Democrat Coalition Endorses Legislation to Protect United States Postal Service

Today, the New Democrat Coalition (NDC), led by Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Vice Chair for Policy Suzan DelBene (WA-01), endorsed H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act, which provides additional funding to the United States Postal Service (USPS) and prohibits any changes to the operations or service levels that would impede prompt, reliable, and efficient service for the duration of the coronavirus crisis or through January 2021.

Over the past few weeks, the Administration and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy have implemented sweeping operational and organizational changes that have resulted in delays in the mail across the country. These changes come in the midst of a global pandemic and just months before the November election. Millions of Americans, including veterans and small businesses, rely on the USPS for their mail, delivery of prescriptions, and safe and reliable mail-in voting, among other services. The NDC is committed to safeguarding USPS to ensure Americans can continue to rely on its regular, affordable, and universal service.

“The USPS provides a vital service for millions of Americans, including seniors, veterans, and small businesses. The New Democrat Coalition is committed to ensuring the USPS can continue delivering prescriptions, paychecks, groceries, ballots, and other goods safely,” said NDC Chair Derek Kilmer. “I am proud that the Coalition is endorsing this legislation to protect the USPS and Americans’ ability to safely vote from home. No one should have to choose between their health and their right to vote.”

The Delivering for America Act would:

  • Include $25 billion in emergency funding requested by the Postal Service with the unanimous support of the bipartisan Postal Board of Governors—all of whom were appointed by President Trump. This funding was also included in the Heroes Act, which the U.S. House of Representatives passed this request three months ago as part of the Heroes Act.
  • Prohibit any changes that would:
    • Generally affect service on a substantially nationwide basis
    • Revise existing service standards, prevent the USPS from meeting its service standards, or cause a decline in performance measurement
    • Consolidate or reduce hours of any postal office or postal facility or prohibit overtime pay
    • Delay mail delivery or increase volume of undelivered mail
  • Require the Postal Service to treat all official election mail as First-Class mail
  • Prohibit the removal of mailboxes and the removal, decommissioning, or other stoppage of mail sorting machines, other than for routine maintenance; Explicitly reverse any changes already implemented to the operations or policies of the Postal Service that delay mail delivery.
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