Peters, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Supporting Additional Funding to Keep the Postal Service Operating
USPS Could be Forced to Limit Operations in Coming Months due to Coronavirus and Resulting Economic Challenges
WASHINGTON, D.C – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, joined his colleagues in introducing a resolution in support of the U.S. Postal Service. The Coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic crisis have led to serious financial uncertainty for the Postal Service, and the agency could be forced to limit operations in the coming months without additional financial support from Congress. Peters’ resolution calls for additional funding in the next Coronavirus relief legislation to help the key agency offset losses incurred due to the pandemic. The resolution also makes clear that the Postal Service should not reduce its services, close post offices or facilities, or excessively raise rates.
“The Postal Service is a critical lifeline for seniors, small businesses, and rural communities across America who rely on postal workers to deliver their prescriptions, connect with their customers, and more, no matter where they live,” said Senator Gary Peters. “Like many other organizations, the Coronavirus pandemic has dealt a serious financial blow to this critical agency. Without additional funding, we risk ripping this longstanding service away from millions who depend on it each and every day."
The resolution highlights the important role the Postal Service plays by providing universal, essential services to every community in the country. The Postal Service is a lifeline for seniors and for people in rural areas, who often have less access to other services, and rely on the Postal Service for access to medications, emergency information, and home supplies. Postal workers deliver mail and packages to over 159 million households and businesses each day, including over 1 billion prescriptions last year. Businesses rely on the Postal Service to carry their packages the last mile, particularly in remote and rural areas, as the only carrier that delivers to every single address. The Postal Service is at the center of a $1.4 trillion mailing industry that employs more than 7.5 million people.
A copy of the resolution is available here.
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