Gillibrand seeks federal relief package for U.S. Postal Service
Press Release, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined more than a dozen colleagues in urging Senate leaders to provide funding for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in the fourth COVID-19 relief package.
If Congress fails to increase this funding, lawmakers warn that USPS services may be reduced or limited leaving millions of American families without the ability to receive medicine, pay bills, receive their social security benefits and remain in contact with loves ones.
“The United States Postal Service employs thousands of New Yorkers and plays a vital role in our daily lives,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The loss of these services would devastate rural communities, as well as the health and safety of Americans. I’m thankful for these hardworking people who are putting their lives on the line in the middle of this pandemic to keep Americans connected. I am proud to fight for them so they can continue to deliver mail and help keep our communities safe.”
New York State has one of the highest employment rates of letter carriers in the nation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, New York alone has over 22,000 USPS letter carriers delivering people essential needs such as medicine prescriptions, social security benefits, and bill payments.
Additionally, USPS services play a necessary role in containing the COVID-19 outbreak and protecting people across the state who may otherwise be forced to put themselves at greater risk of contracting this potentially fatal disease. In the letter, Senator Gillibrand urges Congress to increase funding, reimburse the USPS for lost revenue, and forgive USPS debt.
During the third coronavirus package negotiations, House Democrats proposed investing $20 billion to reimburse the USPS for lost revenue and forgiving the USPS of its debt, according to the letter signed by Gillibrand.
“We strongly urge you to include these important investments in the next coronavirus package,” she wrote in an April 7 letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer. “The future of the USPS, along with its nearly 650,000 employees and millions of consumers, are counting on it.”
