Letter to the Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Hon. Charles Schumer, Senate Minority Leader - Rep. Payne, Jr. Pushes Party Leadership to "Stand Firm" on Postal Service Funding

Letter

Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer,

We write to you with extreme concern regarding the massive delays of mail delivery being reported across the country. If left unabated, this has the potential to negatively impact two cornerstones of our democracy: the decennial Census and the 2020 general election. As you continue to engage in COVID-19 negotiations with the administration, we urge you to stand firm in support of the United States Postal Service and support at least $25 billion in emergency funds to meet the increased demand brought on by this pandemic. The Postal Service is set to lose over $54 billion over the next 10 years. These funds would offset the cost-cutting measures that have led to uncertainty in mail delivery. The universal right to the ballot box has been affirmed through a long struggle in courthouses, legislatures, and in communities across the nation. We cannot allow any unravelling, reduction, or suppression of this fundamental right of democracy.

From the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Postal Service has been the primary method for Americans to complete their Census forms, register to vote and cast their ballots in primary elections. This is why we are so concerned by attempts from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to weaken the USPS. Since Postmaster General DeJoy took office in June 2020, his changes have required mail to be left in distribution centers if it delays routes and eliminated overtime to complete all mail deliveries. This has directly hampered the ability of citizens to receive the level of service that they have come to expect and deserve from this constitutionally mandated service.

With the general election taking place in just a few months and primary elections underway, it is imperative that millions of Americans can safely rely on the critical infrastructure provided by seamless and timely mail delivery. What is particularly troubling is that there appears to be a deliberate slowdown of mail delivery that has an enormous potential to impact the general election and congressional reapportionment. Any attempt to subvert the right to vote or undercount the Census must be met with swift and decisive resistance.

We respectfully urge you to continue efforts to push for much needed emergency aid and fight back against efforts to undermine the United States Postal Service so the American people can have faith that they will be counted in the Census and their ballots honored in the election.

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