U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) voted Aug. 22, 2020, to pass a bipartisan bill that would prevent the U.S. Postal Service from making any further organizational or staffing changes, which have resulted in nationwide mail slow-downs in recent weeks. The Delivering for America Act also includes $25 billion in emergency funding that was requested by the Postal Service with the unanimous support of the bipartisan Postal Board of Governors — all of whom were appointed by President Trump.
“Over 2,500 8th District constituents have now reached out to my office to express concerns about mail delays over the past two weeks,” Slotkin said. “Most urgently, nearly 80 percent of veterans rely on the Postal Service for timely delivery of life-saving prescription drugs. Michiganders depend on the mail every single day, especially in the COVID era, as a line of commerce, connection for rural communities, and to safely exercise their right to vote. Americans should never lose faith that they can depend on this founding, cherished institution –– one that is woven into the fabric of every single community across our country. They should never wonder if the Postal Service is being leveraged as a partisan, political tool. That’s what the bipartisan bill addresses, on behalf of every American –– Democratic, Republican or independent –– who depends on the Postal Service’s non-partisan, effective service.”
In response to reported mail slow-downs following cuts to overtime at USPS, the destruction or removal of mail-sorting machines, and other staffing changes that have resulted in delays, Slotkin called for immediate, public hearings with the Postmaster General.
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 three months ago.
- 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.
