Postal Service Emergency Assistance Act, S. 4174
July 7, 2020
On July 2nd, Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Diane Feinstein (D-CA) introduced the Postal Service Emergency Assistance Act, S. 4174. This legislation would create a $25 billion fund for the Postal Service to recoup COVID related losses and expenses. This is a standalone bill that is currently separate from any Senate stimulus package. The key components of this legislations would:
- Require the USPS, in order to receive any part of the $25 billion, to declare in their quarterly/annual report that they have experienced COVID losses/need the funds for COVID related expenses;
- Fix the USPS loan language in the CARES Act so that USPS can access their $10 B line of credit;
- Require the Postmaster General and Board of Governors to submit a solvency plan to Congress on how to stabilize USPS within 9 months of the bill passing.
With the House passed HEROES Act and this new Senate legislation, there are now multiple avenues for obtaining the $25 billion in COVID related funding the Postal Service. The Senate is currently home for the July recess and it is crucial that every APWU member contact their Senators to let them know they must protect the public Postal Service by passing legislation that includes at least $25 billion in funding.
To be connected to your Senator, call the Legislative Hotline at 844-402-1001 or use the form below.
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The Postal Service is in a crisis, caused by the Coronavirus, and Congress needs to act, urgently.
The Coronavirus shutdown is plummeting postal revenues while increasing costs. The Postal Service could run out of money by the end of the summer and the Trump administration is trying to leverage the crisis to sacrifice our public Postal Service at the altar of private profit.
Call your Senators urgently. Tell them to support stimulus funding for our public Postal Service. Use the form or dial (844) 402-1001