Congressman Cleaver Leads Lawmakers Urging Funding For USPS In Next Coronavirus Relief Package

(Kansas City, MO) – As Congress continues negotiations on the fourth phase of emergency coronavirus relief for the American people, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) led over 120 lawmakers in urging congressional leadership to include funding for the United States Postal Service (USPS) in the final legislation.

"The USPS is one of the oldest institutions in the United States, connecting Americans across the country with quality service at a reasonable cost for over two centuries," said Congressman Cleaver. "It's critical in linking rural and urban American; to individuals who receive life-saving medications through the mail; to the hundreds of thousands of workers who need their paycheck now more than ever. To allow the USPS to go bankrupt during a global pandemic would be among the greatest derelictions of duty I've seen in my time in Congress."

In the letter, the lawmakers wrote:

"President Trump's own bipartisan Postal Service Board of Governors has asked for the Postal Service to be provided $50 billion in emergency grants and appropriations as well as access to $25 billion in borrowing authority. We encourage Congress and the Administration to quickly act in approving this or a commensurate level of funding to provide real relief for our Postal Service. Without significant support on this level, they will not be able to weather this storm."

The USPS currently employs more than 650,000 Americans across more than 31,600 retail locations around the country, while handling 48% of the world's mail. Sadly, the Postal Service's financial outlook was already dire before the coronavirus crisis due to a 2006 law that required the Agency to prefund 75 years worth of retiree health benefits over 10 years, something no other federal agency is or has been required to do. As the COVID-19 pandemic has grinded the American economy to a halt, the USPS has been hit particularly hard, with projections showing it could go bankrupt by June without federal intervention. In order to prevent communities across the country from losing vital goods and services, Congressman Cleaver will continue to push for the administration and congressional leadership to include funding for the USPS in the next coronavirus relief package.

You can find the official letter with a list of co-signers here.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. For more information, please contact Matt Helfant at 202-590-0175 or Matthew.Helfant@mail.house.gov A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.