Letter to the Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House and the Hon. Kevin McCarthy, Minority Leader - Congresswoman Angie Craig Joins 82 Colleagues Pushing For The Strongest Possible Relief for USPS

Letter

Dear Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader McCarthy,
In March, Congress took decisive, bipartisan action to stabilize the American economy and
protect families nationwide from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Now, as we continue to
assess the impact of COVID-19 on our communities, we write to request that any future relief
package provide strong financial assistance to the United States Postal Service (USPS) while
also enacting reforms necessary for its long-term viability.
On April 9, 2020 Postmaster General Megan Brennan informed the House Committee on
Oversight and Reform that the Postal Service anticipates a loss of $13 billion in 2020 and $54.3
billion over the next ten years as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, and that under current
conditions, USPS will go bankrupt by the end of Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20). While the CARES
Act provided USPS an additional $10 billion in borrowing authority from the Treasury, we
believe that Congress must provide the Postal Service with the full amount requested by the
bipartisan Postal Service Board of Governors: $25 billion in emergency appropriations to offset
losses; $25 billion to fund "shovel-ready" modernization efforts; and an additional $25 billion in
unrestricted borrowing authority. Additionally, Congress should eliminate the USPS'
outstanding debt obligations and provide necessary funds to allow USPS workers to receive
hazard pay for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency.
Once Congress has stabilized USPS' finances, it is imperative that we provide the regulatory
reform necessary to ensure its long-term viability. We ask Congress to end USPS' prefunding
mandate instituted by the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) of 2006. Since
2006, the prefunding mandate has required that the Postal Service pay for 75 years of retiree
health benefits. This unprecedented mandate has cost USPS $5.4 billion annually since it went
into effect in 2007, preventing investment in critical infrastructure upgrades that would enhance
its services. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the USPS has lost $69
billion over the past 11 years, much of it attributable to the prefunding mandate.1 As you know,
the House has already passed H.R. 2382, which would end USPS' prefunding mandate, by a
bipartisan vote of 309-106 in February. If Congress were to eliminate USPS' prefunding mandate now, we would not only ameliorate this unfair burden but also explore ways to ensure
USPS can maintain full services when Americans -- especially seniors, veterans, and those in
rural communities -- are relying on efficient delivery of Economic Impact Payments and
medication as they face the impacts of COVID-19.
In the CARES Act, Congress sought to stabilize our nation from the consequences of the novel
coronavirus. Now, as we seek to stimulate our nation, we must take decisive steps to secure one
of our country's oldest, most cherished, and most valuable institutions.
We thank you for your consideration of these important requests.