Costa Statement on Vote to Protect Postal Service, Democracy

(FRESNO) Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 8015, Delivering for America Act, a critical bill which saves the U.S. Postal Service and the right to vote from the Trump Administration's ongoing assaults:

"For millions of Americans, the Postal Service is a critical lifeline that delivers vital prescription drugs, Social Security benefits, paychecks, tax returns, and absentee ballots," said Costa. "The President's attempt to disrupt our mail service in the middle of a pandemic is inexcusable. This is about more than just voting; it's about protecting the vital institutions enshrined in our constitution, which the President has repeatedly worked to sabotage. I am proud to cast this vote and will continue to do everything in my power to protect the Postal Service and our democracy."

The Delivering for America Act prohibits the Postal Service from implementing or approving any changes to the operations or service levels in effect on January 1, 2020, that would impede prompt, reliable, and efficient service. The prohibitions would remain in effect for the duration of the coronavirus public health emergency or January 1, 2021, whichever is later.

Specifically, the bill would:

• Include $25 billion in emergency funding requested by the Postal Service with the unanimous support of the bipartisan Postal Board of Governors;

• 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.

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