House passes $25 billion bill to stop cuts to Postal Service

The U.S. House of Representatives today voted 257 to 150 to pass a $25 billion bill that would stop cuts to the U.S. Postal Service.

The bill prohibits the Postal Service from implementing any changes to the operations or service levels in effect on Jan. 1, 2020; requires the Postal Service to treat all election mail as first-class mail; and provides $25 billion in emergency funding to the Postal Service. The bill next goes to the Senate for approval.

Critics alleged that the changes being implemented, such as removing processing machines, cutting overtime and eliminating some postal boxes, was slowing down the mail before the fall elections.

Voting for House Resolution 2015 was U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., who said in a statement, . "This administration's attacks on our Postal Service for their own personal and political gain are beyond unacceptable – and today I joined my House colleagues to ensure that we support the Postal Service and the countless people in this country who depend on it."

Rep. Davids' opponent in the general election, Republican Amanda Adkins, said in a statement: "Sharice Davids and House Democrats are pushing a bill that spends $25 billion the Postal Service doesn't need, operationally ties its hands, and opens it up to frivolous litigation that detracts from its mission. Instead of foisting billions more in debt on future generations to address a fabricated crisis, we should focus on addressing the real issues facing Kansas City families."

U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall, R-1st Dist., who is running for the U.S. Senate, voted against the bill. His statement: "As a leading Republican supporter of the U.S. Postal Service, I cannot support this bill designed to achieve political objectives rather than save and strengthen this service which is so essential to Kansans. "This bill would double down on the failed status quo by aimlessly throwing $25 billion at a broken system and arbitrarily hamper the USPS's ability to make badly needed operational reforms."

Barbara Bollier, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, stated: "The USPS deserves our support during this public health crisis and I'm disappointed that my opponent will be voting against a bipartisan bill to provide emergency funding for the Postal Service. Once again, he has put partisan politics before the needs of Kansas families," Dr. Bollier said. "This isn't a hypothetical issue — I've heard personally from Kansans about delays in receiving their medications and the removal of sorting machines. I'm very disappointed by my opponent's unwillingness to provide additional relief to the people who need it the most during this public health crisis."

More from the statements from each candidate:

From Rep. Sharice Davids:

"Kansans are relying on the United States Postal Service more than ever right now – from seniors and veterans who count on it for lifesaving medications to our small business owners who need to ship their products. It also employs over half a million Americans, many of them veterans like my mom who has been a postal worker in Kansas City for nearly 20 years. This administration's attacks on our Postal Service for their own personal and political gain are beyond unacceptable – and today I joined my House colleagues to ensure that we support the Postal Service and the countless people in this country who depend on it. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to take up this vital piece of legislation right away," Rep. Davids said.

Postmaster DeJoy implemented several changes at the USPS that have caused long mail delivery delays. That includes the removal of nearly 700 mail sorting machines which DeJoy has said he will not bring back, and curtailing overtime work that helps ensure all mail is delivered on time. And while pandemic has dramatically weakened USPS finances, the president has said that he's blocking USPS funding to make it harder for people to vote.

"While I was glad to vote on this critical bill to support the Postal Service, I am disappointed that congressional leaders did not use the House coming back into session as an opportunity to vote on new legislation to deal with the ongoing health and economic crisis. Kansans are rightly demanding action on both fronts, and I'll keep pushing for that," Rep. Davids said.