Joyce Votes to Support Postal Operations Amid Pandemic

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) issued the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act:

“The United States Postal Service (USPS) has an important role to play during this pandemic, with many Ohioans relying on the USPS not only to cast their votes in November, but also to deliver essential goods, receive critical medications, pay their bills and more.

“However, that doesn’t change the fact that the USPS has had severe financial problems for decades. In fact, it’s faced over $78 billion in losses since 2007. Enacting fiscally responsible reforms to address those losses is not a Republican or Democrat initiative and has been attempted by both the Trump and Obama administrations. I strongly agree that reform is necessary to address the USPS’ significant debt and solvency issues but any effort to do so cannot cause detrimental delays or interruptions in its services during the ongoing pandemic. Now is not the time to deprive the USPS of the resources necessary to carry out its basic operations.

“The politicization of this issue has done nothing to help the American people as they continue to grapple with the public health and economic crises caused by COVID-19. Congress can’t stop working together during these difficult times simply because it’s an election year. The finger-pointing on non-partisan issues like the USPS has to stop.”

On May 5th, 2020, Joyce was one of 26 Republicans to send a letter to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin, Senate Majority Leader McConnell, and House Minority Leader McCarthy urging them to:

• appropriate $25 billion to USPS to alleviate the strain caused by the pandemic;
• provide an authorization which would fund any difference between USPS revenue and expenses for the duration of the pandemic;
• stipulate reimbursements for the USPS for COVID-19 related paid leave they have had to provide; and
• include Postal Service workers on the list of employees that would receive hazard pay in any legislation that funds hazard pay for essential employees. 

More recently, on July 22, 2020, Joyce sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy expressing his concerns regarding a COVID-19 outbreak at the Hudson Post Office and asking that the Postmaster General ensure all of Ohio’s post offices are complying with all necessary guidance to keep postal workers safe.

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