Doing what I can over here in Cascadia...
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April 17, 2020
Dear Mr. -------,
Thank you for contacting me about emergency funding for the United States Postal Service (USPS) during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. I appreciate hearing from you about this important and concerning issue.
Fighting the coronavirus in Oregon and across our country requires swift action and all of us working together. The USPS keeps us connected and offers universal services that are critical to the communities and businesses of Northwest Oregon. Its work is even more important during times of crisis. Mail carriers and other essential employees at the USPS are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States and we must make sure they can continue to work safely to serve our communities.
In Oregon we are fortunate to have a vote-by-mail system that increases access and voter participation. The USPS plays a major role in our elections running smoothly and securely. Our democracy is stronger when voting is accessible for everyone. Unfortunately, outside of our state too many people face long lines and other barriers when they go to cast their ballots. We should be expanding the option to vote-by-mail across the country during this global pandemic and a strong USPS is key to that goal.
Congress has passed three bills to safeguard public health and bolster the economic security of our communities during this pandemic; however, there is still much more work to be done. I am a cosponsor of the Protect Our Post Offices Act, which would provide $25 billion in emergency funding to USPS. I also joined my colleagues in urging Speaker Pelosi and House Leadership to include emergency funding for USPS in upcoming relief legislation. Please know that I will continue fighting for additional funding for the USPS as Congress considers the next COVID-19 response bill.
Thank you again for writing to me. If you would like to know more about my work in Congress, please sign up for my newsletter at
http://bonamici.house.gov or visit my Facebook page at
http://www.facebook.com/CongresswomanBonamici.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Bonamici
Member of Congress