Saying the diligence of American Postal workers “sure as hell won’t let Congress get in their way,” St. Joseph Congressman Fred Upton today voted in favor a measure that was overwhelmingly passed by the U.S. House of Representatives to strengthen the U.S. Postal Service on a 257-150 vote tally.
Upton released the following statement after the vote:
“Postal workers don’t let ‘snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night’ keep them from doing their jobs. And they sure as hell won’t let Congress get in their way, either. Our job is to back them. That’s what I’ll continue to do.”
“I’ve heard from thousands of distressed folks – seniors, veterans, small businesses, and farmers – that have noticed delays in deliveries of letters and packages. It is clear from our postal workers that it’s due to practices like removing sorting machines and slashing overtime pay. We’re facing the greatest health crisis in a century. Now’s not the time to revert to the pony express.
“Today we voted to provide the postal service with an additional $25 billion and to strengthen efforts to keep this important service operational. As I said last night, sadly it is unlikely this bill will move forward in the Senate, but I expect it would be part of any future bipartisan COVID-19 relief package. We can’t mail this one in. Congress has to step up and get a deal across the finish line.”
Upton has spent the past several months advocating for emergency funding for the USPS, signing onto a letter in May with 25 additional Republicans urging the Administration and Congressional leadership to support $25 billion for the USPS.
On Thursday, he visited a Kalamazoo-area postal facility to meet with postal workers and members from the regional office. Upton’s office has received more than 1,000 calls and emails from constituents urging support for additional USPS funding. Stay tuned for action in the Senate on the matter.
