Washington, D.C. -Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, issued a statement commending New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for mailing absentee ballot applications to all registered voters for the upcoming June 23 election and calling on Congress to swiftly pass emergency legislation to save the Postal Service in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. She stated:
“I commend Governor Cuomo for his action today to preserve the safety and health of New Yorkers while promoting their ability to exercise their fundamental right to vote. Voting by mail is just common sense during this public health emergency.
“Today’s action also highlights the vital importance of our Postal Service as a pillar of our democracy. The Postal Service is facing an existential crisis as a direct result of coronavirus, and Congress and the President need to act now to save it-just as we did for numerous other companies and industries that are critical to our economy."
Both Democrats and Republicans in Congress supported large infusions of liquidity for other industries and companies that are critical to the nation’s economy, but the Postal Service has received no additional funds to date.
First class and business mail volume are dropping at an alarming rate as a direct result of the coronavirus crisis.
The Postal Service estimates revenue losses of $13 billion by the end of this fiscal year and $10 billion in the next fiscal year as a direct result of the crisis. Over the next ten years, the Postal Service estimates that losses caused by the coronavirus would be $54 billion.
The bipartisan Postal Service Board of Governors-appointed by President Trump-asked Congress to provide the Postal Service with:
* a $25 billion emergency appropriations to offset coronavirus-related losses;
* a $25 billion grant to fund “shovel-ready" projects to modernize the Postal Service;
* access to $25 billion in unrestricted borrowing authority from Treasury.
The American people rely on the Postal Service to deliver crucial goods and services every day, including more than a billion life-saving medications last year alone, millions of economic stimulus checks and unemployment benefits to help during this crisis, and 2020 Census forms for every household in America.
