CONGRESS MUST FUND THE POSTAL SERVICE AND PROTECT VOTING BY MAIL

ACTION ONE: CALL YOUR SENATORS

SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WYDEN AND MERKLEY:

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
The Postal Service has always played an essential role in our national life, but it’s even more important now with much of America under stay-at-home orders. Like other frontline workers, Postal Service employees work tirelessly on our behalf despite exposure to COVID-19. We cannot let Trump and Mnuchin weaken or destroy the Postal Service, which will starve our democracy, cut off receipt of goods we need to survive, and disenfranchise many Americans. The next stimulus package must include  
  • full funding for expanded vote-by-mail legislation 
  • Protect Our Post Offices Act (HR.6425), providing billions in Postal Service emergency funding 
  • repeal of requirement making $10 billion loan subject to Treasury’s approval 
  • USPS Fairness Act (HR .2382), repealing pension pre-funding requirement 
  • guaranteed legislative oversight of all appropriated funds. 

ACTION TWO: CALL YOUR HOUSE REPS

Not sure who your U.S. Representative is? Find out here. 

SAMPLE SCRIPTS FOR REPRESENTATIVES:

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
For all but Walden: 
 The Postal Service has always played an essential role in our national life, but it’s even more important now with much of America under stay-at-home orders. Like other frontline workers, Postal Service employees work tirelessly on our behalf despite exposure to COVID-19. We cannot let Trump and Mnuchin weaken or destroy the Postal Service, which will starve our democracy, cut off receipt of goods we need to survive, and disenfranchise many Americans. The next stimulus package must include  
  • full funding for vote-by-mail 
  • the billions in emergency funding for the Postal Service contained in HR.6425 
  • repeal of requirement making $10 billion loan subject to Treasury’s approval 
  • USPS Fairness Act (HR .2382), repealing pension pre-funding requirement 
  • guaranteed legislative oversight of all appropriated funds.  
 For Walden: 
 I am calling to demand that you oppose all attempts to privatize the Postal Service and limit voting by mail—both of which will greatly harm your rural constituency. Do not vote for another spending package that does not include  
  • full funding for vote-by-mail 
  • the billions in emergency funding for the Postal Service contained in HR.6425 
  • guaranteed legislative oversight of all funds appropriated by Congress.  

ACTION THREE:

ACTION THREE:  HELP REGISTER VOTERS FROM YOUR HOME  
  Organizing for the 2020 Election is going VIRTUAL!  
  • Find virtual events at http://swingleft.org/ 
  • Host a virtual letter-writing party! Get started here: http://swingleft.org/p/virtual-letter-writing-party 
  • Sign up for training and call info here: http://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/263614/ 

BACKGROUND:

US Postal Service (USPS) has always been an indispensable part of American life—delivering 143 billion items to 160 million homes, maintaining 35,000 post offices, 276 distribution plants, and 228,000 trucks and vans.  
 Now more than ever, Americans depend on USPS for essential medicine, supplies, information, stimulus checks, census forms, online purchases, face masks, everything else using postage, and for safely conducted elections by mail. Unlike private carriers receiving bailout assistance, USPS is required to offer universal service at one affordable price to every household six days/week—essential for rural areas and inner cities. 
 630,000 postal workers daily put themselves in harm’s way—over 1200 tested positive for COVID-19, 54 died, over 6000 in self-quarantine.  
 Treasury’s threatened to withhold an emergency $10 billion loan unless given control over management decisions, terms of major contracts, and collective bargaining strategy, and Trump vows to veto USPS funding legislation, unless large package prices are drastically raised—exploiting pandemic to bust unions, privatize most popular government agency, and disenfranchise Americans voting by mail. 
 Congress cannot let these extortion tactics destroy this important and needed essential service. It must fully fund USPS to ensure uninterrupted deliveries and allow Americans to vote safely from home.  

SOURCES: