THE POST OFFICE IS GLUE HOLDING OUR COUNTRY TOGETHER AND GUARANTEEING FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY: IT MUST BE SAVED 

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…
Thank you very much for working tirelessly to protect us during these dangerous times. Trump and the GOP, by seeking to privatize the Postal Service and limit voting by mail, will starve our democracy, destroy the ties that bind us, and cut off the receipt of lifesaving and other goods needed to survive. We cannot let them succeed. The next stimulus package must include full funding for vote-by-mail, billions to save the Postal Service, and the USPS Fairness Act (HR.2382).Unless these and guaranteed legislative oversight of all appropriated funds are part of the package, urge you to refuse unanimous consent.  

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 Blumenauer, Bonamici, Schrader: 
Thank you very much for working tirelessly to protect us during these dangerous times. Trump and the GOP, by seeking to privatize the Postal Service and limit voting by mail, will starve our democracy, destroy the ties that bind us, and cut off the receipt of lifesaving and other goods needed to survive. We cannot let them succeed. The next stimulus package must include full funding for vote-by-mail and billions to save the Postal Service. Unless these two and guaranteed legislative oversight of all appropriated funds are part of the package, I urge you to refuse unanimous consent.  

For DeFazio: 
Thank you very much for working tirelessly to protect us during these dangerous times and for shepherding through the House the USPS Fairness Act (H.R.2382), repealing the pension pre-funding requirement. Trump and the GOP, by seeking to privatize the Postal Service and limit voting by mail, will starve our democracy, destroy the ties that bind us, and cut off the receipt of lifesaving and other goods needed to survive. We cannot let them succeed. The next stimulus package must include full funding for votebymail and billions to save the Postal Service. Unless these two and guaranteed legislative oversight of all appropriated funds are part of the package, I urge you to refuse unanimous consent. 

For Walden: 
I am calling to demand you put your constituents before your party and president. By seeking to privatize the Postal Service and limit voting by mail, Trump is trying to starve our democracy, destroy the ties that bind us, and cut off the receipt of lifesaving and other goods needed to survive. Do not vote for another spending package that doesn’t include fully funding vote-by-mail and the post office and guaranteed legislative oversight of all funds appropriated by Congress.  

ACTION THREE: WRITE TO 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:

Coronavirus pandemic shows us importance of interconnection, our common fate and reliance on one another. US Postal Service knits us together in fundamental way. 328 million Americans rely on it for range of essential services—including prescription drugs, packages from online retailers, the promised $1200 government checks. USPS also facilitates voting, since 2/3 states allow everyone voting-by-mail. 
USPS, dating back to 1792 and enshrined in Constitution, is most loved federal agency with 90% approval ratingOf its 630,000workersover 100,000 veterans, and 28% are African American. Despite COVID-19, postal workers make their rounds every day risking their lives to serve every community regardless of cost.  
Now USPS is on verge of collapse, due to drastic decline in mail volume caused by COVID-19, and to 2006 requirement imposed by GOP Congress requiring it to prefund retirees’ health benefits through 2056. Although House repealed prefunding requirement in February, Senate’s not acted, and $25 billion Congress designated for USPS in CARES Act removed when Trump threatened a veto.  
All plans for safe, legitimate general election depend heavily on expanded vote-by-mailDems must stand firm, demanding USPS funding both to ensure continued deliveries everyone and to allow Americans to vote safely from home.  

SOURCES: