Rep. Casten Votes to Strengthen Postal Service and Ensure Reliable, On-Time Mail Service for Illinoisans
Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) voted to improve mail delivery across Illinois and strengthen the U.S. Postal Service with the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022. By saving billions in funding, increasing performance transparency, and creating new sources of revenue, this bipartisan legislation will strengthen the financial footing of USPS so that it can continue to deliver reliable, on-time mail service to Illinoisans who rely on the Postal Service to receive hard-earned paychecks, lifesaving prescriptions, tax returns and more.
"Our postal workers have braved the difficulties posed by the pandemic and have continued their devotion to serving the American people," said Rep. Sean Casten (IL-06). They are frontline workers who deserve a safe, healthy, and positive work environment. Despite this, the USPS remains chronically understaffed and without the resources their employees need to keep up with demand. Many Americans rely on the Postal Service for vital aspects of their lives: Social Security checks, medications, tax returns, bills. With today's passage of the Postal Service Reform Act, the House is taking bold, bipartisan action to strengthen the Post Office, support our postal workers and preserve reliable, nationwide mail service for generations to come.
Earlier this month,, Reps. Casten (IL-06) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) led a letter with the Illinois Democratic Congressional Delegation calling on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Chairman Gary Peters (D-MI) to prioritize the swift confirmation of President Biden's Nominees to the Postal Board of Governors.
Last month, Rep. Casten spoke on the House floor on postal delays in the 6th District, highlighting the negative effects seniors, workers, and businesses have faced. To watch his speech, click here.
The Postal Service currently provides mail to nearly 159 million delivery points and adds an additional one million every year. Yet even as postal workers service more locations, revenue has continued to fall due to lower mail volume. Having suffered fourteen consecutive years of net losses, the Postal Service is projected to run out of funds entirely by 2024, threatening to worsen delays and service reductions that are already hampering the ability of Illinoisans to receive their mail and deliveries on time.
The Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 enacts several overdue changes to address these financial challenges, improve mail delivery and support postal workers and retirees, including:
- Welcoming all future postal retirees into Medicare, delivering quality health care to our committed public servants while saving the Postal Service $22.6 billion over the next decade.
- Repealing a burdensome requirement forcing the Postal Service to prefund retirees' health care 75 years in advance, saving $27 billion over the next decade.
- Promoting reliable delivery and transparency through a public-facing, online dashboard featuring national and local level service performance data.
- Codifying the Postal Service's longtime tradition of delivering mail and packages six days per week.
- Allowing the Postal Service to raise additional revenues by offering non-commercial property and services to state, local and tribal governments.
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