Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Page S5387]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, one final matter, millions of Americans
rely on the U.S. Postal Service to deliver their mail reliably and on
time. For decades, the hard-working people of the Postal Service have
been doing just that. During this pandemic, USPS has been providing
these critical services day in and day out, up until the new Postmaster
General, Mr. DeJoy, a top Republican donor and Trump ally with no
experience in the Postal Service, was installed at the helm.
Administering a national election is difficult in normal times. In
the time of COVID, it will undoubtedly be an even greater challenge. We
need to institute policies and devote resources to make sure every
American can both safely and confidently vote in person and by mail. By
the way, even just as important, we need to make sure Americans get
their medicines on time, that the elderly and those with preexisting
conditions who are staying in their homes and not going out are able to
get their necessities by mail. Your pills are a week late--I know what
that is like. It has happened to me. Fortunately, I don't have
medicines that my life depends on. It causes you huge anxiety about
your health. This Postmaster is cutting overtime, cutting employees,
when, at a time of COVID, we need more help, not less. But elections
should certainly concern Americans as well.
The current issues of the post office should alarm every American.
The new Postmaster General has instituted policies that have
contributed to inexcusable delays in mail delivery. But now, topping
the cake, the Postal Service has informed some States that they may
need to pay a first-class rate to deliver ballots rather than the
normal rate, nearly tripling the cost. At a time when people will have
to vote by mail in record numbers because they can't or will not go
vote in person, the Postmaster General is saying we should triple the
rate of costs to vote by mail? What a despicable derogation of
democracy.
What is his rationale? It is a small amount of money. Ballots are a
small percentage of the mail that is delivered. It is to discourage
people from voting. He ought to be ashamed of himself to even consider
this, tripling--tripling what it costs to vote by mail at a time when
more people will vote by mail than ever before. If anyone had any
thought that this Postmaster General was on the level, it is now
dispensed.
To triple the cost of voting by mail would be an outrageous and
insidious policy that would make it even harder and more expensive for
States, already struggling with depleted budgets from COVID-19, to
conduct our elections safely. Democrats will fight this policy with
every tool at our disposal. If our Republican colleagues care about a
free and fair election this November, they should as well.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Nevada.
Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I so appreciate the comments of the
minority leader.
____________________
