Congressman Gonzalez Votes to Protect U.S. Postal Service

WASHINGTON – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) voted in favor of H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act, to prohibit any attempt to dismantle, delay, or change U.S. Postal Service (USPS) operations and maintain reliable and efficient service. The House approved the legislation with a vote of 257 to 150 on Saturday, August 22, 2020.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a top Trump donor, recently implemented sweeping new operational changes that have delayed mail for Americans and threatened the ability of eligible Americans to cast their votes through the mail in the upcoming elections. The Postmaster General quickly rescinded implementation in response to widespread public outcry and planned congressional action. The Postal Service itself warned voters that even if they send in their ballots by state deadlines, these manufactured delays may disenfranchise voters in 46 states and Washington, D.C.

"Millions of Americans rely on the Postal Service for life-saving prescriptions, Social Security benefits, Census surveys, paychecks, tax returns and absentee ballots, including in our most remote communities," said Congressman Gonzalez. "I am proud to vote in favor of the Delivering for America Act, which will safeguard the U.S. Postal Service and our democracy."

The Delivering for America Act includes $25 billion in emergency appropriations, which was supported unanimously by the Trump-appointed Postal Board of Governors. The House of Representatives honored this request three months ago as part of the Heroes Act.

The bill also provides for additional protections such as:

• Requiring the Postal Service to treat all official election mail as First-Class mail.

• Prohibiting the removal, decommissioning, or other stoppage of mail sorting machines, other than for routine maintenance.

• Prohibiting the removal of mailboxes.

• Explicitly reversing any changes already implemented to the operations or policies of the Postal Service that delay mail delivery

More information on the Delivering for America Act can be found here.