A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States Postal Service should remain a strong and universal service for the people of the United States, and should receive an appropriation to offset revenues lost due to the COVID-19 emergency.

III 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. RES. 644 Expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States Postal Service should remain a strong and universal service for the people of the United States, and should receive an appropriation to offset revenues lost due to the COVID–19 emergency. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES JULY 1, 2020 Mr. BOOKER (for himself, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. PETERS, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. CARPER, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. JONES, Mr. COONS, Mr. REED, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. SANDERS, Ms. SMITH, Mr. MENENDEZ, Ms. ROSEN, Mr. BENNET, Mr. UDALL, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Ms. HARRIS, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. KING, Ms. SINEMA, Mr. MARKEY, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. TESTER, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. MURPHY, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. MANCHIN, Mr. CARDIN, Ms. STABENOW, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. BROWN, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Ms. WARREN, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. WYDEN, Ms. CANTWELL, Ms. HASSAN, Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. HEINRICH, Mr. SCHATZ, Mr. KAINE, Mr. CASEY, Mr. LEAHY, and Mr. WARNER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States Postal Service should remain a strong and universal serv- ice for the people of the United States, and should re- ceive an appropriation to offset revenues lost due to the COVID–19 emergency. Whereas the United States Postal Service is, by law, ‘‘a basic and fundamental service provided to the people by the VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:22 Jul 02, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR644.IS SR644 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 644 IS Government of the United States, authorized by the Con- stitution, created by Act of Congress, and supported by the people’’; Whereas the United States Postal Service is obligated under the law to ‘‘provide prompt, reliable, and efficient services to patrons in all areas’’ and ‘‘render services to all com- munities’’, in such a way so that ‘‘the costs of the Postal Service shall not be apportioned to impair the overall value of such service to the people’’; Whereas the United States Postal Service maintains a uni- versal network that connects all rural, suburban, and urban communities in the United States; Whereas the United States Postal Service carries necessary correspondence and goods to each community, including prescriptions and critical medications; Whereas the United States Postal Service uniquely serves ‘‘the last mile’’, delivering to every business and residen- tial customer not fewer than 6 days per week; Whereas the United States Postal Service helps small busi- nesses stay connected with their customers no matter where they live; Whereas more than 630,000 employees work for the United States Postal Service, including more than 97,000 mili- tary veterans, to carry out this mission; and Whereas the United States Postal Service is at the center of the mailing industry, which generates $1,600,000,000,000 annually and employs approximately 7,300,000 individuals in the United States: Now, there- fore, be it Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate— 1 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:22 Jul 02, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR644.IS SR644 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 644 IS (1) that the United States Postal Service— 1 (A) should not close post offices or facili- 2 ties, especially in areas that would otherwise 3 lack access to the services these facilities pro- 4 vide; 5 (B) should not reduce its standards of 6 service, or prevent individuals and businesses in 7 every community from receiving their mail expe- 8 diently and predictably; 9 (C) should not unduly or excessively raise 10 the prices of its products or services in such a 11 way as to jeopardize the affordability and acces- 12 sibility of such products and services in each 13 community across the nation; and 14 (D) should maintain prompt, reliable, and 15 efficient services to all patrons affordably, as 16 required under the law and by the people of the 17 United States; and 18 (2) that Congress should appropriate funds to 19 offset lost revenues of the United States Postal 20 Service during the COVID–19 emergency and should 21 take all appropriate measures to ensure the United 22 States Postal Service maintains its services and re- 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:22 Jul 02, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR644.IS SR644 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •SRES 644 IS mains an accessible, independent establishment of 1 the Federal Government. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:22 Jul 02, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR644.IS SR644 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS