The United States Postal Service stands at a critical juncture due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has caused a dramatic loss of mail volume and revenue that will result in a direct loss of $13 billion with an additional loss of $54 billion over the next decade. Additionally, the essential employees of the Postal Service have put their health and safety at risk, which has led to over 3,000 employees infected with the coronavirus as of late July.

In order to combat this crisis, the House of Representatives passed the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act, H.R. 6800. is necessary legislation includes language to provide for $25 billion in emergency funding to the Postal Service; makes it easier for the Postal Service to borrow funds from the Department of Treasury; and requires hazard pay of an additional $13.00 an hour to essential employees.

At the time of publication, the Senate is considering language for the next stimulus package. NPMHU and its members have urged members of the Senate to take up the language in the HEROES Act, especially as it relates to the Postal Service and its employees. If you have not done so already, please call your Senators at 866-832-1560, with the message to support the Postal Service. ank you to those who have called and written to their selected officials; your efforts are vital to promote the needs of the USPS and its employees. For updates on the HEROES Act and news on how COVID-19 is impacting the Postal Service and its employees, please check the NPMHU website, www.npmhu.org.