Dear John,

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has vowed to privatize the United States Postal Service, turning a venerated public service into a private profit-making venture. On this quest, DeJoy has announced plans to raise postal rates, delay deliveries, shut down hundreds of post offices, and fire more than 50,000 postal workers.

The Postal Board of Governors has not acted to replace DeJoy, so while we await the nomination of two new governors, it’s time for Congress to take action.

In 2006, Congress passed a law forbidding the USPS from introducing any new services that were not available at that time. Recently Congress authorized the selling of a few new products, such as hunting and fishing licenses, but they did not repeal the law. The post office is still stymied if they want to try to expand their business into any other new areas.

Given the opportunity, there are hundreds of products and services the post office could provide to increase revenues and strengthen the bottom line. They could do this without having to close offices, delay the delivery of mail, or fire tens of thousands of postal workers.

Only Congress can repeal this law and set the post office free to innovate! Send a direct message to demand Congress give the post office the opportunity to expand, not contract, its business.

Just think of the possibilities! The post office could offer basic banking services, cashing checks and sending monetary transfers, etc. Not only would this add revenue, it would provide a responsible alternative to predatory payday loan agencies.

Offering bus and subway passes, WiFi access, paying off parking tickets, checking EBT cards, even charging electric vehicles -- there are many ways the USPS can meet modern needs.

Delivery of groceries, prescriptions, meals for the elderly or infirm; even collecting census data are some examples of potential expansion for the Postal Service. These innovations could protect and strengthen an institution all Americans benefit from, and which is a lifeline often for rural and Tribal communities. But it’s up to Congress to repeal the old law.

Send a message to Congress today and demand they free the USPS from unnecessary restrictions on providing goods and services!

Thank you for helping the U.S. Postal Service meet the 21st century, despite the privatization plans of the current Postmaster General.

Robert Reich
Inequality Media Civic Action