Friend,

Alaskans know how important the United States Postal Service is and how disruptions can cause real hardship to all Alaskans, especially in rural communities. That’s why I am alarmed by the administration’s refusal to rescue the postal service during this crisis.

Without action, the post office is likely to run out of cash sometime between July and September. People will lose service at a time when we need the postal service the most. Right now, postal workers are on the front lines during the pandemic, delivering food, medication, and other essential services across the country.

Postal workers are risking their health to be there for us, and now we need to be there for them.

I want to hear from you: What do you think about these efforts to undermine the postal system? Take our short survey today.
 

Washington politicians have tried to privatize the postal service for decades, and they are using the coronavirus as an opportunity to make it happen.

Right now, the post office does not charge more based on where your mail is going. It costs the same amount to send a letter from Nome to Miami as it does to send it from Anchorage to Palmer. But if the services were privatized and driven solely by profit, you know Alaskans would be forced to pay much more for their mail.

That is unacceptable. For Alaskans, especially in rural communities, the postal service is a lifeline. In areas not accessible by roads, the postal service delivers the food and everyday goods that they need at a lower cost than private delivery companies. Essential products are already too expensive in these communities, and if the postal service is privatized, or becomes insolvent, costs for individuals and businesses will skyrocket.

Last month, Congress tried to shore up the postal service as part of their bipartisan coronavirus relief bill. But the administration made it clear that the president would not sign the bill with those provisions included. They were willing to reject the entire coronavirus relief package that provided crucial stimulus checks for Americans and $16 million for Alaska’s health care system, just to undermine the post office and pave the way for privatization.

Don Young should have stood up for our communities by standing up to the president and demanding the postal service receive the money it needs to continue to function. But instead, unfortunately, he left Washington while lawmakers were still debating the bill.

I believe that a bailout for the postal service must be a part of any future coronavirus relief package that Congress passes. Do you agree? Share your thoughts today.

Thank you,

Alyse