Carper, Heitkamp Urge Congress: This Valentine’s Day, Let’s Save The Mail

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), former chairman and now senior Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), ranking member of the Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management Subcommittee, are urging Congress to take up the spirit of Valentine’s Day by honoring the vital role of the United States Postal Service in Americans’ everyday lives and communications.

“From our rural communities, to our big cities, suburbs and small towns, the U.S. Postal Service connects every corner of our country. For centuries, we’ve relied on the Postal Service for communication and commerce,” Senator Carper said. “As Americans celebrate Valentine’s Day by exchanging holiday greetings with their loved ones and neighbors, I want to remind my colleagues about the special role the Postal Service plays on this day, and in our daily lives. It’s long past time for Congress to share some love and affection with the U.S. Postal Service.”

“For far too long, my call to Congress to enact comprehensive postal reform has gone unrequited. But I’ve remained committed to this cause and partnered with my colleagues in Congress to build a strong coalition of support to pass postal reform. In the coming days, we will be introducing bipartisan postal reform legislation that unites the diverse array of groups who rely on a healthy Postal Service and would give a lifeline to this essential agency, one that’s at the heart of our country’s $1.4 trillion mailing industry,” Senator Carper continued. “We have an excellent opportunity this year to come together and save the Postal Service, and I hope we’ll seize it.”

“This Valentine’s Day, millions of Americans will use the U.S. Postal Service to send cards and special gifts, reinforcing why the importance of the Postal Service is so important not just during the holiday but throughout the year, especially in rural America,” said Senator Heitkamp. “For rural residents, farmers, and small business owners, the U.S. Postal Service remains a critical lifeline that provides vital delivery of mail, prescription drugs, bills, and store inventory. Unfortunately, the Postal Service has experienced its share of financial challenges, and rural America has been hit especially hard in recent years by degradations in service. Rural America relies on the Postal Service and we must commit to passing strong legislation to make the Postal Service financially viable so it can continue to serve the millions of Americans who depend on it every day. The Postal Service is truly the great equalizer in America— allowing Americans from every zip code to get their mail and packages in a timely, affordable manner—and rural America is counting on Congress to get this done.”

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