WASHINGTON, DC – On July 1, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, spoke on the House floor to oppose an amendment to H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, that would strip funding for the U.S. Postal Service.

Republican Jody Hice offered an amendment which would strike funding for the Postal Service from the bill, preventing dedicated postal workers from securing the financial assistance and transportation they need to weather the coronavirus pandemic.  Without the funding provided in this legislation, the Postal Service may be forced to cease operations.

Below are Chairwoman Maloney’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

I thank the Gentleman for yielding.

We are in the midst of a national emergency caused by the coronavirus, and it is having a dire effect on the Postal Service.

Despite better than expected revenue in recent months, the Postal Service is still at risk of running out of money.  It could be forced to cease operations if it does not receive financial assistance from the federal government soon.

This amendment would eliminate that critical funding the Postal Service needs.

Throughout the pandemic, the Postal Service has continued to deliver life-saving medications and vital supplies – especially to rural America.

If the Postal Service ceases to exist, rural Americans will suffer the most because it is the only delivery company that serves them.

If any issue should be bipartisan it is this one, because the Post Office affects every American.

The Postal Service helps bind us all together and delivers to every address in the nation, no matter how remote. But the dedicated staff that braves the coronavirus pandemic every day cannot continue to do their job without reliable transportation or funding.

We must fulfill our Constitutional duty and act now to save the Postal Service. I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment and yield back the balance of my time.