PPAF Applauds House Passage of the Delivering for America Act

Senate Must Pass Critical Legislation to Protect Postal Service, Health Care and Our Voting Rights

WASHINGTON — Today, in response to continued politically-motivated attacks from the Trump administration and the critical need to fully fund the United States Postal Service (USPS), the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to protect USPS. The Delivering for America Act would stop any operational changes from being made this year to impede postal service and includes $25 billion in additional USPS funding, the same amount the House passed in the HEROES Act in early May.The HEROES Act also includes critical pandemic relief, but the Senate has refused to consider it despite the continued unemployment crisis and the deaths of over 175,000 people in the U.S. Planned Parenthood Action Fund applauds Speaker Pelosi, Congresswoman Maloney, and other champions in the House for taking action to preserve the integrity of our postal services and our voting rights.

Attacks on the postal service present a grave threat to our democracy while obstructing access to health care and prescriptions (including birth control) for underserved communities. As the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis continue to do the most harm to Black, Indigenous, and Latino communities due to systemic racism, these attacks on reliable mail delivery only make it harder for these communities to survive this pandemic.

Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president, Planned Parenthood Action Fund:

“The administration’s recent attempts to undermine the Postal Service are both a direct attack on our right to be heard in the upcoming election and a severe impediment to health care access. As our nation continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, there are millions of people who rely on postal services for their medication, including birth control, and can’t afford delays in delivery. It’s unconscionable that this administration would make it even harder for people to get the care they need in the midst of a public health crisis — in an obvious attempt to suppress voter participation in this year’s elections. We thank House Democratic leadership for continuing to act to protect the Postal Service and our voting rights. The Senate must pass the Delivering for America Act immediately.”

Beyond passing direct support and protections for USPS, the Senate must provide at least $3.6 billion to states for necessary voting reforms to meet this moment — as the House did in the HEROES Act. This money will support extended early in-person voting periods, expanded voter registration options, voter education, expanding vote by mail, adding secure drop off locations for ballots, and ensuring safe and secure in-person voting.

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Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational, advocacy and electoral activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education.