Weekly Update: Supporting the United States Postal Service During the Pandemic

Weekly Update | August 22, 2020

Supporting the United States Postal Service During the Pandemic

Today, I voted for the Delivering for America Act, which provides emergency funding for the United States Postal Service (USPS) and prohibits operational changes at USPS during the pandemic.

The Postal Service is a lifeline to communities across central and southwestern Illinois. The men and women of the Postal Service are working tirelessly during this pandemic, and we need to do everything we can to support them, which is why I support the Delivering for America Act. Since coming to Congress, I’ve worked across the aisle to support the Postal Service, which is why I was so disappointed when somehow the Postal Service became a political weapon. We should not be politicizing the Postal Service and in turn, the thousands of hard-working employees that serve each of our districts. I do not believe the post office is trying to sabotage our elections, as some Democrats have claimed. I’m voting for this bill because we’re in the pandemic, the Postal Service is vital to our society, and they need our help.

I have been a strong supporter of additional federal assistance for the USPS. Back in early May, I co-signed a letter sent to Republican leaders urging them to support the USPS in negotiations over COVID-19 relief legislation.

The letter closed by stating: “Millions of Americans depend on the Postal Service throughout their daily lives but especially during the coronavirus pandemic USPS is serving an important role. Any interruption to service could be detrimental not only to USPS but also to our constituents across the country.”

Additionally, I have co-sponsored legislation to provide additional support to the USPS:

H. Res. 33 – expresses a sense of congress that the USPS should remain an independent entity of the US government and NOT be subject to privatization

H.R. 2382, the USPS Fairness Act – repeals the mandate that USPS has to pre-fund future retirement health benefits. Passed House in February

H. Res. 23 – door delivery for residential and businesses

H. Res. 54 – USPS should maintain their 6-day delivery schedule

H. Res. 60 – Service Standards – USPS should maintain the service standards set in 2012

1908 Springfield Race Riot Site Added to the African American Civil Rights Network

Last week, I joined U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt, NAACP Illinois State Conference President Teresa Haley, U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, and others to announce the designation of the 1908 Springfield Race Riot in Illinois as the 30th addition to the African American Civil Rights Network. The designation formally recognizes the historical and national significance of a landmark event in the struggle for civil rights which served as the catalyst in the creation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Inclusion of the 1908 Springfield Race Riot site in the AACRN was requested by me in 2019.

I’d like to thank Secretary Bernhardt for visiting Springfield yesterday and granting my request to designate the 1908 Race Riot Site as part of the African American Civil Rights Network. The Site is an important part of our nation’s history that must be recognized and preserved. As one of Springfield’s representatives in Congress, this is something I’ve worked on for several years, and I’m proud to see the status of the Site elevated. I look forward to building on this important designation and continuing to work with the Department and colleagues in Congress to name the Race Riot Site as a National Historic Monument and unit of the National Park System.

Learn more about the designation of the 1908 Springfield Race Riot Site here.

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IRS extends deadline to apply for $500 stimulus for children and dependents

The Internal Revenue Service continues to look for ways to help people who were unable to provide their information in time to receive Economic Impact Payments for their children. As part of that effort, the Internal Revenue Service announced today it will reopen the registration period for federal beneficiaries who didn't receive $500 per child payments earlier this year.

The IRS urges certain federal benefit recipients to use the IRS.gov Non-Filers tool starting August 15 through September 30 to enter information on their qualifying children to receive the supplemental $500 payments.

Those eligible to provide this information include people with qualifying children who receive Social Security retirement, survivor or disability benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Railroad Retirement benefits and Veterans Affairs Compensation and Pension (C&P) benefits and did not file a tax return in 2018 or 2019.

The IRS anticipates the catch-up payments, equal to $500 per eligible child, will be issued by mid-October.

Learn more about the announcement from the IRS here.

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More Important Updates

$8 Million Grant for Connect Transit in Bloomington-Normal

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded an $8,000,000 Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Grant to build a new Downtown Bloomington Transfer Center for Connect Transit, which serves the Bloomington-Normal area. It will replace the current on-street bus transfer area. The new center will serve 10 bus routes and 1,800 daily boardings, offering riders protection from weather and improved safety, access, amenities and transit service.

Investing in our public transit systems means we're investing in economic and community development. I'm proud to see the Bloomington-Normal community receive this very competitive grant, which allows them to build a new transfer center in Downtown Bloomington. Riders will experience better safety, access, and services once this project is complete. As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I will continue to be an advocate for projects that are critical to the communities I serve.

Read more about our visit to Connect Transit last week here.

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