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US House Holds Rare Saturday Session on Emergency Postal Service Funding

VOA News

   The House of Representatives is holding a rare emergency session
   Saturday, with Democrats seeking to pass emergency funding for the
   Postal Service as the country ramps up preparations for larger numbers
   of mail-in votes during the November election amid the coronavirus
   pandemic.
   Democrats are seeking $25 billion in additional funding for the Postal
   Service as well as to roll back recent changes at the agency that
   include removing high-speed mail sorting machines and the blue curbside
   collection boxes in public places, as well as cutting overtime pay for
   employees.
   "These changes are causing huge delays, reported all across the
   country, threatening the effectiveness of the Postal Service and
   undermining our democracy," Democratic Representative Carolyn Maloney,
   the bill's author said.
   The changes were put in place by Louis DeJoy, the postmaster general
   who assumed the position in June. DeJoy -- who is a Republican
   fundraiser and donor to the Trump campaign -- said he instituted the
   measures to reduce costs at the post office, which has faced revenue
   losses in recent years.
   DeJoy told senators Friday that election mail would be prioritized for
   delivery, saying it's his "sacred duty" to ensure such mail is
   delivered. However, he said that blue collection boxes and sorting
   equipment that have been removed are "not needed."

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