Secretary of State Jena Griswold, Representative Tom Sullivan Call for Federal Funding of U.S. Post Office

Denver, May 4, 2020 – Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold and Colorado State Representative Tom Sullivan (Colorado House District 37) are calling on United States Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to promptly approve a $10 billion loan that would help the United States Postal Service (USPS) respond to the immediate financial burdens the coronavirus pandemic has created for the agency.

A provision of the CARES Act, which was passed by Congress on March 27, allows for the USPS to borrow up to $10 billion from the Treasury Department to fund operating expenses. However, the terms of the loan must be negotiated between the Treasury Department and USPS, and ultimately approved by Secretary Mnuchin.  If Secretary Mnuchin refuses to approve the loan in a timely manner, the USPS could be forced to severely limit or entirely cease operations by the end of the fiscal year, September 30. This would impede Colorado’s ability to hold the November General Election.

“Colorado’s elections are considered the national gold standard, in large part because we work with the United States Postal Service to mail a ballot to every registered voter. Our vote-by-mail system is the primary reason Colorado consistently has one of the highest voter turn-out rates in the nation.” said Secretary Griswold. “I urge Secretary Mnuchin to approve funds to the Post Office immediately to enable Colorado’s vote-by-mail election to continue unimpeded in this time of crisis.”   

“As a former Postal Service employee, I know first-hand how vital the USPS is to our communities,” said Representative Sullivan.  “Even amidst this pandemic, the only vehicle you typically see driving through your neighborhood is a Postal Service truck, and it’s stopping at every house.  The need for this service is magnified in our rural communities, for which the US Postal Service goes the extra mile.”      

On March 20, the USPS notified Congress that the coronavirus outbreak has caused a massive decline in revenue and indicated that the agency could lose $12.6 billion this fiscal year alone. 

In Colorado’s March Presidential Primary, over three million ballots were mailed to registered voters. Ballots for Colorado’s June 30 State Primary are scheduled to begin being mailed out by County Clerks the week of June 8.