1/23/02

Congress Provides Funding for Postal Security

Immediately before recessing at the end of 2001, Congress passed and the President subsequently signed a defense appropriations bill that granted the Postal Service an additional $500 million to purchase equipment to protect postal employees and customers from bio-terrorism. This action followed an extensive lobbying campaign by the NPMHU National Office, other postal unions, and various mailer representatives who urged their representatives in Congress to support additional federal funding to help pay for the postal Service's fight against anthrax contamination.

Although the Postal Service initially had sought $1.1 billion, a request fully supported by the NPMHU, a legislative compromise was struck for the $500 million (in addition to $175 million that was provided to the USPS immediately after the attacks of September 11 and the October anthrax exposures). This amount should meet the USPS' needs for the first quarter of 2002, at which time additional funds will be necessary.

The National Office of the NPMHU thanks each and every mail handler who took the time necessary to communicate with Congress, and who encouraged other members to do likewise. Your efforts helped to enhance the security of the U.S. mail, and to protect the 50,000 mail handlers represented by NPMHU. Later this year, we will have to reactivate our legislative efforts to support additional funding for the Postal Service as part of the nation's continuing homeland security efforts. Please be certain to watch the NPMHU Legislative Center for the latest information on these issues.