I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8123 
To provide emergency appropriations to the United States Postal Service 
to cover losses related to the COVID–19 crisis and to direct the Board 
of Governors of the United States Postal Service to develop a plan 
for ensuring the long-term solvency of the Postal Service. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 28, 2020 
Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio (for himself, Mr. GOLDEN, Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas, 
and Ms. STEFANIK) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To provide emergency appropriations to the United States 
Postal Service to cover losses related to the COVID– 
19 crisis and to direct the Board of Governors of the 
United States Postal Service to develop a plan for ensur-
ing the long-term solvency of the Postal Service. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Postal Service Emer-
gency Assistance Act’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:12 Sep 24, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8123.IH
H8123
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
(1) By law, the Postal Service operates as ‘‘a 
basic and fundamental service provided to the people 
by the Government of the United States’’ and must 
serve rural, suburban, and urban areas throughout 
the United States. 
(2) The Postal Service is a lifeline for busi-
nesses and consumers across the United States, es-
pecially those in remote and rural areas of the coun-
try, delivering business correspondence, educational, 
cultural and scientific information, critical prescrip-
tions and medications, household items, and com-
mercial goods with affordable, reliable service not 
fewer than 6 days per week. 
(3) The Postal Service helps small businesses 
stay connected with their customers no matter where 
they are located or where their customers live. 
(4) Since 1970, the Postal Service has been 
charged with operating as a self-sustaining entity 
and its operations are funded from postage paid for 
mail and shipping and not primarily by taxpayer 
funds. 
(5) The Government Accountability Office re-
ports that the Postal Service has lost approximately 
$78,000,000,000 from fiscal year 2007 through 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:19 Sep 04, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8123.IH
H8123
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with BILLS
2019 due primarily to declining mail volumes and 
rising costs. 
(6) Package delivery volumes have more than 
doubled since 2010, but the Postal Service faces 
competition in this area. 
(7) The Postal Service is not on a sustainable 
path and needs reform to be viable over the long 
term. 
(8) Reforms must be focused on the long-term 
solvency of the Postal Service while ensuring the 
greatest benefit to the public and 630,000 employees 
of the Postal Service. 
(9) By law, the authority for operation and 
strategic direction of the Postal Service, an inde-
pendent establishment of the executive branch, is 
delegated to the Board of Governors of the Postal 
Service, including the Postmaster General. 
(10) On May 6, 2020, the Board of Governors 
of the Postal Service selected Louis DeJoy as the 
75th Postmaster General of the United States. 
(11) The new Postmaster General should be 
given the opportunity to review the operations and 
finances of the Postal Service and, in coordination 
with the rest of the Board of Governors of the Post-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:19 Sep 04, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8123.IH
H8123
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with BILLS
al Service, propose a plan to ensure its long-term vi-
ability. 
(12) At the same time, the COVID–19 pan-
demic has significantly contributed to the decline in 
market dominant mail volumes and revenues while 
increasing costs, putting additional stress on the fi-
nancial situation of the Postal Service. 
(13) Now more than ever, affordable mail and 
package delivery provided by the Postal Service is a 
lifeline for people in the United States, especially for 
seniors and others living in remote and rural areas. 
(14) The critical services the Postal Service 
provides will play a fundamental part of the eco-
nomic recovery of the United States. 
(15) Congress should provide immediate emer-
gency appropriations to cover financial losses to the 
Postal Service caused by the COVID–19 pandemic 
in order to keep the Postal Service operating without 
interruptions in service and to give the new Post-
master General and the Board of Governors of the 
Postal Service time to formulate and propose to 
Congress a plan to ensure the long-term viability of 
the Postal Service. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:19 Sep 04, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8123.IH
H8123
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with BILLS
(1) 
COVID–19.—The 
term 
‘‘COVID–19’’ 
means the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19). 
(2) POSTAL SERVICE.—The term ‘‘Postal Serv-
ice’’ means the United States Postal Service. 
SEC. 4. EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE POSTAL 
SERVICE 
TO 
COVER 
COVID–19 
INDUCED 
LOSSES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the Treas-
ury of the United States a fund to be known as the Postal 
Service COVID–19 Emergency Fund. 
(b) APPROPRIATIONS.—There is appropriated, out of 
any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, 
to the Postal Service COVID–19 Emergency Fund, 
$25,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 
2022, pursuant to this section: Provided, That such 
amount is designated by Congress as being for an emer-
gency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of 
the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act 
of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901(b)(2)(A)(i)). 
(c) CERTIFICATION.—The Postal Service shall certify 
in its quarterly and audited annual reports to the Postal 
Regulatory Commission under section 3654 of title 39, 
United States Code, and in conformity with the require-
ments of section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange 
Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m, 78o(d)), any expenditures 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:19 Sep 04, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8123.IH
H8123
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with BILLS
necessary to cover lost revenue or operational expenses re-
sulting from the COVID–19 pandemic. The Postal Service 
shall provide copies of these certified filings to the Senate 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Af-
fairs, and the House Committee on Oversight and Reform 
within 15 days of any filing with the Postal Regulatory 
Commission. 
(d) TRANSFER.—Within 15 days of any filing with 
the Postal Regulatory Commission, as referenced in sub-
section (c), the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer 
from the Postal Service COVID–19 Emergency Fund to 
the 
Postal 
Service 
Fund 
such 
amounts, 
up 
to 
$25,000,000,000 certified as expenditures necessary to 
cover lost revenue or operational expenses resulting from 
the COVID–19 pandemic, pursuant to subsection (c). This 
transfer authority is in addition to any other transfer au-
thority provided in this Act. Any amounts transferred to 
the Postal Service Fund under this section may be used 
for such purposes as the Postal Service considers appro-
priate, pursuant to this section. 
(e) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT.—The Postal Serv-
ice, during the COVID–19 pandemic, shall prioritize the 
purchase of, and make available to all employees and fa-
cilities of the Postal Service, personal protective equip-
ment, including gloves, masks, and sanitizers, and shall 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:19 Sep 04, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8123.IH
H8123
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with BILLS
conduct additional cleaning and sanitizing of Postal Serv-
ice facilities and delivery vehicles. 
SEC. 5. CLARIFICATION OF POSTAL SERVICE BORROWING 
AUTHORITY. 
Section 6001(b)(2) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, 
and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116–136) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(2) the Secretary of the Treasury shall lend up 
to the amount described in paragraph (1) at the re-
quest of the Postal Service subject to the terms and 
conditions of the note purchase agreement between 
the Postal Service and the Federal Financing Bank 
in effect on September 29, 2018.’’. 
SEC. 6. POSTAL SERVICE REFORM PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Postmaster General shall, in 
coordination with the rest of the Board of Governors of 
the Postal Service, develop a plan to ensure the long-term 
solvency of the Postal Service. 
(b) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—No later than 270 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Postal 
Service shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Secu-
rity and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Com-
mittee on Oversight and Reform of the House of Rep-
resentatives, and the Postal Regulatory Commission the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:19 Sep 04, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8123.IH
H8123
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with BILLS
plan required under this section, including recommenda-
tions for congressional action. 
(c) CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE.—Prior to submission 
of the plan required under subsection (b) and not later 
than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Postal Service shall provide a briefing on the status 
of the plan to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee 
on Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:19 Sep 04, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H8123.IH
H8123
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with BILLS