2021: Schweikert Voted Against An Amendment That Would Prohibit The U.S. Postal Service From Enacting Changes Within 120 Days Before A Federal Election That Would Affect Delivering Voting Materials. In March 2021, Schweikert voted against en bloc amendments no.3 to the For The People Act which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "bar the U.S. Postal Service from carrying out any new operational change within 120 days before a federal election that would restrict the delivery of voting materials." The vote was on adoption of amendments. The House adopted the amendments by a vote of 221-207. [House Vote 55, 3/2/21; Congressional Quarterly, 3/2/21; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt. 20; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1]
2020: Schweikert Voted Against Providing $25 Million In Supplemental Appropriations To The USPS. In August 2020, Schweikert voted against Delivering for America Act that would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "provide $25 [b]illion in supplemental fiscal 2020 appropriations for the U.S. Postal Service, including $15 million for the Postal Service office of the inspector general. It would prohibit the Postal Service from implementing or approving any change to its operations or service levels as in effect on Jan. 1, 2020, before the later of Jan. 31, 2021 or the last day of the COVID-19 public health emergency, including restrictions on overtime pay for Postal Service employees or removing mail collection boxes or sorting machines. It would direct the Postal Service to reverse any initiative or action that is causing a delay in mail processing or delivery. It would require the Postal Service to postmark and provide same-day processing for election mail, such as voter registration forms and mail-in ballots, and to treat such mail as first class mail." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 257-150. The Senate did not take substantive action on the bill. [House Vote 182, 8/22/20; Congressional Quarterly, 8/22/20; Congressional Actions, H.R.8015]
The Bill Provided $25 Billion To The Postal Service Amidst Fears That The Trump Administration Was Working To Disenfranchise Voters Casting Mail Ballots In The Election. According to the Washington Post, "The House voted Saturday on legislation to provide $25 billion to the U.S. Postal Service and explicitly prohibit any operational changes amid widespread Democratic fears that the Trump administration is trying to disenfranchise millions of Americans casting mail ballots this November." [Washington Post, 8/22/20]
The Bill Also Reversed Recent Operational Changes That Could Have Delayed Service, Such As Prohibiting The Removal Of Mail-Sorting Machines And Mail Boxes. According to the Washington Post, "In addition to the infusion of money for the cash-strapped agency, the legislation would ban the removal of mail-sorting machines and public mailboxes, reverse any operational changes that could delay service and mandate that all official election mail be considered 'first class.''" [Washington Post, 8/22/20]
The Bill Required The Postal Service To Classify All Election Mail As First-Class. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The measure also requires the Postal Service to treat all election mail as first-class mail, postmark it with the date of receipt and 'to the maximum extent practical' process it the same the day it is received." [Congressional Quarterly, 8/22/20]
Trump Had Previously Stated That He Opposed Election Aid And Emergency Funding For The Postal Service Because He Wanted To Thwart Americans From Voting By Mail. According to the Washington Post, "Trump said earlier this month that he opposed election aid for states and an emergency bailout for the Postal Service because he wants to restrict how many Americans can vote by mail. The president, who has voted by mail, has repeatedly made the baseless claim that mail-in ballots can lead to widespread fraud while criticizing the Postal Service in recent months, calling it a 'joke."' [Washington Post, 8/22/20]
The White House Issued A Veto Threat On The Bill, Stating That The Postal Service Needed A Long-Term Plan Rather Than A Bailout. The White House issued a veto threat, saying the House bill 'seeks to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic as a pretext for placing counterproductive restrictions on USPS's already limited operational flexibilities.' The Postal Service needs an overhaul that will ensure its long-term financial self-sufficiency, not a $25 billion 'bailout,' the statement of administration policy on the bill argued." [Congressional Quarterly, 8/22/20]
McConnell Refused To Take Up The Bill In The Senate, And Other Republicans Argued That The Bill Was Unnecessary. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY., has said his chamber won't take up the House bill but that Republicans are open to considering Postal Service funding as part of a COVID-19 Relief package [...] McCarthy argued the emergency funding in the bill isn't needed because the Postal Service is projected to be financially solvent through August 2021, that the removal of mailboxes is 'routine maintenance' that also occurred under former President Barack Obama's tenure and that the Postal Service has more than enough capacity to deliver election mail." [Congressional Quarterly, 8/22/20]