Senate Republicans Release Draft Legislation to Counter Emergency Supplemental Spending Bill for the U.S. Postal Service

Senate Republican released draft legislation Wednesday intended as a counter to an emergency supplemental spending bill for the U.S. Postal Service that House Democrats are expected to unveil later this week. The House is expected to vote Saturday morning on the bill that would include $25 billion in new funding for the U.S. Postal Service and reverse changes implemented in recent weeks to mail delivery and operations.

The Senate Republican plan (attached) includes $10 billion in additional funding for the postal service, but also includes liability protection, a $300 in boosted weekly federal unemployment benefits until December 27, and an extension of the Paycheck Protection Program previously proposed by Senate Republicans. A copy of the draft is attached. The proposal also includes money for COVID testing and education.

There are no provisions of particular interest to public finance in the proposal. However, talks on COVID response legislation between Democrats, Republicans and the White House are effectively non-existent, so the fact that Republicans felt compelled to respond to the threat of a House postal bill is noteworthy.