Concerns about mail-in voting and the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is resulting in members of Congress being called back to Washington early.
North Florida Congressman Al Lawson (D-FL 5) said Tuesday on First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross that the House is rushing to pass emergency legislation to fund the USPS.
Lawson said the House will cut short its August recess, and return to Washington this Saturday to vote on legislation.
The measure would provide the financially strapped agency with $25 billion in funding, despite objections from the White House.
“For the last month or so, there's been an attack on the system by the Trump administration. And so as a result what we have to do is just what America has always known, the way our mail has been delivered, and we just need to make sure that they stay healthy. The postal system is not there to make a profit. It is there to provide a service for everyone,” said Lawson.
According to Lawson, the bill would also prohibit recent USPS operational changes the Trump administration has made that have recently slowed mail service around the country.
Also Tuesday, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced he was suspending the controversial changeshe instituted to the U.S. Postal Service until after the November election.
It wasn't immediately clear how DeJoy's announcement will impact the emergency legislation Lawson discussed.
Lawson is facing a primary challenge Tuesday from Orange Park Democrat Albert Chester.
To hear the entire interview with Lawson, listen to Tuesday’sFirst Coast Connect with Melissa Ross. The show also encores at 8 p.m. on WJCT News 89.9.
