How Did Your NJ Representative Vote On USPS Bill?

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Saturday, Congress passed a bill which would provide $25 billion in funding to the United States Postal Service, and would also halt operational changes critics — and the President — have said are undercutting postal operations prior to the November elections.

The "Delivering for America Act" passed with a 257-150 margin, including 26 Republicans who voted in favor of the bill, including both Republican congressman from New Jersey.

Christopher Smith [NJ-4] and Jeff Van Drew [NJ-2] both bucked party lines for the vote, and joined their constituents from the Garden State in their favorable vote, meaning that all 12 New Jersey congress members voted in favor of the bill.

According to a release from Congressman Josh Gottheimer, the bill will also require, if passed, that all election related mail be treated as First-Class mail.

"The Postal Service is essential to the fabric of our communities, providing New Jersey families and all Americans with critical services, including the delivery of life-saving prescriptions, Social Security benefits, paychecks, tax returns, and ballots," said Gottheimer, who spoke at the Paramus Post Office last week.

"By tampering with the mail, the Postmaster General’s actions are tampering with the health, safety, and economic security of North Jersey residents, seniors, veterans, and our small businesses. I’m proud to join my colleagues to pass the Delivering for America Act to undo the damage and ensure the Postal Service has the resources necessary to fulfill its vital role at this pivotal moment."

Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill tweeted she was "proud to join every member of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation today - Democrat and Republican alike - to vote to support the USPS."

"New Jerseyans know how important the USPS is," she said.

Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr., who has been perhaps the most vocal New Jersey critic of President Donald Trump and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's "sabotage" of the post office, said he was disappointed that only 26 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

"Incredibly, just 26 House Republicans voted in favor of this legislation after Donald Trump went on live television and confessed to destroying USPS to rig the November election," said Pascrell.

"That Republicans decry our actions today as a fake controversy show that their dereliction is bottomless."

Pascrell has been an outspoken critic of recent post office changes, and has gone so far as demanding two investigations into DeJoy's institutional changes.

Perhaps the most important Republican critic of the bill is Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who said in a tweet Saturday that the Senate would not pass the bill.