Protecting What Matters Most

Dear Friends,

As we began Labor Day weekend, workers and families across our country got some good news Friday: we are rebuilding our economy. The unemployment rate fell to 8.4% as our economy beat expectations and added 1.4 million new jobs. Our economy has now added 10 million jobs in the last four months while wages have risen 4.7% from a year ago. We clearly have so much more to do to support workers and small businesses still reeling from the pandemic. But this data is more evidence that we are on the road to recovery.

While jobs remain my top priority, last week I was also pleased to focus on several other important issues for our region including our military and the unborn.

On Wednesday, I joined U.S. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy at Fort Bragg to discuss priorities for our military, including housing on and off base. Providing housing and resources for our soldiers and their families is critical for our military preparedness. I also consider it my duty as Fort Bragg's Congressman. I'll continue to work with the Trump administration and Secretary McCarthy to keep supporting our troops, their families and our veterans.

On Thursday, I was in Raleigh to champion our most fundamental right: life. Joined by Vice President Mike Pence and several members of North Carolina's Congressional delegation, I addressed Susan B. Anthony List's Life Wins rally to thank people in our state who have championed life. As a country, I believe we must remain steadfastly dedicated to the profound truth that all life is a gift from God, who endows every person with immeasurable worth and potential. At the rally, I shared a verse that guides that belief from Psalms 139: 13-14: "You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

In Congress, I'll continue to be a voice for the voiceless and appreciated Vice President Pence coming to our state to share this commitment.

One other entity I'm committed to protecting is the U.S. Postal Service.

Millions of Americans rely on the USPS to maintain their businesses, receive their medications on time, or send letters to a loved one. And now more than ever, we are counting on the USPS to deliver election ballots.

There has been a lot of news lately about what's happening with the USPS. Like many of you, when I saw these headlines I was concerned, and I started asking questions. As your representative, I felt I had an obligation to get the facts. What I found is that many of the allegations being made are simply not true.

I'm committed to strengthening the Postal Service, which is why I supported a $10 billion line of credit for the USPS from the United States Treasury in the CARES Act.

However, according to the Treasury Department, the USPS has yet to access this funding because it currently has a $14 billion cash reserve and can operate through at least August 2021.

Many have claimed the USPS needs a bailout to continue to operate. While structural improvements are needed to secure the long-term viability of the USPS, clearly the USPS has the immediate cash it needs to operate at this time.

This remains true even amidst an influx of election ballots. Currently, the USPS handles an average of 471 million pieces of mail each day. Even if every one of the 158 million registered voters decided to vote by mail, the volume would not come close to exceeding the mail volume seen in one business day by the USPS.

This does not mean change is not needed and I'm committed to making reforms to strengthen the USPS. However, H.R. 8015, which the House of Representatives voted on recently, was not it.

On Friday, I published an editorial in the Fayetteville Observer to discuss this bill. Read my entire op-ed here and know I'll continue to make sure the Postal Service is protected during these challenging times and I'm ready to work to put it back on a long-term path to deliver for the American people.

Until next week,

Richard Hudson

Member of Congress