Today, bipartisan lawmakers in the House and Senate reintroduced the Protect Our Letter Carriers Act (POLCA) (H.R. 1065/S.463). Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Greg Landsman (D-OH) introduced the House version, and Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) co-led the Senate version.
The bills are identical to the House and Senate versions introduced last Congress and include three measures to deter the increasing crimes and assaults committed against letter carriers on the job:
- $7 billion in funding (appropriated over five years) to replace and modernize postal infrastructure that criminals often seek out.
- Designation for an assistant district attorney in each judicial district to prioritize cases involving an assault against a letter carrier in a timely manner.
- Standardizing sentencing guidelines for those who are found guilty of committing these crimes.
While the Postal Service has started to roll out modernized technology in certain areas and the prosecution rates for these crimes have increased some, crimes against letter carriers continue to persist at an alarming rate, and this bill is the next step to stop these crimes from happening.
Between 2019 and 2023 (the most recent data available), the number of serious crimes against postal employees nearly doubled. In 2023, postal inspectors opened 1,367 cases, 542 assaults, 628 robberies, and 197 burglaries, against postal employees in almost 500 metropolitan areas. Over two-thirds of these attacks involve a firearm or other weapon. Tragically, five letter carriers have been murdered while dutifully doing their jobs since 2022.
“NALC appreciates Rep. Fitzpatrick, Rep. Landsman, Sen. Gillibrand, and Sen Hawley’s continued leadership on this critical issue that is so important to letter carriers and every community we serve,” NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said.
“Enough is enough. Like all Americans, letter carriers have the right to go to work, do their jobs, and return home unharmed. It’s time for Congress to prioritize what’s important and pass this bill, and we are going to fight like hell to get it done.”
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Click here to ask your members of Congress to co-sponsor H.R. 1065/S. 463.
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