Congressmen Landsman, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan Protect Our Letter Carriers Act

LEBANON, OH -- Congressman Landsman and Congressman Fitzpatrick have introduced H.R.7629 – the Protect Our Letter Carriers Act – bipartisan legislation to address an array of security issues faced by U.S. Postal Service (USPS) letter carriers.

The Protect Our Letter Carriers Act would:

• Provide $1.4 billion a year to USPS to install high security collection boxes and deploy electronic keys for letter carriers to more securely access mail boxes
• Direct the U.S. Attorney General to appoint Assistant U.S. Attorneys in all 94 U.S. judicial districts to lead investigations and prosecutions of crimes against USPS employees, assets, and facilities

In October 2023, Congressman Landsman sent letters to U.S. Postmaster Louis DeJoy and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland requesting support to address attacks against letter carriers in the greater Cincinnati area.

“Our letter carriers are such a big part of our lives, and we have to keep them safe. This bipartisan effort will do just that,” noted Landsman. 

Ted Thompson, President of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 43 explained, “As President of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 43 in Cincinnati, Ohio, I am honored to have Congressman Landsman sponsor this bill alongside Congressman Fitzpatrick. NALC Branch 43 has had 17 members assaulted and robbed at gunpoint for the arrow keys they possess in order to gain access to the public’s mail. From day one, Congressman Landsman has supported NALC Branch 43 letter carriers in the greater Cincinnati area and around the country. This legislation is an important component to address the radical rise in crime against letter carriers. I thank Congressman Landsman and Fitzpatrick for drafting this legislation. I urge the rest of the members of Congress to cosponsor this bipartisan bill and help expedite the protection of letter carriers throughout the country.” 

President of the National Association of Letter Carriers Brian Renfroe added, “The National Association of Letter Carriers appreciates Congressman Landsman and Congressman Fitzpatrick’s leadership in introducing the Protect Our Letter Carriers Act. Every employee has the right to be safe and protected on the job. Our hope is that this legislation will deter these violent crimes and keep letter carriers safe on the job. I urge the House to pass this bill that would protect the nation’s letter carriers who dutifully deliver medications, checks, ballots, packages, and other essential mail that all Americans depend on.” 

Don Matson, President of National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association said, “On behalf of the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA), I would like to thank Congressman Landsman and Congressman Fitzpatrick for introducing the Protect Our Letter Carriers Act. Letter carriers have increasingly become the target of criminals looking to gain access to the nation’s mail. These criminals are putting the health and safety of our dedicated rural carriers in harm’s way. The NRLCA is proud to endorse this bipartisan legislation that seeks to modernize the outdated arrow key with a new electronic version, and appoint an assistant U.S attorney with the responsibility of prosecuting crimes against postal employees. Immediate action is required now to stop this threat to our nation’s letter carriers. A threat to one letter carrier is a threat to all letter carriers.”  

The full text of Congressman Landsman and Congressman Fitzpatrick’s Protect Our Letter Carriers Act can be found here.

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