WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Lawmakers in Congress are looking to pass legislation that would provide more protection for letter carriers on the job, following a nearly 30% increase in the number of robberies last year.

On Wednesday, House lawmakers were joined by union leaders and letter carriers on Capitol Hill to push for the passage of a bill that would crackdown on postal crime.

“We learn almost every day of an incident of violence against the letter carrier, targeted robberies, assaults and even murder have become part of our job,” President of the National Association of Letter Carriers, Brian Renfroe said.

The Protect Our Letter Carriers Act was introduced by Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Greg Landsman (D-Ohio). The bipartisan legislation would accelerate the replacement of mailbox keys with digital locks, boost prosecutions and review sentencing guidelines.

“I fully expect this to come on the floor this year and pass with overwhelming support,” Fitzpatrick said.

Last May, The U.S. Postal Service launched Project Safe Delivery, which led to hundreds of arrests. However, the number of postal carriers who were robbed in 2023 rose again.

“And today we are here to send a very clear message. Enough is enough,” Renfroe said. “All workers, including letter carriers deserve to be safe and protected while doing their jobs.”

According to data obtained by the Associated Press, postal carrier robberies climbed to 643 last year and the number of robberies resulting in injuries doubled to 61.

Robberies have increased sixfold over the past decade and the number of postal carriers held at gunpoint increased even more, according to an analysis of postal statistics.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.