[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 159 (Wednesday, September 26, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H9080-H9081]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REQUIRING UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE TO ESTABLISH NEW ZIP CODES
Mr. RUSSELL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 6846) to require the United States Postal Service to
establish new ZIP codes, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 6846
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ESTABLISHING NEW ZIP CODES.
Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Postal Service shall designate a single, unique ZIP
code for, as nearly as practicable, each of the following
communities:
(1) Miami Lakes, Florida.
(2) Storey County, Nevada.
(3) Flanders, Northampton, and Riverside in the Town of
Southampton, New York.
(4) Ocoee, Florida.
(5) Glendale, New York.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Oklahoma (Mr. Russell) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Gomez)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oklahoma.
General Leave
Mr. RUSSELL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Oklahoma?
There was no objection.
Mr. RUSSELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 6846, introduced by the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart). The bill would require the United States
Postal Service to establish new ZIP Codes in Miami Lakes, Florida;
Ocoee, Florida; Storey County, Nevada; Glendale, New York; and
Flanders, Northampton; and Riverside in the town of Southampton, New
York.
H.R. 756, the Postal Service Reform Act of 2017, which the Committee
on Oversight and Government Reform reported earlier this Congress,
would also have established these new ZIP Codes.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr.
Diaz-Balart) to tell us more about the need for a new ZIP Code in his
district.
Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill.
Mr. Speaker, for nearly a decade, the town of Miami Lakes has
attempted to receive a unique ZIP Code. This would help with auto
insurance rates, branding, economic development, and, frankly, lead to
less election confusion and census confusion. Despite this, the Postal
Service has yet to take action, unfortunately.
I will tell you this is an important priority for my constituents
back home in Miami Lakes. In fact, just last week, Mr. Speaker, I
received a call from a constituent asking about what was going on with
this issue. He was asking for an update and was relaying his
frustration because of his rising auto insurance rates. Thankfully,
this legislation solves that problem. It grants Miami Lakes and others
their own ZIP Codes.
I would like to give credit and thanks to Miami Lakes Mayor Manny
Cid. It has been a privilege to work with him. He has shown great
perseverance and dedication, and I am glad that, together, we are able
to make this happen.
However, as everyone knows, the work is not finished. Last Congress,
[[Page H9081]]
the House passed a nearly identical bill like this one today.
Unfortunately, the Senate did not take it up. There is ample time to
get this passed before the end of this Congress.
So I implore my colleagues on the other side and the Senate to get
this bill to the President for his signature. We will not rest until
this bill gets to the President's desk and it is signed into law.
I want to again thank Chairman Gowdy for his help, and his committee
staff as well. Also, I thank Speaker Ryan, Majority Leader McCarthy,
and the whip, Mr. Scalise, for their help.
Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this legislation.
Mr. GOMEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, ZIP Codes organize the country to ensure the effective
and efficient delivery of mail for millions of Americans. The postal
service has the authority to establish ZIP Codes and adjust their
boundaries based on changes in delivery and on volume and operational
concerns. However, communities, businesses, and other local entities
can also voice their concern with ZIP Code boundaries and request
adjustments.
This bill would require the Postal Service to establish new ZIP Codes
for five communities that have each requested and been denied ZIP Code
changes. These communities base their ZIP Code requests on concerns
such as delay in mail delivery, emergency service response times, and
the denial or inconsistent application of services to community
members. These are important concerns and should be addressed
accordingly.
The Postal Service has worked with affected communities to find
solutions, and I commend those efforts. This bill would require the ZIP
Code changes requested by those communities.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. RUSSELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Zeldin), my friend.
Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6846, which would
create a new, unique ZIP Code for the hamlets of Flanders, Northampton,
and Riverside, located in Suffolk County, New York, in my district.
These three hamlets currently share the same ZIP Code with the nearby
town of Riverhead, where there are at least 18 identical street names
and 32 similar street names. This causes a number of issues, including
the delay of mail and packages, which can hold important goods like
medications. Shared street names can also delay the response for
emergency and medical personnel in situations where every second
counts.
This could all be avoided by assigning a new and unique ZIP Code to
Flanders, Northampton, and Riverside, which is why I have been working
closely with committee and House leadership to ensure this important
issue does not go unresolved.
Last Congress, I brought then-Oversight and Government Reform
Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz to my district to hear from my
constituents firsthand regarding how important this issue is to us. I
then worked with Chairman Chaffetz to secure House passage last
Congress, but, unfortunately, the Senate failed to act.
I urge my colleagues in the House to pass this bill tonight, and I
implore the Senate to take this bill up immediately. This legislation
will have an immediate, on-the-ground, positive impact on the lives of
so many of my constituents.
I would like to thank, especially, Ron Fisher, chairman of the
Flanders, Riverside, Northampton Citizens Advisory Council and
president of the Flanders, Riverside, Northampton Community
Association. I would also like to thank Vince Taldone and Vicki
Farruggia from the Flanders, Riverside, Northampton Community
Association.
I thank the chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform
Committee and his great staff. I appreciate their support and urge a
``yes'' vote.
Mr. RUSSELL. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Russell) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 6846.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________