[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 40 (Tuesday, April 8, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H1296]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      POSTAL SERVICE SHOULD ACT AS RESPONSIBLE MEMBER OF COMMUNITY

  (Mr. BLUMENAUER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, for many the Postal Service indeed 
represents the Federal Government. Post offices are the heart and soul 
of many small towns across America, and they are part of the heritage 
of every community. Yet, in many instances, people feel victimized by 
the Postal Service because the post office sometimes ignores local 
zoning laws and building codes in making decisions about their 
facilities.
  Additionally, citizens often feel shut out of the decision-making 
process, despite the massive impacts that post office closings and 
relocations have on our communities.
  Today I am introducing legislation to change this. My bill would 
outline minimum citizen involvement requirements that would apply to 
the renovation, relocation, closing, or consolidation of post offices 
and require the post office to comply with any local zoning or building 
codes which the State and local governments themselves must comply 
with.
  My bill is fair and does not place unnecessary burdens on the Postal 
Service. Instead, for the first time, the Postal Service would be 
treated as a responsible member of the community and not be above the 
local laws.

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