[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 76 (Thursday, May 8, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E879]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   H. RES. 49, TO ESTABLISH NATIONAL LETTER CARRIERS APPRECIATION DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 8, 2008

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of H. Res. 49, a resolution that establishes National Letter 
Carriers Appreciation Day.
  Letter carriers are vital to the United States economy and help keep 
families and friends in touch with one another. They provide mail 
service 6 days a week, in good and bad weather, to more than 144 
million households. The United States Postal Service employs more than 
705,000 letter carriers who deliver more than 43 tons of mail each 
year. This averages to approximately 2,300 letters, cards, magazines, 
and circulars per carrier per day.
  In addition, I would like to specifically honor Perry Bennet Schmitt, 
who has delivered mail to my District Office since I was first elected 
to Congress in 2000. My staff and I look forward to his daily visits 
where he brightens our day with jokes and stories. Perry has served the 
people of Saint Paul as a letter carrier for 28 years and has delivered 
mail on his current route for over twenty. It takes him six hours to 
deliver mail each day to over 350 stops. Perry is a designated letter 
carrier trainer and during his time with the Post Office has trained 
over a hundred carriers. He is also an active member of Local 28 of the 
National Association of Letter Carriers, which represents over 1,000 
members.
  I want to thank Perry and all letter carriers for their dedication 
and urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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