[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.

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