[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 124 (Monday, July 21, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H3493-H3495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SINGLE, UNIQUE ZIP CODES FOR CERTAIN COMMUNITIES
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 3095) to direct the United States Postal Service to designate
single, unique ZIP Codes for certain communities, and for other
purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3095
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SINGLE, UNIQUE ZIP CODES FOR CERTAIN COMMUNITIES.
Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the United States Postal Service shall designate a
single, unique ZIP Code for each of the following
communities:
(1) Canyon Lake, California.
(2) Hidden Hills, California.
(3) Industry, California.
(4) North Tustin, California.
(5) Tehachapi, California.
(6) Castle Pines, Colorado.
(7) Centennial, Colorado.
(8) Cherry Hills Village, Colorado.
(9) Greenwood Village, Colorado.
(10) Highlands Ranch, Colorado.
(11) Keystone, Colorado.
(12) Lone Tree, Colorado.
(13) Mountain Village, Colorado.
(14) Mt. Crested Butte, Colorado.
(15) Severance, Colorado.
(16) Silver Cliff, Colorado.
(17) Sterling Ranch, Colorado.
(18) Superior, Colorado.
(19) Telluride, Colorado.
(20) Oakland Park, Florida.
(21) Lighthouse Point, Florida.
(22) Coconut Creek, Florida.
(23) Parkland, Florida.
(24) Deerfield Beach, Florida.
(25) Wilton Manors, Florida.
(26) Burr Ridge, Illinois.
(27) Carmel, Indiana.
(28) Noblesville, Indiana.
(29) Westfield, Indiana.
(30) Zionsville, Indiana.
(31) Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
(32) Montz, Louisiana.
(33) Springwater Township, Minnesota.
(34) Grass Valley, Nevada.
(35) Swanzey, New Hampshire.
(36) Kinnelon, New Jersey.
(37) Flanders, New York.
(38) Glendale, New York.
(39) Riverside, New York.
(40) Pendleton, New York.
(41) Weddington, North Carolina.
(42) Goose Creek, South Carolina.
(43) Fairview, Texas.
(44) Fate, Texas.
(45) Heath, Texas.
(46) Murphy, Texas.
(47) Northlake, Texas.
(48) Parker, Texas.
(49) Sargent, Texas.
(50) Fairlawn, Virginia.
(51) Caledonia, Wisconsin.
(52) Franklin, Wisconsin.
(53) Glendale, Wisconsin.
(54) Greenfield, Wisconsin.
(55) Village of Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin.
(56) Village of Somers, Wisconsin.
(57) Village of Harrison, Wisconsin.
(58) Hochatown, Oklahoma.
(59) Green, Ohio.
(60) Rochester, Wisconsin.
(61) Quartzite Township, Minnesota.
(62) Frederick, Colorado.
(63) Camargo, Kentucky.
(64) Wheatfield, New York.
(65) Mauldin, South Carolina.
(66) Josephine, Texas.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Kentucky (Mr. Comer) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Simon)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.
General Leave
Mr. COMER. 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 this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Kentucky?
There was no objection.
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the Postal Service structures the delivery of mail
around ZIP Codes, five-digit numbers that organize how to deliver the
mail. There are currently over 41,000 ZIP Codes in the United States.
While ZIP Codes are usually aligned with local boundaries, this is
sometimes not the case.
[[Page H3494]]
H.R. 3095 creates new ZIP Codes for local communities listed in the
bill and will help address concerns raised by these localities.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the bill's sponsor and my colleague on the House
Oversight Committee, the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. Boebert), for
leading this legislation. She has been a tireless advocate for these
communities represented in the bill, and I appreciate her hard work and
dedication.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SIMON. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3095 would require the United States
Postal Service to designate unique ZIP Codes for a number of
communities across the country.
{time} 1600
This bill aims to address specific community concerns about disrupted
mail delivery and undeliverable mail. While I commend Representative
Boebert for her tireless work on this issue, I am unable to support
this legislation at this time.
After numerous conversations between the chair and former ranking
member, the late Mr. Connolly, the committee agreed on a bipartisan
basis that ZIP Code designation bills would only be considered if they
met the following criteria: One, the designated locality must submit a
letter from local leadership stating the reasons for the ZIP Code
change; two, the community must also attest that they had petitioned
the Postal Service for the unique ZIP Code designation and was
unsuccessful; and, lastly, number three, that the legislation must be
cosponsored by all of the impacted Members.
Unfortunately, the bill has not satisfied the committee's requirement
for consideration. In fact, only one-quarter of the 68 designated
communities meet the Committee's requirements, and we have heard from
at least one affected Member who is, unfortunately, opposed.
Therefore, until the majority follows the procedures set forth by
this ZIP Code designation bill, the ranking member will oppose the bill
today in its current form.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 10 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Colorado (Ms. Boebert), who is the sponsor of the bill.
Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman so much for yielding.
Mr. Comer has been an amazing advocate in helping get this bill over
the line once again. I am proud to stand here today and explain why
this piece of legislation is so important.
I rise with a deep sense of purpose and conviction to advocate for
the passage of H.R. 3095, a commonsense, bipartisan bill that directs
the United States Postal Service to designate a single unique ZIP Code
for specific communities across our great Nation, including 15 in my
home State of Colorado.
This legislation is not just about postal efficiency. It is about
fairness, public safety, community identity, and ensuring that every
town and city in America has the tools it needs to thrive.
When the ZIP Code system was first introduced in 1963, it was a
revolutionary step toward modernizing mail delivery and streamlining
operations for a rapidly growing nation.
At the time, the United States Postal Service envisioned ZIP Codes as
a simple tool to improve sorting and delivery, but over the decades ZIP
Codes have evolved into far more than postal convenience. They have
become integral to how we navigate modern life.
Economic developers rely on ZIP Codes to attract businesses and plan
growth. Insurance companies use them to calculate premiums. Emergency
responders depend on them to locate homes and businesses in moments of
crisis. Even in our online shopping, our navigation systems are built
around the assumption that every community has a clear, unique ZIP
Code.
Yet for too many towns and cities across America, this basic building
block of modern infrastructure remains out of reach.
Mr. Speaker, in my home State of Colorado, I have heard from my
constituents who face daily frustration because they share ZIP Codes
with neighboring towns.
These are not abstract problems. They affect real people in tangible
ways.
Severance, Colorado, is a town of 11,500 people in Weld County, yet
they have six ZIP Codes that they correlate with.
Imagine a family who is waiting anxiously for an ambulance only to
learn that the first responders were dispatched to the wrong town
because of a shared ZIP Code. Picture a small business owner in Castle
Pines, Colorado, working tirelessly to grow their company and losing
critical deliveries and customers due to misdirected mail or wasting
time applying for a permit with the wrong municipality.
Consider the frustration of residents in towns like Silver Cliff,
Colorado, who are overcharged for insurance because their ZIP Code
inaccurately places them in a higher risk area.
Think of the local government already stretched thin that loses
millions of dollars in vital sales tax revenue because transactions are
mistakenly attributed to neighboring jurisdictions.
These challenges are not unique to Colorado. Across the Nation, over
65 communities, from rural communities to growing suburbs, are
struggling with these same issues. Governors, mayors, town boards, and
everyday citizens have raised their voices pleading for a solution.
They are not asking for handouts or special favors. They are asking for
the basic recognition of their community's existence, that they matter,
and that they deserve the same tools for success as their neighbors.
H.R. 3095 answers that call with a direct and practical solution.
This bill directs the United States Postal Service to assign unique ZIP
Codes to each community, empowering them to better serve their
residents, strengthen their local identities, and streamline their
operations.
A unique ZIP Code is more than a number. It is a lifeline. It
supports infrastructure planning by providing accurate data for
economic development. It reduces mail inconsistencies, ensuring that
packages and letters arrive where they are intended.
Seniors and veterans have suffered vital and lifesaving medication
delays just because they were lost in the mail, which is entirely
unacceptable and preventable. It enhances public safety by helping
emergency responders locate those in need without delay, and it ensures
that local governments receive the tax revenue they are rightfully owed
allowing them to invest in schools, roads, and community services.
The current process for obtaining a new ZIP Code is, frankly, broken.
Communities must navigate a labyrinth of bureaucratic hurdles,
submitting petitions to the USPS that are rarely approved. If their
petition is denied, then they are forced to wait up to 10 years before
they can even reapply, 10 years, Mr. Speaker.
That is 10 years of lost opportunities, 10 years of misdirected mail,
and 10 years of unnecessary risks to public safety.
This is not the kind of government our constituents expect or
deserve. They expect us to solve problems, not extend them.
H.R. 3095 cuts through this red tape with a clear directive to the
Postal Service to assign unique ZIP Codes to these deserving
communities.
This bill is not about creating a new bureaucracy or imposing heavy-
handed mandates. It is about empowering local governments and residents
to take control of their future. It is about ensuring that every
community, no matter how small, has a seat at the table and a voice in
our Nation's progress.
I am proud to say that this bill has bipartisan support. This bill
was passed out of the House in the previous Congress, and it will pass
again. Republicans and Democrats alike recognize the importance of this
issue. Mayors, town councils, and community leaders from across the
political spectrum have rallied behind H.R. 3095, united by a shared
commitment to fairness and efficiency. Government efficiency is not
something that we hear a lot of.
This is not a partisan issue, it is an American issue, and it is one
that goes beyond political divides and speaks to our shared values of
community, opportunity, and, again, progress.
As we consider this bill, let us reflect on what it means to
represent our constituents. They sent us here to listen
[[Page H3495]]
to their concerns, to hear from them, to fight for their needs, and to
deliver results.
The communities affected by H.R. 3095 have asked for our help, and it
is our duty to respond. By passing this bill today, we can send a
powerful message that no town is too small to be heard, that no
community is too small to be overlooked or to matter, and that we are
committed to building a stronger and more equitable nation for all.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3095.
Let us give these communities and the millions of Americans the
representation, the recognition, the resources, and the respect that
they rightfully deserve. Let us ensure that every town has the tools it
needs to thrive, from accurate mail delivery to reliable emergency
services to robust economic growth.
This is a moment to act with purpose.
Let's be the bridge that heals this divide and make a meaningful
difference in the lives of our constituents.
Mr. Speaker, by receiving a unique ZIP Code, these communities will
hold on to more of their tax revenue, improve the response times of
first responders, and minimize issues with the postal delivery to
incorrect addresses.
I have been honored to lead on this issue. It has been a passion of
mine for the past 5 years, and I hope that we can finally get this
signed into law. Maybe we were waiting all along for President Donald
J. Trump's signature on this bill.
I thank Chairman Comer for his support of this, and I urge my
colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 3095.
Ms. SIMON. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs.
Sykes) for such time as she may consume.
{time} 1610
Mrs. SYKES. Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 3095, a
bill that would assign a new ZIP Code to the city of Green, a
municipality within Ohio's 13th Congressional District.
Establishing unique ZIP Codes may not be what most folks think about
when they are considering Federal legislation; however, for the
citizens and businesses and the economy of the city of Green, Ohio, it
is, in fact, a matter of importance and priority.
During the Green State of the City Address earlier this year, Mayor
Rocco Yeargin proclaimed that he would actively engage toward working
to get the city of Green a unique ZIP Code. I promised the mayor at the
State of the City Address that I would work with him hand-in-hand after
several unsuccessful attempts to do so. We are now closer to that
reality upon the passage of H.R. 3095.
The city of Green currently operates under five different ZIP Codes,
none of which bear the city's name. This situation has led to
confusion, lost tax dollars, and a diminished sense of unity among
residents and businesses. Aligning the ZIP Code designation within the
city's name will enhance community cohesion and promote a stronger
civic identity.
When ZIP Codes were first assigned for this area, Green was a
township, mostly farmland and a few businesses, and fewer than 10,000
residents. In 1992, Green was incorporated as a city.
Now, 30-plus years later, its population has nearly tripled. It is
the home of more than 1,200 businesses and is the fastest growing city
in Summit County.
Community members, elected leaders, and local businesses have all
expressed their overwhelming support for a single ZIP Code reflecting
the city's name.
The current multitude of ZIP Codes creates obstacles for these 1,200
businesses, including confusion for customers and suppliers about their
location and challenges in daily transactions like assigning sales tax
due to a ZIP Code with a name designated to a separate county--not even
a separate city, a separate county.
In fact, Green identified $614,000 in unpaid taxes alone in 2023
attributed to this problem. This is an issue that community leaders,
residents, businesses, and more have expressed their overwhelming
support for: a ZIP Code for the city of Green. They have attempted to
work with the USPS to no avail, and so now we are here with
legislation.
I understand the procedural challenges that have plagued this bill,
but I do ask that the Members of this body not punish my constituents
for those committee issues. I ask my colleagues in Congress to join me
in support of this bill to ensure that the city of Green receives the
designation it deserves with a single, unique ZIP Code that bears its
name.
Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. Harris).
Mr. HARRIS of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman
for yielding.
Earlier this year, Mayor Jim Bell of Weddington, North Carolina,
reached out to me to let me know that the city had a problem. Having
different ZIP Codes across a single city has caused confusion about
where residents file property taxes or even show up to vote.
Concerned about how this problem might continue to compound, my
office was able to work together with Representative Boebert to ensure
that Weddington is included in today's legislation requesting a single,
unique ZIP Code.
Representing my constituents has been the honor of a lifetime, and I
have learned that there is no issue too great or too small that I can't
champion for North Carolinians, whether it is casting my vote for a
once-in-a-generation tax reform bill like the One Big Beautiful Bill
Act or today's ZIP Code update, it is my mission to be a voice that
responds to the needs of my constituents.
I stand here today, Madam Speaker, to urge support for this package
to ensure that communities across this country can have the clarity
that they absolutely deserve.
Ms. SIMON. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
California (Mrs. Kim).
Mrs. KIM. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
I rise in strong support of H.R. 3095, which directs the U.S. Postal
Service to designate a unique ZIP Code for certain communities,
including North Tustin in my district.
North Tustin has been a pillar of our Orange County community and a
census-designated place. However, its status as an unincorporated area
has caused confusion for the Postal Service and for tax purposes.
For example, North Tustin residents are subject to the city of Santa
Ana's sales tax, despite not being represented or eligible for services
or a vote in the local elections.
Providing North Tustin with a unique ZIP Code will create certainty
for residents who have called North Tustin home for decades and provide
clarity for tax purposes to surrounding areas, and USPS.
I thank Representative Boebert and the House Oversight and Government
Reform Committee for working with me on this commonsense, bipartisan
measure, and I am hopeful that we can get through to the finish line
and help our communities. I ask my colleagues to support this bill.
Ms. SIMON. Madam Speaker, the ranking member opposes this bill, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of
the Boebert bill. I urge its passage, and I yield back the balance of
my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Miller-Meeks). The question is on the
motion offered by the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. Boebert) that the
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3095, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Ms. SIMON. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________