[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 202 (Wednesday, December 3, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S8475]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, before he became President, a member of 
Congress, or even a lawyer, Abraham Lincoln was a postal worker. From 
1833 to 1836, Lincoln served as the postmaster of New Salem, IL. He 
walked for miles delivering letters to Illinoisans, and he developed a 
habit of storing them in his now-famous stovepipe hat. As he traversed 
the prairies of Sangamon County, he learned about the State that would 
eventually be known as the Land of Lincoln. Although postmaster was 
just one of the many jobs Lincoln had during his days in New Salem, it 
was his first taste of civil service and his introduction to the people 
of Sangamon County.
  But Abraham Lincoln is not the only person whose life has been shaped 
by the Post Office. For 250 years, the U.S. Post Office has provided 
essential services that connect Americans, support commerce, and 
strengthen the foundations of our democracy. Founded during the Second 
Continental Congress, even before the Declaration of Independence was 
signed, the Post Office played an indispensable role in the success of 
our young democracy. Not only was the Post Office crucial in 
facilitating communication between American revolutionaries, it also 
strengthened the ties between the 13 Original Colonies, allowing our 
country to develop into one cohesive Nation. After the Colonies won 
independence, the Post Office continued to grow, ensuring Americans 
anywhere could have access to the information necessary to participate 
in the democratic process.
  But as the Post Office grew, there was one glaring gap in its 
services. People living in rural areas would need to venture to the 
nearest Post Office to access their mail, which could be located miles 
away. While Americans living in more populous locations had access to 
free home delivery for decades, rural Americans were still walking for 
miles to retrieve their post at the end of the 19th century. In 1896, 
the U.S. Post Office decided to try a new service in two counties in 
West Virgina, free rural home delivery. In less than a decade, this 
experiment was adopted nationwide, and today, millions of rural 
Americans count on home delivery.
  This commitment to equitable, universal delivery is one that is near 
and dear to my heart as a Senator from Illinois. Across Illinois, 
especially downstate, we have many rural counties and towns that 
struggle to attract the attention of for-profit shipping corporations. 
For these communities, USPS is often the only option to receive mail 
and send packages. That is what separates USPS from the rest of 
America's shipping industry. USPS is not a company; it is a public 
service. Its employees are public servants. The role USPS plays in 
connecting Americans is one that is vital for my home State and for 
many others across the country.
  Today, USPS delivers more mail than any other company in the world. 
There are more than 30,000 Post Offices that serve 169 million homes 
across the United States. Americans rely on the United States Postal 
Service to deliver their medications, Social Security checks, and other 
important correspondence, along with birthday cards from Grandma. The 
post remains a lifeline for small businesses, who often cannot afford 
to use large for-profit shipping corporations, as well as for rural 
Americans. And USPS continues to support our democracy by helping 
Americans send and receive their mail-in ballots for local, State, and 
national elections.
  On October 9, the Senate passed S. Res. 337, a resolution recognizing 
the 250th anniversary of the Postal Service of the United States and 
commending its indispensable role in the success of our Nation. But any 
recognition of the USPS would be incomplete without acknowledging 
America's incredible postal workers. Continuing in the tradition of 
President Lincoln, postal workers ensure that through rain or snow, 
heatwaves and arctic blasts, Americans receive their essential mail. As 
we celebrate the U.S. Post Office's anniversary, I want to extend my 
sincere gratitude to postal workers and letter carriers, both past and 
present, for their essential service to Illinois and the Nation.
  While much has changed since the founding of the U.S. Post Office, 
its role as an essential pillar of our democracy and community remains 
the same. Congratulations to this 250-year-old public institution, and 
here is to many more years of service.

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