[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8503]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  POST OFFICE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP ACT OF 2001 LETTER OF ENDORSEMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 16, 2001

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, please accept the following letter of 
endorsement for the Congressional Record, which corresponds with my 
introduction today of the Post Office Community Partnership Act of 
2001.

                                    American Planning Association,


                       1776 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Suite 400,

                                     Washington, DC, May 15, 2001.
     Hon. Earl Blumenauer,
     U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Blumenauer: The American Planning 
     Association is pleased to endorse the Post Office Community 
     Partnership Act of 2001. APA applauds your outstanding vision 
     and leadership in introducing this legislation and once again 
     bringing this important issue before the U.S. House of 
     Representatives. This legislation recognizes and protects the 
     central and compelling role that the local post office plays 
     in the economic and social life of a community by providing a 
     needed method for community input and support for local 
     planning.
       The Postal Service has too often closed or relocated 
     facilities in ways that abandon service for some communities, 
     vacate historic structures in downtown areas, and contribute 
     to urban sprawl without providing for adequate community 
     involvement in the decision-making process. This measure 
     gives local citizens a greater voice in decisions about the 
     location of postal facilities and ensures that local plans 
     addressing growth management, land use, traffic congestion, 
     environmental protection, downtown revitalization and 
     historic preservation are respected by the Postal Service.
       Increasingly, communities across the nation are developing 
     comprehensive plans to better manage development, preserve 
     vital resources and encourage sustainable economic 
     development. It is essential that the Federal Government is a 
     good neighbor and partner in these smart growth communities. 
     The Post Office Community Partnership Act simply guarantees 
     that the Postal Service operates within the guidelines that a 
     community develops for all other citizens and businesses, 
     without establishing an unduly burdensome mandate on the 
     Postal Service.
       In a national voter survey sponsored by APA and conducted 
     at the end of 2000, we found that an overwhelming 82% of 
     voters support legislation ensuring that federal facilities 
     are located in places that are easily accessible to citizens 
     and are consistent with local growth management plans. This 
     support transcended partisan affiliation, demographic group 
     and regional location.
       The post office is an institution at the heart of any 
     community, particularly small towns. By protecting the values 
     and vision of local citizens as embodied in the planning 
     process, this bill lives up to its title by creating a real 
     and lasting partnership between the Postal Service and 
     communities.
        APA lends its enthusiastic support to your efforts and 
     urges the United States Senate to enact this legislation.
           Sincerely,

                                              Bruce McClendon,

                                                  FAICP President.

     

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