[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 7225-7226]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




SENSE OF HOUSE ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL LETTER CARRIERS APPRECIATION DAY

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 49) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives that there should be established a National Letter 
Carriers Appreciation Day.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                               H. Res. 49

       Whereas the commercial activity and economic vitality of 
     the Nation is significantly enhanced by the timely and 
     efficient service of letter carriers of the United States 
     Postal Service;
       Whereas letter carriers of the United States Postal Service 
     provide mail delivery service to over 144,000,000 households 
     across the Nation;
       Whereas letter carriers of the United States Postal Service 
     deliver more than 43 tons of mail per year, averaging 
     approximately 2,300 letters, cards, magazines, and circulars 
     per carrier a day;
       Whereas letter carriers of the United States Postal Service 
     delivered approximately 212,000,000,000 pieces of mail in 
     2005;
       Whereas letter carriers of the United States Postal Service 
     handle over 44 percent of the world's mail volume, more than 
     any other national postal service; and
       Whereas the United States Postal Service employs over 
     705,000 career letter carriers and 98,000 noncareer 
     employees, making it the 3rd largest employer in the Nation; 
     Now, therefore be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives supports the 
     goals and ideals of a National Letter Carriers Appreciation 
     Day to recognize the unique contributions made by letter 
     carriers of the United States Postal Service to the well-
     being and prosperity of the Nation.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Kucinich) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.
  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, we're honoring workers today, and it's 
appropriate, among those workers, that we single out letter carriers.
  As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I'm pleased to join my colleagues in support of H. Res. 49, 
which seeks to commemorate our Nation's postal carriers for their 
dedication and hard work.
  By consistently delivering the mail in a timely and congenial fashion 
for over hundreds of years, mail carriers have become an irreplaceable 
component, not only to the economy of America, but to the culture and 
livelihood of our country.
  I believe we have a tendency to forget how important the every day 
service is. Yet, if we were to go 1 day without the United States 
Postal Service, over 2,300 pieces of mail per carrier would go 
undelivered.
  It is our mail carriers who help preserve the concept of universal 
service that is so integral to the work of the United States Postal 
Service.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution expressing 
the sense that there should be established a National Letter Carriers 
Appreciation Day.
  The emblematic quote, ``Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of 
night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed 
rounds'' is emblazoned across the front of the Farley Post Office in 
New York City. It is safe to say we all know this famous, yet 
unofficial motto of the United States Postal Service.
  However, we can easily forget how much we appreciate and depend on 
the dedicated letter carriers of the United States Postal Service. 
These tireless public servants ensure that over 144 million households 
receive more than 43 tons of mail each year, equal to 44 percent of the 
world's mail volume.
  Letter carriers, also referred to as mailmen or mail carriers, are 
the public face of the U.S. Postal Service. As the front line, carriers 
are routinely pressured too move faster, work harder and perform more 
tasks in a timely manner. In the most stressful of crafts, carriers are 
watched, timed and inspected more than any other employees.
  There are three types of mail carriers in the United States, 
servicing all areas of this broad Nation. City letter carriers, 
represented by the National Association of Letter Carriers, skillfully 
navigate the expansive urban landscapes, providing efficient service to 
the millions of Americans living in densely populated areas.
  Rural letter carriers, represented by the National Rural Letter 
Carriers' Association, support the diverse territory

[[Page 7226]]

surrounding our cities. With increased development of rural areas, the 
Rural Carrier Craft is the only expanding craft in the Postal Service.
  The final group of carriers, known as Highway Contract Route 
Carriers, work expansive routes where population density is less than 
one customer per mile driven. Driving their own vehicles, these 
committed carriers travel great distances to ensure timely delivery.
  Whether they brave bustling urban jungles, constantly changing 
suburban expanses, or broad rural landscapes, these men and women brave 
all conditions to provide us with timely and effective mail service. 
For their efforts, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I'm hopeful that when this resolution 
passes, as I'm sure it will, that the United States Postal Service will 
post a copy of it in every post office in the country so that our 
letter carriers will be able to see that Members of Congress appreciate 
the work that they do.
  Day in and day out our letter carriers are there. We rely on them to 
move the commerce of the country. Many of us are aware that the United 
States Postal Service is the third largest employer in America; that 
they employ over 700,000 career letter carriers, and 98,000 noncareer 
employees; that they move about 44 percent of the world's mail volume. 
They have an extraordinarily important work to do in providing for 
communication in this country, in making sure that people here from one 
another in carrying messages that are so important to our commerce.
  The United States Postal Service employees, these letter carriers 
that we're honoring today, deserve our constant appreciation for the 
work that they do. I'm so glad that this House is involved in paying 
attention to the people that do the everyday work of our Nation that 
aren't often recognized.
  We who are in these exalted positions always need to remember that 
the work of the government is done in so many ways, and when somebody, 
step by step, moves through his or her appointed rounds, every day, out 
there delivering the mail, they deserve just as much respect as those 
of us who are holding high public office. And so it's with a great deal 
of appreciation for the letter carriers that I stand in support of the 
bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CAMP of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my 
bill, House Resolution 49, which honors the dedication and 
contributions made by letter carriers across the country.
  Being a representative of one of the largest congressional districts 
land-wise east of the Mississippi, I am well aware of the necessity of 
timely and efficient postal service.
  Most of us rely on letter carriers of the United States Postal 
Service to deliver our monthly bills, drop off our favorite magazine, 
or ship an important package.
  Amazingly, letter carriers delivered over 212 billion pieces of mail 
in 2005. That's 1.4 million pieces a day for every Congressional 
District.
  Their dedication is accurately reflected in the unofficial USPS 
motto: ``Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays 
these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.''
  This bill is a straight-forward resolution that expresses the sense 
of Congress that America's letter carriers make a vital contribution to 
the well-being and economic prosperity of our Nation and calls for a 
national day of appreciation to honor their service.
  It is also important to recognize the contribution that letter 
carriers make to their communities through their community service 
efforts and charitable donations. These contributions are undoubtedly 
recognized by the American public as the USPS was voted ``The Most 
Trusted Government Agency'' earlier this month, for the fourth year in 
a row.
  My fellow Members, we seem to spend a significant amount of time 
dedicating Post Offices; it is about time we honor those that work 
within them. I hope you will join me in saluting their efforts.
  Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express support 
for House Resolution 49, which would establish National Letter Carriers 
Appreciation Day. I want to thank the gentleman from Michigan, Mr. 
Camp, for so kindly offering this resolution.
  This resolution recognizes the significant role of American letter 
carriers, the largest mail delivery workforce in the world, which make 
deliveries to over 144 million households in this country. To ensure 
careful delivery of our most important letters and cards, we depend on 
the exceptional service provided by our letter carriers. Most 
assuredly, the quality of the American mail delivery system is due to 
the integrity and superior service of these men and women. I want to 
especially recognize the diligent work of Georgia's letter carriers for 
everything they do for my constituents in the 13th Congressional 
District and across our State.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I offer my wholehearted support for the 
passage of this important legislation in recognition of the hard work 
of America's letter carriers.
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 49, which 
expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that there should 
be established a National Letter Carriers Appreciation Day.
  In 1775, Members of the Second Continental Congress established the 
Post Office Department, the predecessor of the Postal Service and the 
second oldest Federal department or agency in the United States. For 
the past two centuries, the United States Postal Service has evolved 
and changed as the United States has grown. Today, the Postal Service 
delivers hundreds of millions of messages each day to more than 141 
million homes and businesses. Behind the delivery of each of these 
letters is the hard work and dedication of a letter carrier.
  Letter carriers deliver more than 43 tons of mail per year, which 
averages out to about 2,300 letters, cards, and circulars per carrier 
per day. Six days a week, rain or shine, hurricane or blizzard, our 
Nation's 705,000 carrier letter carriers and 98,000 non-carrier 
employees faithfully contribute to our economic strength and vitality 
through their timely and efficient delivery of mail.
  I have spent hours walking mail routes with the letter carriers in 
New Jersey. I have seen first hand how dedicated postal employees are 
to ensuring the timely and safe delivery of mail and tying together our 
local communities. These letter carriers should be applauded for their 
service to all Americans.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support H. Res. 49 and acknowledge the 
hard work and dedication of the letter carriers in your congressional 
district.
  Mr. SHULER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in favor of H. Res. 49, 
supporting the establishment of a National Letter Carriers Appreciation 
Day.
  As the son of a rural letter carrier, I understand the hard work and 
sacrifice of our nation's letter carriers. Letter carriers deliver 
billions of pieces of mail to millions of homes and businesses each 
year. Working six days a week, letter carriers fulfill a great need in 
this country.
  Inscribed at the New York City General Post Office is the United 
States Postal Services' unofficial motto: ``Neither snow nor rain nor 
heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion 
of their appointed rounds.''
  Our nation's letter carriers are entrusted to carry out a vital 
service, and they do so with dignity. Many carriers, like my father, 
serve the same communities for their entire career. These carriers 
develop invaluable relationships with their customers and become an 
important part of their community.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting the establishment of a 
National Letter Carriers Appreciation Day.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of 
H. Res. 49, and yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, H. Res. 49.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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