[House Report 114-843]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
114th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 114-843
======================================================================
TO DESIGNATE FACILITIES OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE, TO
ESTABLISH NEW ZIP CODES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
_______
November 30, 2016.--Referred to the House Calender and ordered to be
printed
_______
Mr. Chaffetz, from the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 6303]
The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, to whom
was referred the bill (H.R. 6303) to designate facilities of
the United States Postal Service, to establish new ZIP Codes,
and for other purposes, having considered the same, report
favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill
do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Committee Statement and Views.................................... 1
Section-by-Section............................................... 4
Explanation of Amendments........................................ 4
Committee Consideration.......................................... 5
Roll Call Votes.................................................. 5
Application of Law to the Legislative Branch..................... 5
Statement of Oversight Findings and Recommendations of the
Committee...................................................... 5
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............ 5
Duplication of Federal Programs.................................. 5
Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings.............................. 5
Federal Advisory Committee Act................................... 5
Unfunded Mandate Statement....................................... 6
Earmark Identification........................................... 6
Committee Estimate............................................... 6
Budget Authority and Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate... 6
Committee Statement and Views
PURPOSE AND SUMMARY
H.R. 6303, to designate facilities of the United States
Postal Service, to establish new ZIP Codes, and for other
purposes, would designate the name of ten United Sates Postal
Service facilities, and would help five communities resolve
long-standing ZIP Code issues. To accomplish this second goal,
the legislation instructs the Postal Service to designate a
single, unique ZIP Code for each of the five communities.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
Established in 1963 by the former Post Office Department,
the Zone Improvement Plan Code (ZIP Code) system was designed
as a way to help improve the efficiency of mail delivery
nationwide.\1\ Initially overlaid on existing street grids, ZIP
Codes have been expanded to cover new housing developments and
have become a key feature of American addresses.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Smithsonian Nat'l. Postal Museum, Flashing Across the Country:
Mr. Zip and the ZIP Code Promotional Campaign, available at http://
postalmuseum.si.edu/zipcodecampaign/ (last visited Nov. 22, 2016).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In general, ZIP Codes are accurate tools that are often
used as proxy identifiers for the jurisdictions they serve by
both private business and state and local governments.
Unfortunately, nationwide there are a small set of ZIP Codes
that do not align with existing jurisdictional boundaries and
thus create issues for mail delivery and the delivery of state
and local government services.
H.R. 6303 seeks to resolve the problems of five communities
that have been impacted by ZIP Code misalignment. ZIP Code
misalignment can create issues with mail delivery services,
sometimes causing ``wrong-mail, delayed-mail, and lost-
mail.''\2\ In the case of Southampton, New York, there are 50
similarly or identically named streets in the same ZIP Code.\3\
ZIP Code complications in Glendale, New York, have caused
residents to express concern over their mail order medications
failing to arrive on time.\4\ Occasionally as a result of ZIP
Code boundaries, residents of some cities must list a city that
is not their city of residence in their mailing address,
increasing the chances that their mail services could be
delayed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\Email from Office of Representative Lee Zeldin Staff to H. Comm.
on Oversight and Gov't Reform Majority Staff (Feb. 13, 2016, 2:15
p.m.).
\3\Letter from Christine P. Scalera, Councilwoman for the Town of
Southampton, to Congressman Lee Zeldin (Aug. 12, 2015) (on file with
Committee staff).
\4\Letter from Brian Dooley, President of the Glendale Property
Owners Association Inc., to Congressman Robert L. Turner, (May 10,
2012) (on file with Committee staff).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Due to the variety of purposes ZIP Codes serve, ZIP Code
misalignment creates problems that apply to more than just on-
time mail delivery. For instance, the community of Ocoee,
Florida is served by six different ZIP Codes.\5\ Because of
this, the community faces a lack of identity and some Ocoee
residents are forced to pay non-resident rates or are flatly
denied public services because they are not identified by the
correct ZIP Code.\6\ Beyond community identity and public
services provided, ZIP Code misalignment can affect public
health situations as well. Communities without a unique ZIP
Code are at higher risk for extended response times when
calling 911 due to confusion and similar street names.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\Letter from Rusty Johnson, Mayor of the City of Ocoee, to
Senator Marco Rubio, (March 10, 2016) (on file with Committee staff).
\6\Id.
\7\Letter from Brian Dooley, President of the Glendale Property
Owners Association Inc., Congressman Robert L. Turner, (May 10, 2012)
(on file with Committee staff).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
To help solve these problems, the Postal Service has
implemented a review process that allows communities to submit
requests for ZIP Code changes. Once the United States Postal
Service (USPS) receives a written request from a community, the
local district manager reviews the requested change, and
generally provides a determination within 60 days. If the
request is denied, a community may appeal the decision to USPS
headquarters. Once USPS reviews the appeal and issues a final
ruling, the community is not allowed to reapply for a ZIP Code
change for 10 years.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\United States Postal Service, USPS FAQ: What does each involved
party need to do?, http://faq.usps.com/?articleId=221593.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
For Miami Lakes, Florida and others, local leaders within
the new ZIP Code designations have completed the review and
appeal process, and have exhausted all options to obtain the
requested changes. Local leaders in Glendale, New York, for
example, have faced these challenges since the 1980s, and have
had multiple requests denied by USPS.\9\ Federal legislation is
the final option to provide relief and assistance to these
communities. All of the ZIP Code designations in this bill are
driven by local community leaders and are supported by the
relevant Member of Congress. It is important to note that the
local communities are not asking for new postal buildings, and
no new construction will be required to accommodate the
changes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\Letter from Melinda Katz, Queensborough President, Joseph
Addabbo, New York State Senator, Michael Miller, New York State
Assemblyman, and Andrew Hevesi, New York State Assemblyman, to
Congresswoman Grace Meng, (Sept. 15, 2016) (on file with Committee
staff).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
H.R. 6303, to designate facilities of the United States
Postal Service, to establish new ZIP Codes, and for other
purposes, was introduced on November 14, 2016, by
Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and was referred to the
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. On November 16,
2016, the Committee ordered H.R. 6303 favorably reported,
without amendment, by voice vote.
Certain ZIP Codes addressed in H.R. 6303 have been
introduced in prior bills. In the 114th Congress, H.R. 5714,
the Postal Service Reform Act of 2016, introduced by Rep.
Chaffetz, included provisions related to the designation of ZIP
Codes in Miami Lakes, Florida; Storey County, Nevada; and
Southampton, New York. Also in the 114th Congress, Rep. Grace
Meng (D-NY) introduced H.R. 657, which would designate a ZIP
Code for Glendale, New York. Legislation related to the
creation of a Glendale, New York ZIP Code was previously
introduced by Rep. Meng in the 113th Congress as H.R. 4911, and
in the 111th Congress by Rep. Timothy Bishop (D-NY) as H.R.
4721.
H.R. 6303 also consolidates 10 postal naming bills that
have passed the House during the 114th Congress, but had not
yet been considered by the Senate at the time of the filing of
this bill report:
(1) H.R. 3218 (Rep. Lois Capps, D-CA); Passed the House on
May, 23, 2016.
(2) H.R. 4887 (Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-IN); Passed the House
on September 20, 2016.
(3) H.R. 5150 (Rep. Dan Donovan, R-NY); Passed the House on
September 20, 2016.
(4) H.R. 5309 (Rep. Trent Kelly, R-MS); Passed the House on
September 20, 2016.
(5) H.R. 5356 (Rep. Kevin Brady, R-TX); Passed the House on
September 20, 2016.
(6) H.R. 5591 (Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-TX); Passed the House
on September 20, 2016.
(7) H.R. 5612 (Rep. Tom Price, R-GA); Passed the House on
September 20, 2016.
(8) H.R. 5676 (Rep. Mike Quigley, D-IL); Passed the House
on September 20, 2016.
(9) H.R. 5889 (Rep. Gregorio Sablan, D-CNMI), Passed the
House on September 20, 2016.
(10) H.R. 5798 (Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-IL); Passed the
House on September 22, 2016.
Section-by-Section
Section 1. Post Office designations
Designates the USPS facility located at 1221 State Street
Suite 12, Santa Barbara, California as the ``Special Warfare
Operator Master Chief Petty Office (SEAL) Louis `Lou' J.
Langlais Post Office Building.''
Designates the USPS facility located at 23323 Shelby Road
in Shelby, Indiana, as the ``Richard Allen Cable Post Office.''
Designates the USPS facility located at 3031 Veterans Road
West in Staten Island, New York, as the ``Leonard Montalto Post
Office Building.''
Designates the USPS facility located at 401 McElroy Drive
in Oxford, Mississippi, as the ``Army First Lieutenant Donald
C. Carwile Post Office Building.''
Designates the USPS facility located at 14231 TX-150 in
Coldspring, Texas, as the ``E. Marie Youngblood Post Office.''
Designates the USPS facility located at 810 N US Highway 83
in Zapata, Texas, as the ``Zapata Veterans Post Office.''
Designates the USPS facility located at 2886 Sandy Plains
Road in Marietta, Georgia, as the ``Marine Lance Corporal
Squire `Skip' Wells Post Office Building.''
Designates the USPS facility located at 6300 N. Northwest
Highway in Chicago, Illinois, as the ``Officer Joseph P. Cali
Post Office Building.''
Designates the USPS facility located at 1 Chalan Kanoa VLG
in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, as the ``Segundo T. Sablan
and CNMI Fallen Military Heroes Post Office Building.''
Designates the USPS facility located at 1101 Davis Street
in Evanston, Illinois, as the ``Abner J. Mikva Post Office
Building''.
Section 2. Establishing new Zip Codes
Instructs the United States Postal Service to designate a
single, unique ZIP code for (1) Miami Lakes, Florida; (2)
Storey County, Nevada; (3) Flanders, Northampton, and Riverside
in the Town of Southampton, New York; (4) Ocoee, Florida; and
(5) Glendale, New York, to improve the provision of mail
delivery in those areas.
Explanation of Amendments
No amendments to H.R. 6303 were offered or adopted during
Full Committee consideration of the bill.
Committee Consideration
On November 16, 2016, the Committee met in open session and
ordered reported favorably the bill, H.R. 6303, by voice vote,
a quorum being present.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes were requested or conducted during Full
Committee consideration of H.R. 6303.
Application of Law to the Legislative Branch
Section 102(b)(3) of Public Law 104-1 requires a
description of the application of this bill to the legislative
branch where the bill relates to the terms and conditions of
employment or access to public services and accommodations.
This bill designates facilities of the United States Postal
Service and establishes new ZIP Codes. As such this bill does
not relate to employment or access to public services and
accommodations.
Statement of Oversight Findings and Recommendations of the Committee
In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause
(2)(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of
Representatives, the Committee's oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the descriptive portions of
this report.
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives
In accordance with clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee's performance
goals and objectives are to designate facilities of the United
States Postal Service and to establish new ZIP Codes.
Duplication of Federal Programs
No provision of this bill establishes or reauthorizes a
program of the Federal Government known to be duplicative of
another Federal program, a program that was included in any
report from the Government Accountability Office to Congress
pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program
related to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance.
Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings
The Committee estimates that enacting this bill does not
direct the completion of any specific rule makings within the
meaning of 5 U.S.C. 551.
Federal Advisory Committee Act
The Committee finds that the legislation does not establish
or authorize the establishment of an advisory committee within
the definition of 5 U.S.C. App., Section 5(b).
Unfunded Mandate Statement
Section 423 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment
Control Act (as amended by Section 101(a)(2) of the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act, P.L. 104-4) requires a statement as to
whether the provisions of the reported include unfunded
mandates. In compliance with this requirement the Committee has
received a letter from the Congressional Budget Office included
herein.
Earmark Identification
This bill does not include any congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in
clause 9 of rule XXI.
Committee Estimate
At the time of this writing, the Committee had yet to
receive a formal cost estimate from the Congressional Budget
Office for H.R. 6303. In information provided by the U.S.
Postal Service to the Committee, the Postal Service estimated
that the legislation would create total one-time costs of
$540,000, and annual costs of $55,000; however, some ZIP Codes
established in the legislation may be less cost intensive to
create, potentially lowering the cost to the Postal Service. As
a result, the Committee asserts that the legislation should
cost the Postal Service no more than approximately $1 million
over ten years.
Budget Authority and Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and with respect
to requirements of clause (3)(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives and section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has not
received a cost estimate for this bill from the Director of
Congressional Budget Office, and instead has included a
committee estimate in the section prior to this one.
[all]