To require the United States Postal Service to establish new ZIP codes, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6846, which would create a new, unique ZIP Code for the hamlets of Flanders, Northampton, and Riverside, located in Suffolk County, New York, in my district. These three hamlets currently share the same ZIP Code with the nearby town of Riverhead, where there are at least 18 identical street names and 32 similar street names. This causes a number of issues, including the delay of mail and packages, which can hold important goods like medications. Shared street names can also delay the response for emergency and medical personnel in situations where every second counts.

This could all be avoided by assigning a new and unique ZIP Code to Flanders, Northampton, and Riverside, which is why I have been working closely with committee and House leadership to ensure this important issue does not go unresolved.

Last Congress, I brought then-Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz to my district to hear from my constituents firsthand regarding how important this issue is to us. I then worked with Chairman Chaffetz to secure House passage last Congress, but, unfortunately, the Senate failed to act.

I urge my colleagues in the House to pass this bill tonight, and I implore the Senate to take this bill up immediately. This legislation will have an immediate, on-the-ground, positive impact on the lives of so many of my constituents.

I would like to thank, especially, Ron Fisher, chairman of the Flanders, Riverside, Northampton Citizens Advisory Council and president of the Flanders, Riverside, Northampton Community Association. I would also like to thank Vince Taldone and Vicki Farruggia from the Flanders, Riverside, Northampton Community Association.

I thank the chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and his great staff. I appreciate their support and urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, for nearly a decade, the town of Miami Lakes has attempted to receive a unique ZIP Code. This would help with auto insurance rates, branding, economic development, and, frankly, lead to less election confusion and census confusion. Despite this, the Postal Service has yet to take action, unfortunately.

I will tell you this is an important priority for my constituents back home in Miami Lakes. In fact, just last week, Mr. Speaker, I received a call from a constituent asking about what was going on with this issue. He was asking for an update and was relaying his frustration because of his rising auto insurance rates. Thankfully, this legislation solves that problem. It grants Miami Lakes and others their own ZIP Codes.

I would like to give credit and thanks to Miami Lakes Mayor Manny Cid. It has been a privilege to work with him. He has shown great perseverance and dedication, and I am glad that, together, we are able to make this happen.

However, as everyone knows, the work is not finished. Last Congress,

the House passed a nearly identical bill like this one today. Unfortunately, the Senate did not take it up. There is ample time to get this passed before the end of this Congress.

So I implore my colleagues on the other side and the Senate to get this bill to the President for his signature. We will not rest until this bill gets to the President's desk and it is signed into law.

I want to again thank Chairman Gowdy for his help, and his committee staff as well. Also, I thank Speaker Ryan, Majority Leader McCarthy, and the whip, Mr. Scalise, for their help.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6846) to require the United States Postal Service to establish new ZIP codes, and for other purposes.

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 the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 6846, introduced by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart). The bill would require the United States Postal Service to establish new ZIP Codes in Miami Lakes, Florida; Ocoee, Florida; Storey County, Nevada; Glendale, New York; and Flanders, Northampton; and Riverside in the town of Southampton, New York.

H.R. 756, the Postal Service Reform Act of 2017, which the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform reported earlier this Congress, would also have established these new ZIP Codes.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart) to tell us more about the need for a new ZIP Code in his district.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Zeldin), my friend.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, ZIP Codes organize the country to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of mail for millions of Americans. The postal service has the authority to establish ZIP Codes and adjust their boundaries based on changes in delivery and on volume and operational concerns. However, communities, businesses, and other local entities can also voice their concern with ZIP Code boundaries and request adjustments.

This bill would require the Postal Service to establish new ZIP Codes for five communities that have each requested and been denied ZIP Code changes. These communities base their ZIP Code requests on concerns such as delay in mail delivery, emergency service response times, and the denial or inconsistent application of services to community members. These are important concerns and should be addressed accordingly.

The Postal Service has worked with affected communities to find solutions, and I commend those efforts. This bill would require the ZIP Code changes requested by those communities.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.