New Legislation Introduced and Unanimously Passed out of House Committee Today Creating New Zip Code for Flanders, Riverside and Northampton

Press Release

Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) announced today that legislation introduced earlier this week in the House, H.R. 6303, by House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, passed out of that committee this morning unanimously with bipartisan support. H.R. 6303, which designates facilities of the United States Postal Service and establishes new zip codes, includes a section within the bill that would create a new, unique zip code for the hamlets of Flanders, Riverside, and Northampton, in the Town of Southampton.

Congressman Lee Zeldin said, "For residents in Flanders, Northampton and Riverside, a new zip code has been a top priority for several years. According to research initiated by the concerned residents of these hamlets, there are currently 18 identical street names and 32 similar street names - and possibly more - that are shared between these Southampton hamlets and Riverhead Town. The delay of deliveries caused by this issue is not just a nuisance to the local community, but these packages can hold important goods, like medications, which can greatly impact quality of life and well-being. The shared zip code and similar street names can also cause major problems for police, first responders, and other emergency personnel, who may arrive at the wrong address. This can all be avoided by assigning a new and unique zip code to Flanders, Riverside, and Northampton, which is why I have been working closely with Chairman Chaffetz, whose committee has jurisdiction over the United States Postal Service, to get this problem fixed as quickly as possible. I thank Chairman Chaffetz for his efforts to help solve this problem, and look forward to continuing to work with him, to get this bill passed in the House and Senate, and signed into law before the end of this year."

In September 2016, Congressman Zeldin hosted a roundtable at the Big Duck in Flanders with Chairman Chaffetz and a group of community leaders from the impacted area, to explain to the Chairman firsthand about the importance of securing a new zip code for Flanders, Northampton and Riverside.

Another proposal, the Postal Service Reform Act of 2016 (H.R. 5714), also introduced by Chairman Chaffetz, would also create a new, unique zip code for Flanders, Riverside, and Northampton. This bill was passed out of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on July 12, 2016 and awaits further action by the House.

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