Post Office Designations and Establishing New Zip Codes

Floor Speech

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Ms. MENG. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Mr. Lynch, for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6303, which includes a section to establish a new ZIP Code for the community of Glendale, New York. This section is identical to legislation I introduced last February, H.R. 657.

I thank Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Chaffetz for authoring this legislation, and I thank Ranking Member Cummings for his support.

For almost 30 years, the residents of Glendale, New York, have sought to obtain a unique ZIP Code for their community in Queens. They have experienced mail and service-related problems due to sharing a ZIP Code with the neighboring community of Ridgewood. These problems include medications that were spoiled or not received due to mail processing errors, delays in first responder services to residents in need of care, and inaccuracies with GPS devices.

Roughly one-quarter of Glendale's population is eligible to receive Medicare, or will become eligible in the next decade. Many use a mail- order pharmacy to receive their prescription drugs, and many more will use such services in the years to come. A single, unique ZIP Code for Glendale will ensure that mail delivery will be improved in the future.

Creating a new ZIP Code for Glendale has been an ongoing and bipartisan challenge for Members of Congress who previously represented the area. I commend them for their efforts on behalf of the community, especially my predecessor, Representative Bob Turner.

When I took office in the 113th Congress, the only recourse left to address this matter was through legislation. I am grateful to Chairman Chaffetz for including Glendale in this legislation. It has been a long fight for the community of Glendale to receive its own ZIP Code.

Mr. Speaker, before I close, I would like to thank the local elected officials, civic associations, and community activists who have voiced their support for this issue over the years. In particular, I would like to thank Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, New York State Senator Joseph Addabbo, New York State Assemblymen Michael Miller and Andrew Hevesi, and New York City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley. I would also like to thank Dori Figliola, the Glendale Property Owners Association, Glendale Civic Association, and Citizens for a Better Ridgewood for their advocacy.

Mr. Speaker, I thank you for allowing this legislation to the floor for a vote today, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this important measure.

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