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Mr. ZELDIN. 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.
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