250th Anniversary of the United States Postal Service

Floor Speech

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Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, before he became President, a member of Congress, or even a lawyer, Abraham Lincoln was a postal worker. From 1833 to 1836, Lincoln served as the postmaster of New Salem, IL. He walked for miles delivering letters to Illinoisans, and he developed a habit of storing them in his now-famous stovepipe hat. As he traversed the prairies of Sangamon County, he learned about the State that would eventually be known as the Land of Lincoln. Although postmaster was just one of the many jobs Lincoln had during his days in New Salem, it was his first taste of civil service and his introduction to the people of Sangamon County.

But Abraham Lincoln is not the only person whose life has been shaped by the Post Office. For 250 years, the U.S. Post Office has provided essential services that connect Americans, support commerce, and strengthen the foundations of our democracy. Founded during the Second Continental Congress, even before the Declaration of Independence was signed, the Post Office played an indispensable role in the success of our young democracy. Not only was the Post Office crucial in facilitating communication between American revolutionaries, it also strengthened the ties between the 13 Original Colonies, allowing our country to develop into one cohesive Nation. After the Colonies won independence, the Post Office continued to grow, ensuring Americans anywhere could have access to the information necessary to participate in the democratic process.

But as the Post Office grew, there was one glaring gap in its services. People living in rural areas would need to venture to the nearest Post Office to access their mail, which could be located miles away. While Americans living in more populous locations had access to free home delivery for decades, rural Americans were still walking for miles to retrieve their post at the end of the 19th century. In 1896, the U.S. Post Office decided to try a new service in two counties in West Virgina, free rural home delivery. In less than a decade, this experiment was adopted nationwide, and today, millions of rural Americans count on home delivery.

This commitment to equitable, universal delivery is one that is near and dear to my heart as a Senator from Illinois. Across Illinois, especially downstate, we have many rural counties and towns that struggle to attract the attention of for-profit shipping corporations. For these communities, USPS is often the only option to receive mail and send packages. That is what separates USPS from the rest of America's shipping industry. USPS is not a company; it is a public service. Its employees are public servants. The role USPS plays in connecting Americans is one that is vital for my home State and for many others across the country.

Today, USPS delivers more mail than any other company in the world. There are more than 30,000 Post Offices that serve 169 million homes across the United States. Americans rely on the United States Postal Service to deliver their medications, Social Security checks, and other important correspondence, along with birthday cards from Grandma. The post remains a lifeline for small businesses, who often cannot afford to use large for-profit shipping corporations, as well as for rural Americans. And USPS continues to support our democracy by helping Americans send and receive their mail-in ballots for local, State, and national elections.

On October 9, the Senate passed S. Res. 337, a resolution recognizing the 250th anniversary of the Postal Service of the United States and commending its indispensable role in the success of our Nation. But any recognition of the USPS would be incomplete without acknowledging America's incredible postal workers. Continuing in the tradition of President Lincoln, postal workers ensure that through rain or snow, heatwaves and arctic blasts, Americans receive their essential mail. As we celebrate the U.S. Post Office's anniversary, I want to extend my sincere gratitude to postal workers and letter carriers, both past and present, for their essential service to Illinois and the Nation.

While much has changed since the founding of the U.S. Post Office, its role as an essential pillar of our democracy and community remains the same. Congratulations to this 250-year-old public institution, and here is to many more years of service.

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