Rural communities are far too often overlooked in Washington; they deserve a voice in Congress, and their local concerns should be turned into practical law. Postal reform has long been a concern for rural Americans, and ZIP codes are a simple, effective way to address an everyday issue affecting Coloradans.
In Colorado and across rural America, something as simple as a ZIP code can determine whether a community has a clear identity, accurate mail delivery, proper emergency services, and a fair shot at economic growth. For too long, countless small towns have been forced to share ZIP codes with larger neighboring communities, leading to confusion, delays, and a lack of recognition.
That is why I introduced H.R. 3095, the Unique ZIP Code bill. This legislation would direct the Postal Service to create single, unique ZIP codes for scores of communities that have waited far too long for basic recognition.
The Unique ZIP Code bill is personally significant because it underscores the importance of listening to constituents and addressing the problems that matter to everyday Americans. My bill passed the House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support.
The Senate companion, S. 4505, introduced by Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), advanced out of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, led by Chairman Rand Paul (R-KY). I am grateful for the progress and remain focused on getting this bill across the finish line and onto the President’s desk.
This effort brought together a bipartisan group of the Colorado delegation to help Coloradans. Original cosponsors for my legislation included Democrats Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) and Jason Crow (CO-06), along with Republicans Jeff Hurd (CO-03) and Gabe Evans (CO-08). Working across the aisle on practical solutions that strengthen our communities is exactly what Coloradans expect from their representatives.
Unique ZIP codes are not a symbolic gesture. They are tangible changes that improve mail delivery accuracy, help emergency services respond to the right location, strengthen local identity, support businesses in operating and growing, and ensure that tax and census data accurately reflect the communities that actually exist. For the 73 communities included in this legislation, unique ZIP codes are long-overdue practical relief.
I have heard from Coloradans who live this frustration every day. Residents who watch packages go to the wrong place. Local leaders who struggle to market their town when it shares a ZIP code with a larger city. Families who simply want their community recognized for what it is. This bill answers those concerns with a common-sense solution.
Small towns are the backbone of Colorado and our nation as a whole. They deserve the same basic tools and recognition that larger communities take for granted. A unique ZIP code is a simple, common-sense reform that strengthens communities without adding bureaucracy or cost.
Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa successfully led S. 4505 out of committee; now our coalition is seeking every opportunity to get this legislation across the finish line.
And this legislation has garnered support from more than just Colorado’s lawmakers. It is backed in both chambers by a bipartisan coalition of members from 17 states, including California, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and more. I will continue to work with my colleagues and Congressional leadership to get this legislation passed and signed into law, so that all local voices continue to be heard.
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