House Passes Rep. Lauren Boebert’s Bipartisan Zip Code Bill

“After years of small cities and towns across America being ignored, I am very grateful and proud to have passed the bipartisan H.R. 8753 unanimously through the House to help 51 communities receive a unique zip code,” said Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-03). “Residents in these communities will see clear benefits through a unique zip code for their town, from more of their tax revenue staying and benefitting their communities to improving the response times of first responders, which could save lives and reduce crime. We haven’t had an updated zip code bill pass through Congress in almost two decades. When small towns and communities in Colorado come to me, I listen, I take action, and I get things done for Coloradans and Americans. I urge the U.S. Senate to take up H.R. 8753 expeditiously and get this bipartisan bill that unanimously passed the House signed into law.”

“As Mayor of Castle Pines, I’ve seen firsthand how the lack of a unique ZIP code impacts our residents’ daily lives – from emergency response delays to sales tax revenue misallocations to basic mail delivery challenges,” said Castle Pines Mayor Tracy Engerman. “While Castle Pines supports any legislative effort to address ZIP code reform, we recognize this is a national issue affecting cities across America. We appreciate Congresswoman Boebert’s Colorado focus and national attention to this matter and look forward to continuing our work with both her and our broader national coalition partners to ensure all growing communities receive the unique ZIP codes they need to properly serve their residents.”

“With the passage of Congresswoman Boebert’s Zip Code bill through the House, our town is one step closer to receiving a unique zip code that will help our residents build for the future,” said Severance Mayor Matt Fries. “From funding infrastructure projects to making sure our first responders get to the right address to keep our residents safe, a unique zip code will benefit everyone. We are very appreciative of Congresswoman Boebert’s work on this effort and we are hopeful the U.S. Senate will pass H.R. 8753 in the coming days.”

“A unique zip code will be a major factor for Castle Pines receiving the taxes paid by our residents and making sure we are able to build out the infrastructure needed to meet our community’s demands,” said Castle Pines Councilwoman Deborah Mulvey. “We are very appreciative of Congresswoman Boebert taking the time to listen to the needs of small cities and towns across Colorado and follow through with a solution that benefits the people of Castle Pines.”

“The City of Lone Tree continues to strongly support the proposed ZIP Code bill for the communities of Colorado,” said Lone Tree Mayor Marissa Harmon. “This essential federal legislation will enable Lone Tree and our neighboring cities to more effectively service our residents and businesses, streamline our services, and enhance the unique identity of our community.”

Silver Cliff Mayor Buck Wenzel stated, “This bill would restore the Town of Silver Cliff’s rightful identity and will guarantee that sales tax is properly distributed and received by our town and not by others. Silver Cliff’s Zip Code was arbitrarily and capriciously removed from use in 1991 and our town was forced to use another town’s Zip Code. As such, the identity of our town was stolen and to date we have suffered hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost sales taxes from online, out of county, and out of state sales. The citizens of Silver Cliff deserve for their taxes to be spent on the roads and other necessities that they use on a daily basis.”

Centennial Mayor Stephanie Piko stated, “Establishing a single zip code for communities would enhance their community identities and address challenges such as emergency management, public safety, business attraction and retention, insurance coverage, and mail delivery, which are beyond the communities’ control.”

Background:

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert introduced H.R. 8753, to direct the United States Postal Service to designate single, unique ZIP Codes for certain communities. Read the full text of the bill HERE.

The Zip Code system was instituted in America in the 1960s. The Postal Service utilizes the zip code system to deliver mail, but it is also heavily used and relied on by economic developers, insurers and emergency personnel amongst others.

Communities that do not have a unique Zip Code often experience associated problems that include: loss of economic development, loss of sales tax, unjustifiably high insurance rates, tax remittance and commercial licensing issues, diminished public safety and reduced emergency response times, identity issues, and efficiency issues.

For example, first responders often go to the wrong streets and people needing help experience delays due to Zip Code issues that would be addressed by this legislation.

Small towns and cities can petition the Postal Service for a new Zip Code but it is rarely approved and if it is denied they cannot appeal this decision for up to 10 years. Congress has intervened on these matters and last passed a law enacting four new Zip Codes through the Post Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006.

The 51 known communities throughout America experiencing Zip Code problems that would benefit from Congresswoman Boebert’s legislation include:

(1) Eastvale, California.

(2) North Tustin, California.

(3) Castle Pines, Colorado.

(4) Centennial, Colorado.

(5) Cherry Hills, Colorado.

(6) Greenwood Village, Colorado.

(7) Highlands Ranch, Colorado.

(8) Lone Tree, Colorado.

(9) Severance, Colorado.

(10) Silver Cliff, Colorado.

(11) Sterling Ranch, Colorado.

(12) Superior, Colorado.

(13) Scotland, Connecticut.

(13) Coconut Creek, Florida.

(14) Deerfield Beach, Florida.

(15) Lighthouse Point, Florida.

(16) Parkland, Florida.

(17) Wilton Manors, Florida.

(18) Estero, Florida.

(19) Ft. Myers, Florida.

(20) Hollywood, Florida.

(21) Miami Lakes, Florida.

(22) Ocoee, Florida.

(23) Oakland Park, Florida.

(25) Burr Ridge, Illinois.
(26) Urbandale, Iowa.

(27) Carmel, Indiana.

(28) Noblesville, Indiana.

(29) Westfield, Indiana.

(30) Zionsville, Indiana.

(31) Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
(32) Montz, Louisiana.

(33) Grass Valley, Nevada.

(34) Swanzey, New Hampshire.

(35) Kinnelon, New Jersey.

(36) Flanders, New York.

(37) Glendale, New York.

(38) Pendleton, New York.

(39) Riverside, New York.

(40) Northampton, New York.

(41) Goose Creek, South Carolina.

(42) Fairview, Texas.

(43) Murphy, Texas.

(44) Sargent, Texas.

(45) Fairlawn, Virginia.

(46) Caledonia, Wisconsin.

(47) Franklin, Wisconsin.

(48) Greenfield, Wisconsin.

(49) Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin.

(50) Somers, Wisconsin.

(51) Mills, Wyoming.

Current cosponsors of Congresswoman Boebert’s H.R. 8753 include: Rep. Byron Donalds (FL-19), Rep. Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Rep. Young Kim (CA-40), Rep. Nick LaLota (NY-01), Rep. Troy Nehls (TX-22), Rep. Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Rep. Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), Rep. Nick Langworthy (NY-23), Rep. Bryan Steil (WI-01), Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02), Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05), and Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11).

Congresswoman Boebert also introduced legislation last Congress to try to solve Silver Cliff’s Zip Code problem. Read more about that effort HERE.