To direct the United States Postal Service to designate single, unique ZIP Codes for certain communities, and for other purposes.
Summary
H.R. 3095 would require the United States Postal Service to designate single, unique ZIP codes for more than 65 communities across the country within 270 days of enactment. The affected communities span 19 states including California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, New York, Texas, and others. Currently, many of these towns and cities share ZIP codes with neighboring areas, which creates practical challenges for residents and local governments.
According to supporters, the lack of unique ZIP codes negatively impacts these communities in several ways. Residents face higher insurance rates, longer emergency response times, inconsistent mail delivery, and reduced sales tax revenue for public services. The bill addresses a longstanding issue, as communities can petition the Postal Service for new ZIP codes but such requests are rarely approved, and denied communities cannot reapply for up to 10 years. Congress last intervened on this matter in 2006 when it authorized four new ZIP codes.