Small Eastern CT Town's Zip Code Mess A Step Closer To Being Fixed
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The mail snafu in one small Eastern Connecticut town likened to a comedic chase scene by a federal lawmaker is one step closer to being resolved.
On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the bipartisan H.R. 8753, which included U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney’s provision to mandate the U.S. Postal Service assign a Connecticut town — Scotland — a single zip code.
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The vote comes after Courtney urged his colleagues earlier this week to support the measure.
Find out what's happening in Mansfield-Storrswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Scotland has 600-plus residences — but five zip codes — leading to what Courtney described as misplaced packages, difficulty requesting mail-in ballots, and uncertainty about where to send students to school.
Mail from Scotland’s six zip codes is eventually filtered into the one post office in town.
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In March, Courtney and U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy joined forces to introduce bicameral legislation (H.R. 7800 and S. 4052) to direct the USPS to assign Scotland a single zip code. On Nov. 21, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform approved the House bill, 40-0, as part of a larger package (H.R. 8753), sponsored by Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), to address zip-code issues for Americans in 45 towns nationwide.
“With passage of this bill, the voices of Scotland residents have been heard loud and clear in Washington and we are one step closer to once and for all solving this Monty Python-esque absurdity,” Courtney said. “Senator Murphy and I will continue working together to get this bill through the Senate and to the President’s desk for signature. The hardworking, taxpaying citizens of Scotland deserve to get the same level of postal service as every other community.”
Added Murphy, “The people of Scotland have suffered long enough from the logistical nightmare of having six zip codes for one town. It’s great news the House passed this bill, and I’m doing everything I can to make sure the Senate does the same.”
No date has been set for Senate consideration, Courtney’s office in Washington told Patch Wednesday.
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