Earl Blumenauer: “Mr. Chairman, the most powerful tool the Federal government has to make our communities more livable is not necessarily…”

“Mr. Chairman, the most powerful tool the Federal government has to make our communities more livable is not necessarily a rule, regulation, or a mandate placed upon the public, but simply to play by the same rules as the rest of America, to have Federal agencies like the United States Post Office obey the same rules and regulations that we require homeowners and businesses to follow. There are over 40,000 post offices across America. They are both the symbols of how we connect to one another and of a very real part of each and every community. Time and time again we find that the post office on Main Street anchors the business opportunity. It is a source of pride for people in local communities. Often it is an historic structure. Each of these post offices is an opportunity for the Federal government to promote livability by being a more constructive partner. While there are many legitimate efforts and real progress by the postal service in some areas, I see too many examples where the post office has fallen short of the mark. A good example is to be found in my own hometown of Portland, Oregon, where land use planning has been a hallmark for a generation.”