Becca Balint: “Before I begin, let me just say may the record show the Vermonter is here. Snow across D.C.; the Vermonter is here. Mr.…”

“Before I begin, let me just say may the record show the Vermonter is here. Snow across D.C.; the Vermonter is here. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a voice for rural America. In Vermont's capital city, Montpelier, we do not have a functioning post office. This is completely unacceptable. The post office is a vital, nonnegotiable part of our communities. It is part of the fabric of rural America. Seniors depend on it, small businesses depend on it, and our downtowns depend on it to keep our communities vibrant and connected. Vermonters are frustrated, and rightly so, not only because they have been denied reliable, accessible service, but because the USPS has failed to give us any answers as we try to rectify this failure. Vermonters are not asking much. A fully functional post office in a State's capital city is not a big ask. We must get back to making government work for the people at its most basic functions. When we ignore this need, we continue to erode faith in the government, and we leave communities behind. I won't stop raising my voice until reliable Postal Service is restored in Montpelier, Vermont, and in other parts of rural America. ____________________”