Two Central Valley Congressmen are looking to modernize how the United States Postal Service serves rural communities across the country.
Rep. David Valadao (R–Hanford) and Rep. Jim Costa (D–Fresno) introduced the FAIR Fleets Act to Congress to ensure everyone receives equitable service.
State of play: The USPS operates over 230,000 vehicles to deliver mail and packages across the nation, but many of the vehicles are over 30 years old.
- Those vehicles, namely the Grumman LLV model, are beyond their original intended service life, which means increased maintenance costs and emissions.
- That causes significant delays in service, which especially affects rural areas.
The big picture: The FAIR Fleets Act would require the USPS to assess and modernize fleet distribution and to prioritize underserved areas such as rural communities, tribal lands and high-poverty urban neighborhoods.
- USPS would also be required to submit annual reports to Congress detailing vehicle distribution, progress in underserved areas and recommendations for service improvements.
What they’re saying: “In the Central Valley and rural communities across America, families and businesses depend on the Postal Service,” Valadao said. “Too often, deliveries are delayed because the USPS lacks the resources to modernize, which is why the FAIR Fleets Act is so important. This bipartisan bill gives USPS the tools to upgrade its aging fleet with more fuel-efficient vehicles – improving reliability and reducing costs – to ensure people receive dependable mail services no matter where they live.”
- Costa added, “Every American, whether they live in a big city or a rural town, deserves reliable, timely postal service. The FAIR Fleets Act ensures that underserved areas, which too often face delays and aging equipment, are given the same level of service as more populated regions. This bill is about fairness and better efficiency in our mail system.”
