By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice
Rural America is home to nearly 60 million individuals. That’s one out of every five Americans. Many argue that policymakers overlook rural America. Yet a simple bill led by U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Silt) will have a big impact on small towns.
“I am thrilled to see my bipartisan Zip Code bill pass through the House Oversight Committee with unanimous bipartisan support,” Boebert said this week in a statement.
The introduction of ZIP codes in the 60s transformed mail delivery. They also became vital to economic growth, public safety and community identity. But many communities still face challenges without unique ZIP Codes, leading to misdirected tax revenue and delayed emergency responses.
Congresswoman Boebert took action to address this issue with H.R. 8753, introduced on June 14, 2024. The bipartisan legislation originally included 31 towns across 14 states, from California to Colorado and New York.
Boebert highlighted the bill’s impact, “By receiving a unique ZIP Code, these communities will hold on to more of their tax revenue, improve the response times of first responders and minimize issues with postal deliveries to incorrect addresses.”
The original list of 31 towns expanded as amendments added more communities. U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida included towns like Lighthouse Point and Coconut Creek, while U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy of New York added Pendleton, New York. Additional communities in Louisiana and South Carolina were also included, reflecting bipartisan collaboration to support towns nationwide.
The Colorado towns impacted by Boebert’s legislation include Silver Cliff, Castle Pines, Centennial, Lone Tree, Severance, Greenwood Village and Superior.
Leaders in Colorado have praised the bill’s potential to address long-standing ZIP Code challenges. Severance Mayor Matt Fries noted, “We are excited to see Congresswoman Boebert’s ZIP Code bill move through committee, as this will be a huge benefit to our town and the residents of Severance. From helping our first responders get to locations in a timely fashion to bringing in more tax revenue to fund critical projects, a unique ZIP Code is a major help for the future of our community. We are grateful for Congresswoman Boebert’s work on this bill and we completely support it being signed into law in the coming weeks.”
Silver Cliff Mayor Buck Wenzel shared, “This bill would restore the town of Silver Cliff’s rightful identity and will guarantee that sales tax is properly distributed and received by our town and not by others. Silver Cliff’s ZIP Code was arbitrarily and capriciously removed from use in 1991, and our town was forced to use another town’s ZIP Code. As such, the identity of our town was stolen, and to date, we have suffered hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost sales taxes from online, out-of-county, and out-of-state sales. The [residents] of Silver Cliff deserve for their taxes to be spent on the roads and other necessities that they use on a daily basis.”
Centennial Mayor Stephanie Piko noted the broader benefits of the legislation, saying, “Establishing a single ZIP Code for communities would enhance their community identities and address challenges such as emergency management, public safety, business attraction and retention, insurance coverage and mail delivery, which are beyond the communities’ control.”
Castle Pines Councilwoman Deborah Mulvey highlighted the potential for economic growth: “A unique ZIP Code will be a major factor for Castle Pines receiving the taxes paid by our residents and making sure we are able to build out the infrastructure needed to meet our community’s demands. We are very appreciative of Congresswoman Boebert taking the time to listen to the needs of small cities and towns across Colorado and follow through with a solution that benefits the people of Castle Pines.”
Over the last century, the population decreased in rural America. There was a rural population downtown of 289,000 from 2010-2020. But recent data shows rural areas rebounding. Counties gained residents during the pandemic. Recreation and retirement communities saw an influx of new residents.
Recent data show a reversal in rural America’s longstanding population decline. From 2020 to 2021, rural counties gained about 77,000 residents, a 0.13% increase. This surpassed the 0.1% growth in urban areas.
Metropolitan areas had no change in net migration. Rural regions saw a 0.43% increase in net migration between April 2020 and July 2021. Counties with recreational amenities or natural attractions have attracted new residents.
Boebert’s ZIP Code legislation aligns with these trends by addressing systemic barriers that prevent rural towns from thriving. By resolving issues like tax misallocation and delayed emergency responses, the bill positions these communities for sustainable growth.
H.R. 8753 builds on Congressional efforts like the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act. It highlights the need for reform in USPS policies, such as the inability to appeal ZIP Code denials for a decade.
Boebert emphasized her commitment to the effort, stating, “I’ve been honored to lead on this bill for small towns and cities throughout America and will not yield on my efforts until this legislation is signed into law.”