HR0046 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0046 LRB095 06825 KXB 26941 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, On July 26, 1775, members of the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, agreed: "That a postmaster general be appointed for the United Colonies, who shall hold his office at Philada, and shall be allowed a salary of 1000 dollars per an: for himself, and 340 dollars per an: for a secretary and Comptroller, with power to appoint such, and so many deputies as to him may seem proper and necessary. That a line of posts be appointed under the direction of the Postmaster general, from Falmouth in New England to Savannah in Georgia, with as many cross posts as he shall think fit."; and

WHEREAS, This simple statement signaled the birth of the Post Office Department, the predecessor of the U.S. Postal Service and the second oldest federal department or agency of the United States; and

WHEREAS, Benjamin Franklin was the first Postmaster General; under him and his immediate successors, the postal system mainly carried communications between Congress and the armies; and

WHEREAS, America's present Postal Service descends in an unbroken line from the system Franklin planned and placed in operation; history rightfully accords him major credit for establishing the basis of the system that has well served the growing and changing needs of the American people; and

WHEREAS, Today, the United States Postal Service is the third largest employer in the nation, employing about 619,000 individuals; the workers include clerks, mail carriers, mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators; and

WHEREAS, The Postal Service operates the largest civilian vehicle fleet in the world, with an estimated 260,000 vehicles, most recognized and identified as the Grumman LLV, or "mail truck"; and

WHEREAS, The motto of the Post Office "neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds" still tells us today how hard the men and women of the United States Postal Service work to ensure the smooth delivery of the mail to over 141 million addresses; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare July 26 of each year to be Postal Workers Day in the State of Illinois as a way to recognize the hard work and dedication of the men and women of the United States Postal Service.