Even though they face long odds, local Congressmembers Jim Costa and David Valadao are putting a bipartisan shoulder behind improving mail service in rural communities.

Costa, D-Fresno, and Valadao, R-Kings County, are pushing a bill, H.R. 3098-FAIR Fleets Act, that would modernize U.S. Postal Service vehicle fleets. The goal is to ensure that USPS provides dependable, timely service regardless of where you live.

“Every American, whether they live in a big city or a rural town, deserves reliable, timely postal service,” said Costa in a news release on Tuesday. “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.”

Said Valadao: “In the Central Valley and rural communities across America, families and businesses depend on the Postal Service. Too often, deliveries are delayed because the USPS lacks the resources to modernize, which is why the FAIR Fleets Act is so important.”

Govtrack.us gives the bill an 18% chance of making it out of committee and an 8% chance of becoming law. In comparison, 2% of bills were enacted from 2021 through 2023.

Costa is the primary sponsor of H.R. 3098. In addition to Valadao, the bill has six other co-sponsors.

An Aging Fleet

According to Costa’s office, USPS has about 246,000 delivery vehicles — many of which are more than 30 years old. By replacing them with new more fuel-efficient models, USPS would improve reliability and reduce costs, Valadao said.

The bill requires USPS to modernize its fleet and focus on improving service to rural communities, Tribal lands, and high-poverty urban neighborhoods.