Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays this Congressman from getting funding for his favorite causes.
In December, Jose E. Serrano introduced a bill to the House that would benefit both civil servants and the environment – two camps he’s been known to fight for. If passed, HR 4399, the American Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Act, (or “e-Drive” bill), would provide up to $2 billion to create a fleet of over 20,000 electric vehicles for the U.S. Postal Service Fleet.
The bill would fund about 14,000 vehicles that use different types of electric and hybrid technologies in an initial phase. The second phase would produce an additional 10,000 of the type of vehicle that proves to be the most cost and energy efficient. Part of the bill includes a “Vehicle to Grid” plan, where excess power in the grid during off-peak times could be stored in the batteries of idle vehicles. When energy demand rises, it could be put back into the grid and purchased by energy wholesalers – allowing the Postal Service to make money off of the trucks.
The U.S. Postal Service announced last week that it was on track to lose $238 billion over the next decade, due to a decrease in usage. It is even considering eliminating its Saturday service to makeup for the shortfall. There are over 200,000 postal delivery trucks on the road right now, getting about ten miles per gallon, and most are due for replacement. There are currently 30 electric vehicles delivering the mail in the Bronx.
As chairman of the House Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee, Serrano oversees the funding of the Postal Service.
A spokesperson for Serrano said this was currently his most important project. This should come as no surprise.
Serrano is well known as an environmental advocate. In the heavily polluted 16th Congressional District in the South Bronx, he has helped fund the cleanup of the Bronx River for several years – where beavers and fish are starting to replace old tires and rusted shopping carts. In the late 1990’s he filed a complaint with the Environmental Protection Agency over the air quality in the area, where heavy traffic and heavy industry just happen to share space with some of the nation’s highest asthma rates. On national issues he is just as green, and his voting record in the House for 2009 earned him a 100% rating from the League of Conservation Voters.
Perhaps less well known is Serrano’s commitment to the U.S. Postal Service. In 2007, he fought and won against a proposal to shut down the Bronx Postal Distribution Center and have its services consolidated with the Manhattan center. Last year, he fought against the closing of seven Bronx post offices. He has also fought against the reduction of service from six to five days. In 2008 he even sponsored a commemorative stamp for one of his favorite crooners, The Chairman of the Board, Frank Sinatra.
Why all the love for the Cliff Clavins of America? A look at Serrano’s top campaign contributions for 2009-2010 gives a few hints. The National Rural Letter Carriers Association gave $3,500 in the eleventh spot, the American Postal Workers Union gave $4000 in seventh, and tied in second place were the National Association of Postmasters and the National Association of Letter Carriers at $5,000 each. His number one contribution however, was $11,000 from accounting, consulting and financial services firm, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. And what does Deloitte do? One project is consulting the Postal Service on “green” initiatives.
If you have questions about the e-Drive bill, you can contact Congressman Serrano through his website. Although he’d probably prefer it if you mailed him a letter.