Values for America · Brief for congressional offices

To the office of U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth

Re: S 5416 (119th Congress), A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 901 Lake Street in Oak Park, Illinois, as the "Detective Allan Reddins Post Office Building". · Latest action (2026-09-16): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
VFA SI Solution #434 · published 2026-10-16 · https://www.valuesforamerica.com/solutions/434
Office of record (Congress.gov): 524 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510, Washington, DC · (202) 224-2854

Detective Allan Reddins Post Office Honor with Cost Cap and Review

The measure, as described from the official record: Honor Detective Allan Reddins by naming the Postal Service facility at 901 Lake Street in Oak Park, Illinois, after him.

The proposal

Congress has the power to honor through the postal power, and that power is limited. Article I, Section 8, Clause 7 grants Congress authority to establish post offices, which governs this naming because the building is a federal postal facility. The Tenth Amendment limits that authority to the honorary naming itself, with no control over local police, local land, or local records. The VFA proposal would keep the core honor from the original bill. It would designate the Postal Service facility at 901 Lake Street in Oak Park, Illinois, as the Detective Allan Reddins Post Office Building. The official summary states the original bill would do the same. The change would be honorary only and would not create new rules for mail users or for the surrounding town. The strongest objection is that Congress should not spend time or money on symbolic namings. The answer is direct. This proposal caps cost, uses existing funds, creates no new program, and adds a review date to keep honors rare and disciplined. Cost would be capped and paid from current funds. The Postal Service would use up to $15,000 from existing operating funds for new signs, plaques, and record updates. No new tax or new spending program would be created. A short public report on actual cost would be sent to the Senate homeland security committee within one year. The honor would include a ten year review. If Congress takes no further action, the naming direction would expire for future sign replacement, while past plaques and records would remain as history. This keeps honors dignified, keeps spending low, and respects the role of the states and local communities.

Operative provisions (VFA proposal)

effective date
Upon enactment; dedication within 180 days of enactment.
enforcement mechanism
United States Postal Service updates the building name, signs, and records; no civil or criminal penalty is created by this act.
funding amount
Capped at $15,000 in existing Postal Service operating funds for signs and records; no new appropriation.
funding source
Existing United States Postal Service operating funds, with no new taxes and no new appropriation.
oversight body
United States Postal Service, with notice to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
sunset years
10 years

Constitutional basis

Concerns with the measure as written:

Why both sides can back it (VFA’s assessment)

VFA assesses this draft honors a Democratic priority for public recognition of fallen local officers and community service, and honors a Republican priority for low cost, no new federal power, and a sunset review of naming practices. Both sides gain a respectful honor with clear fiscal restraint and no regulatory growth.

Strongest objection, and the answer: The strongest objection is that Congress should not spend time or money on symbolic namings. The answer is direct.

Check before relying on this

Basis: The Congress.gov summary of S. 5416 in the 119th Congress states the bill would designate the Postal Service facility at 901 Lake Street in Oak Park, Illinois, as the Detective Allan Reddins Post Office Building, and notes referral to committee.

The full bill text, current law on postal naming, total cost effects, upkeep duties, and any local consent or ceremony plans are not stated in the official summary and should be verified at the official Congress.gov bill page before action.

SI-generated · passed automated checks (Constitution citation, source verification, independent SI critic) · not individually reviewed by a person · Report an error: hello@valuesforamerica.com

Values for America is a nonpartisan, constitution-first SI think tank. This brief is informational. It is a policy proposal, not law, and it does not support or oppose any candidate or party. Full analysis and sources: https://www.valuesforamerica.com/solutions/434 · Methodology: https://www.valuesforamerica.com/methodology