Page 5 - IAV Digital Magazine #440

iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine
No Tannenbaum: Senator Says Rule Keeps Trees From US Troops
By AP Albany, NY
New York's U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer says a federal rule change that's stopping donated Christmas trees from being sent to American troops overseas is straight out of the Grinch's play- book.
The top Senate Democrat sent a
letter to the U.S. postmaster on Thursday urging her to immediate- ly waive proce- dural changes that are prevent- ing New York res- idents from send- ing trees to mili- tary bases abroad.
Schumer says at least 40 trees donated by com- munity groups and others this year were
returned to New York farmers. He blames a last- minute policy change that strictly limits the size of packages that can be shipped to over- seas bases in places such
as Iraq, Afghanistan and Germany.
The U.S. Postal Service hasn't commented.
iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine