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To amend title 39, United States Code, to enhance the administrative subpoena authority of the United States Postal Service, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill expands the United States Postal Service's administrative subpoena authority to investigate violations of postal service laws, mail fraud, and drug trafficking that involves the use of the mail system. The Postmaster General would be able to issue subpoenas requiring the production of records and documents relevant or material to investigations involving these crimes. Subpoenas can also require testimony from the custodian of records regarding the production and authenticity of those records, except for certain investigations under specific sections of existing law. The authority to approve issuance of subpoenas would be limited to the Postal Service's General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, or Chief Postal Inspector, ensuring centralized control over this enforcement tool. This change allows USPS investigators to more easily compel evidence and testimony without requiring a court-issued subpoena in cases involving mail-related crimes.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
3 cosponsors
Actions (2)
- Jan 3, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. · house
- Jan 3, 2025 Introduced in House
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Text versions (1)
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Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 3, 2025
Ms. Malliotakis (for herself, Ms. Meng, and Mr. Smith of New Jersey) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
A BILL
To amend title 39, United States Code, to enhance the administrative subpoena authority of the United States Postal Service, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “USPS Subpoena Authority Act”.
SEC. 2. UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE ADMINISTRATIVE SUBPOENA AUTHORITY.
Section 3016(a)(1) of title 39, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (D);
(2) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:
“(A) In general.—In any investigation relating to a covered offense, the Postmaster General may issue in writing and cause to be served a subpoena requiring the production and testimony described in subparagraph (B). In this subparagraph, the term ‘covered offense’ means a violation of—
“(i) any section in this chapter;
“(ii) any section of chapter 83 of title 18 insofar as such violation involves the use of the mails;
“(iii) any other provision of law enumerated in section 3001(a); or
“(iv) the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), insofar as such violation involves the use of the mails.
“(B) Production and testimony.—Except as provided in subparagraph (C), a subpoena issued under subparagraph (A) may require—
“(i) the production of any records (including books, papers, documents, and other tangible things that constitute or contain evidence) that the Postmaster General considers relevant or material to such investigation; and
“(ii) testimony by the custodian of the things required to be produced concerning the production and authenticity of those things.
“(C) Application.—A subpoena issued in connection with an investigation under section 3005(a) shall not require testimony as set forth in subparagraph
(B)(ii).”; and
(3) in subparagraph (D), as redesignated by paragraph (1) of this section, by amending clause (iii) to read as follows:
“(iii) delegation of subpoena approval authority be limited to the Postal Service’s General Counsel, a Deputy General Counsel, or the Chief Postal Inspector.”. <all>
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