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To amend chapter 4 of title 39, United States Code, to require the Postal Service to use a mobile retail unit to provide retail postal services to an area when the post office for such area is temporarily unable to provide such services, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill requires the U.S. Postal Service to deploy a mobile retail unit to serve areas when a post office temporarily ceases providing retail services. The requirement applies to postal facilities that are located at least half a mile from other postal facilities and have not provided services for at least 60 days. The USPS must station a mobile unit within three business days of a facility becoming unable to provide service, or within 30 days for facilities already in this situation when the bill takes effect. The mobile unit must provide the same retail services the post office provided, including sales of boxes and packaging, post office box mail delivery, and forms for address changes and mail holds. The mobile service continues until the post office resumes normal operations.
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)
- Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1] (R-NY)
Actions (2)
- Jan 9, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. · house
- Jan 9, 2025 Introduced in House
More bills on these subjects (8)
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Similar bills (6)
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Text versions (1)
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Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 9, 2025
Mr. LaLota introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
A BILL
To amend chapter 4 of title 39, United States Code, to require the Postal Service to use a mobile retail unit to provide retail postal services to an area when the post office for such area is temporarily unable to provide such services, 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 “Mobile Post Office Relief Act”.
SEC. 2. DEPLOYMENT OF MOBILE RETAIL UNITS.
(a) In General.—Chapter 4 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: “Sec. 417. Deployment of mobile retail units
“(a) In General.—Not later than three business days after the date on which a postal retail facility becomes a covered postal retail facility, the Postal Service shall station in the geographic area served by the covered postal retail facility a vehicle or mobile facility of the Postal Service that shall provide the services described in subsection (b) to the extent that the covered postal retail facility provided such services immediately before temporarily ceasing to provide retail postal services.
“(b) Retail Postal Services.—The services described in this subsection are the following services not available from the covered postal retail facility:
“(1) Retail postal services, including the sale of boxes and other packaging material sold by the Postal Service.
“(2) A means for holders of post office boxes at the covered postal facility to receive mail sent to the post office box of such holder.
“(3) Providing, accepting, and processing forms necessary for persons to request a change of mailing address or a temporary halt to the delivery of mail to such person.
“(c) Duration.—For each covered postal retail facility, the Postal Service shall provide the services required under subsection (a) using a vehicle or mobile facility of the Postal Service until the covered postal retail facility ceases to be a covered postal retail facility.
“(d) Definitions.—In this Act:
“(1) Covered postal retail facility.—The term ‘covered postal retail facility’ means a postal retail facility that—
“(A) is located not less than half a mile away from all other postal retail facilities;
“(B) is temporarily not providing retail postal services;
“(C) has not provided such services in the immediately preceding 60-day period; and
“(D) in the case of a postal retail facility operated by a contractor, the contractor ceased providing such services at such facility prior to the expiration or termination by the Postal Service of the contract or other agreement under which the contractor was providing such services at such facility.
“(2) Postal retail facility.—The term ‘postal retail facility’ means a facility, other than a mobile facility—
“(A) of the Postal Service providing retail postal services: or
“(B) operated by a contractor, at which the contractor provides retail postal services under a contract or other agreement with the Postal Service.”.
(b) Applicability.—
(1) In general.—Except as provided by paragraph (2), section 417 of title 39, United States Code, shall apply with respect to each postal retail facility that, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, is a covered postal retail facility in the same manner as if such postal retail facility became a covered postal retail facility immediately after the enactment of this Act.
(2) Deadline.—For the purposes of applying section 417 of title 39, United States Code, to a covered postal retail facility under paragraph (1), the Postal Service shall be deemed to comply with subsection (a) of such section if, not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Postal Service stations in the geographic area served by the covered postal retail facility a vehicle or mobile facility of the Postal Service providing the services required under such subsection.
(3) Covered postal retail facility; postal retail facility.—In this subsection, the terms “covered postal retail facility” and “postal retail facility” have the meanings given such terms in section 417(d) of title 39, United States Code.
(c) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections for chapter 4 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
“417. Deployment of mobile retail units.”. <all>
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