H.R. 287

119 HR 287 IH: Mobile Post Office Relief Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2025-01-09
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 I  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  H. R. 287  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.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Mobile Post Office Relief Act  .
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:
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.
  .