The Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 is a federal statute intended to address "the finances and operations of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS)",[1] specifically to lift budget requirements imposed on the Service by the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act[2] and require it to continue six-day-a-week delivery of mail.[3]
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| Long title | An Act to provide stability to and enhance the services of the United States Postal Service, and for other purposes. |
|---|---|
| Enacted by | the 117th United States Congress |
| Number of co-sponsors | 102 |
| Citations | |
| Public law | Pub. L. 117–108 (text) (PDF) |
| Statutes at Large | 136 Stat. 1127 |
| Codification | |
| Titles amended | Title 39—Postal Service |
| Legislative history | |
| |
The act was first introduced on May 11, 2021, by Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY).[1] The House of Representatives then passed the bill by 342–92 on February 8, 2022.[4] On March 8, 2022, the Senate voted 79–19 to pass the bill.[5] President Biden signed the bill into law on April 6, 2022.[6]
Background
editSimilar bills to the Postal Service Reform Act have been proposed in recent years, but none passed.[7] The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA), passed in 2006, required the USPS to pre-fund benefits for future retirees, and this cost the agency about $5.5 billion annually.[8] The PAEA required the USPS to pre-fund these pensions more than fifty years in advance. This requirement caused the USPS to accumulate billions in debt annually in recent years.[9] The USPS Fairness Act would have allowed the USPS to still continue to pay benefits from the accumulated funding (about $56.8 billion in 2020) until depleted, but the intended purpose of the USPS Fairness Act was to remove the pre-funding requirements placed on the agency by the PAEA.[7][9] That bill passed in the House (309—106) in 2019[10] but died in the Senate.
Provisions
editThe Postal Service Reform Act of 2022:
- Enacts the USPS Fairness Act, eliminating the requirement to pre-fund retiree benefits[11][12]
- Requires retiring postal employees to enroll in Medicare parts A and B to receive USPS health care benefits[11][13]
- Requires continued transportation of letters and packages in an integrated network, so growth in package delivery volume benefits first class mail delivery[14][15]
- Requires delivery of mail six days a week (except federal holidays, emergencies, and areas not scheduled for regular six-day delivery as of April 6, 2022)[16]
- Creates an exception to the PAEA's prohibition of USPS non-postal services by authorizing the USPS to rent property and provide non-postal services for state and local governments (such as processing license and permit transactions) to raise revenue.[17][18]
- Requires the USPS to set performance targets and publish performance metrics on its website[19]
- Requires the USPS to review cost allocation accounting for its monopoly services[20]
- Reduces mailing fees for rural newspapers[21]
- Requires a study on efficiency of mailing flats[22]
- Requires detailed operational reports to the Postal Regulatory Commission, President, Congress every six months[23]
- Adjusts language concerning standards for choosing mail transportation methods,[24] a provision requested by Republicans in support of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's decision to end domestic air mail service[18]
- Abolishes the Inspector General of the Postal Regulatory Commission, with its "duties and responsibilities" being assumed by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General[25]
References
edit- ^ a b Maloney, Carolyn B. (2022-02-10). "H.R.3076 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Postal Service Reform Act of 2022". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
- ^ "USPS Fairness Act Reintroduced in the House and Senate". American Postal Workers Union. 2021-02-03. Retrieved 2022-02-14.
- ^ "Postal Service reform bill heads to Senate after strong bipartisan House vote". www.cbsnews.com. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
- ^ Durkee, Alison. "House Passes Postal Service Reform—Here's What It Means For Your Mail". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
- ^ "Congress passes bill to shore up Postal Service, delivery". MSN. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
- ^ Durkee, Alison. "Biden Signs Postal Service Reform Bill Into Law—Here's What It Means For Your Mail". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
- ^ a b "Congress reintroduces USPS reform bill to eliminate pre-funding mandate". Federal News Network. 2021-02-04. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
- ^ Sanburn, Josh (2013-02-07). "How Healthcare Expenses Cost Us Saturday Postal Delivery". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ^ a b "Lawmakers aim to dissolve 'draconian' law that placed heavy financial burden on Postal Service". NBC News. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
- ^ "USPS Fairness Act passes House". National Association of Letter Carriers AFL-CIO. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ^ a b Lee, Ella (6 April 2022). "USPS gets a financial overhaul: Here's what we know about the Postal Service Reform Act". USA Today. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
- ^ Section 102
- ^ Section 101
- ^ Section 202(a)
- ^ Postal Service Reform Act of 2021 promotes sustainable Universal Service
- ^ Section 202(a)
- ^ Section 103
- ^ a b Biden Signs Postal Service Reform Bill Into Law—Here’s What It Means For Your Mail
- ^ Section 201
- ^ Section 203
- ^ Postal Service Reform Act of 2021 promotes sustainable Universal Service
- ^ Section 206
- ^ Section 207
- ^ Section 208
- ^ Section 209
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