Sec. 203. Preserving community post offices
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Section 404(d) of title 39, United States Code, is amended— by redesignating paragraphs
(5)and
(6)as paragraphs
(6)and (7), respectively; by striking paragraphs
(1)through
(4)and inserting the following: In this subsection, the term post office means a post office, post office branch, post office classified station, or other facility that is operated by the Postal Service, the primary function of which is to provide retail postal services. The Postal Service, prior to making a determination under subsection (a)(3) of this section as to the necessity for the discontinuance of any post office, shall, to the extent practicable and appropriate— consider whether— to discontinue the post office and another post office located within a reasonable distance; instead of discontinuing the post office— to reduce the number of hours a day that the post office operates; or to continue operating the post office for the same number of hours a day; to procure a contract providing full, or less than full, retail services in the community served by the post office; or to provide postal services to the community served by the post office— through a letter carrier; or by co-locating postal services at a commercial or government entity; provide postal customers served by the post office an opportunity to present their views, which may be by nonbinding survey conducted by mail; and if the Postal Service determines to discontinue the post office, provide adequate public notice of its intention to discontinue such post office at least 60 days prior to the proposed date of such discontinuance to persons served by such post office. The Postal Service, in making a determination whether or not to discontinue a post office— shall consider, to the extent practicable and appropriate— the effect of the discontinuance on the community served by such post office; the effect of the discontinuance on businesses, including small businesses, in the area; the effect of such discontinuance on employees of the Postal Service employed at such office; whether such discontinuance is consistent with the policy of the Government, as stated in section 101(b) of this title, that the Postal Service shall provide a maximum degree of effective and regular postal services to rural areas, communities, and small towns where post offices are not self-sustaining; the extent to which the community served by the post office lacks access to Internet phone service; the extent to which postal customers served by the post office would continue after the discontinuance to receive substantially similar access to essential items and time-sensitive communications; the proximity and accessibility of other post offices; whether substantial economic savings to the Postal Service would result from such discontinuance; and such other factors as the Postal Service determines are necessary; and may not consider compliance with any provision of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 651 et seq.). Any determination of the Postal Service to discontinue a post office shall be in writing and shall include the findings of the Postal Service, to the extent practicable and appropriate, with respect to the considerations required to be made under paragraph
(3)of this subsection. Such determination and findings shall be made available to persons served by such post office by public notice. The Postal Service shall take no action to discontinue a post office until 60 days after its written determination is made available to persons served by such post office. The Postal Service shall take no action to discontinue a post office until 60 days after the Postal Service provides written notice of the determination under paragraph
(4)to the State board of elections for the State in which the post office is located. ; in paragraph (6), as redesignated by this section— by striking close or consolidate and inserting discontinue ; and by striking paragraph
(3)and inserting paragraph
(4); and in paragraph (7), as redesignated by this section, by striking paragraph
(5)and inserting paragraph
(6).
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Sec. 203
Preserving community post offices
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