Sec. 204. Changes to mail delivery schedule
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/bill/113/s/1486/rs/section-204·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Postal Service may establish a general, nationwide delivery schedule of 5 or fewer days per week to street addresses under the authority of the Postal Service under title 39, United States Code, if— the Postal Service determines that such a delivery schedule would contribute to the achievement of long-term solvency; and not less than 1 year has elapsed since the date of enactment of this Act. If the Postal Service intends to establish a change in delivery schedule under subsection (a), the Postal Service, to the extent practicable and appropriate, shall— identify customers and communities for which the change may have a disproportionate, negative impact, including small business customers and the customers identified as particularly affected in the Advisory Opinion on Elimination of Saturday Delivery issued by the Commission on March 24, 2011; develop measures to ameliorate any disproportionately negative impact the change would have on customers and communities identified under paragraph (1); and not later than 3 months before the effective date for any proposed change, submit a report that includes the determination required under subsection (a)(1) and details any measures developed pursuant to subparagraph
(B)of this paragraph to— the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives; and the Commission. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to affect the authority of the Postal Service to establish a nationwide delivery schedule of 5 or fewer days per week if the conditions in subsection
(a)are satisfied. Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives a report evaluating the extent to which a change in delivery schedule would improve the financial condition of the Postal Service and assist in the efforts of the Postal Service to achieve long-term solvency, taking into consideration other ongoing and planned efforts to increase revenue and reduce costs, consistent with the requirements of this Act. Nothing in this section shall be construed to— require the decrease or increase in delivery frequency for any route for which the Postal Service provided delivery on fewer than 6 days per week as of the date of enactment of this Act; authorize any change in— the days and times that postal retail service or any mail acceptance is available at postal retail facilities or processing facilities; or the locations at which postal retail service or mail acceptance occurs at postal retail facilities or processing facilities; require any change in the frequency of delivery to a post office box; prohibit the collection or delivery of a competitive mail product on a weekend, a recognized Federal holiday, or any other specific day of the week; or prohibit the Postal Service from exercising its authority to make changes to processing or retail networks. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, for a period of not less than 2 years, beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Postal Service shall provide package service— 6 days per week to each street address that was eligible to receive package service 6 days per week as of January 1, 2013; and 7 days per week to each street address for which the Postal Service determines that such service provides an economic benefit to the Postal Service. If the Postal Service establishes a general, nationwide delivery schedule of 5 or fewer days per week consistent with the provisions of this section, the Postal Service shall amend the Mailing Standards of the United States, Domestic Mail Manual to ensure that the provisions of section 508.3.2.10 of such manual, as in effect on January 1, 2013, shall apply on any day on which the Postal Service does not deliver the mail under the established delivery schedule.