II 

Calendar No. 241 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1208 

[Report No. 115–171] 

To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide for an option 

under the Secure Mail Initiative under which a person to whom a 

document is sent under that initiative may elect to have the United 

States Postal Service use the Hold for Pickup service or the Signature 

Confirmation service in delivering the document, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 23, 2017 

Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. PERDUE, and Mrs. GILLIBRAND) introduced 

the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee 

on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 

OCTOBER 16, 2017 

Reported by Mr. JOHNSON, with amendments 

[Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic] 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide 

for an option under the Secure Mail Initiative under 

which a person to whom a document is sent under that 

initiative may elect to have the United States Postal 

Service use the Hold for Pickup service or the Signature 

Confirmation service in delivering the document, and for 

other purposes. 


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•S 1208 RS

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Strengthening the De5 partment of Homeland Security Secure Mail Initiative 

6 Act’’. 

7 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

8 In this Act— 

9 (1) the terms ‘‘Hold for Pickup service’’ and 

10 ‘‘Signature Confirmation service’’ means mean the 

11 services described in sections 508.7.2.1 507.3.0 and 

12 503.8.1.1.a, respectively, of the Domestic Mail Man13 ual (or any successor services); 

14 (2) the term ‘‘Immigration Examinations Fee 

15 Account’’ means the account established under sec16 tion 286(m) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 

17 (8 U.S.C. 1356(m)); 

18 (3) the term ‘‘Postal Service’’ means the United 

19 States Postal Service; and 

20 (4) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 

21 of Homeland Security. 


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•S 1208 RS

1 SEC. 3. OFFERING HOLD FOR PICKUP AND SIGNATURE 

2 CONFIRMATION SERVICES UNDER THE SE3 CURE MAIL INITIATIVE. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Beginning not later than 1 year 

5 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 

6 provide for an option under the Secure Mail Initiative (or 

7 any successor program) under which a person to whom 

8 a document is sent under that initiative may elect, except 

9 as provided in subsection (e), to have the Postal Service 

10 use the Hold for Pickup service or the Signature Con11 firmation service in delivering the document. 

12 (b) FEE.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in accord14 ance with section 286(m) of the Immigration and 

15 Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1356(m)), shall require 

16 the payment of a fee from a person electing a service 

17 under subsection (a), which shall be set at a level 

18 that ensures recovery of— 

19 (A) the full costs of providing all such 

20 services; and 

21 (B) any additional costs associated with 

22 the administration of the fees collected. 

23 (2) ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.—Of the fees col24 lected under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— 


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•S 1208 RS

1 (A) deposit as offsetting receipts into the 

2 Immigration Examinations Fee Account the 

3 portion representing— 

4 (i) the cost to the Secretary of pro5 viding the services under subsection (a); 

6 and 

7 (ii) any additional costs associated 

8 with the administration of the fees col9 lected; and 

10 (B) transfer to the Postal Service the por11 tion representing the cost to the Postal Service 

12 of providing the services under subsection (a). 

13 (c) REGULATIONS.—The Postal Service may promul14 gate regulations that— 

15 (1) subject to paragraph (2), minimize the cost 

16 of providing the services under subsection (a); and 

17 (2) do not require the Postal Service to incur 

18 additional expenses that are not recoverable under 

19 subsection (b). 

20 (d) NOTICE OF CHANGES.—The Postal Service shall 

21 notify the Secretary of any changes to the Hold for Pickup 

22 service or the Signature Confirmation service. 

23 (e) USE OF PRIVATE CARRIER.— 

24 (1) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary determines 

25 that a private carrier that offers substantially simiVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:21 Oct 17, 2017 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1208.RS S1208

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•S 1208 RS

1 lar services to the Hold for Pickup and Signature 

2 Confirmation services would provide better service 

3 and value than the Postal Service provides under 

4 subsection (a), the Secretary may, in accordance 

5 with paragraph (2) of this subsection— 

6 (A) discontinue use of the services of the 

7 Postal Service under subsection (a); and 

8 (B) enter into a contract with the private 

9 carrier under which a person to whom a docu10 ment is sent under the Secure Mail Initiative 

11 (or any successor program) may elect to have 

12 the private carrier use one of the substantially 

13 similar services in delivering the document. 

14 (2) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary may not 

15 exercise the authority under paragraph (1) unless 

16 the Secretary— 

17 (A) determines, and notifies the Postal 

18 Service, that the private carrier offers services 

19 that are substantially similar to the Hold for 

20 Pickup and Signature Confirmation services; 

21 (B) provides for an option under the Se22 cure Mail Initiative (or any successor program) 

23 under which a person to whom a document is 

24 sent under that initiative may elect a service 

25 under paragraph (1)(B); 


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1 (C) requires the payment of a fee from a 

2 person electing a service under paragraph 

3 (1)(B), which shall be set at a level that en4 sures recovery of— 

5 (i) the full cost of contracting with the 

6 private carrier to provide all such services; 

7 and 

8 (ii) any additional costs associated 

9 with the administration of the fees col10 lected; and 

11 (D) deposits the fees collected under sub12 paragraph (C) as offsetting receipts into the 

13 Immigration Examinations Fees Account. 

14 SEC. 4. REPORT. 

15 Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 

16 of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a re17 port that describes— 

18 (1) the implementation of the requirements 

19 under section 3; 

20 (2) the fee imposed under subsection (b) or 

21 (e)(2)(C), as applicable, of section 3; and 

22 (3) the number of times during the previous 

23 year that a person used a service under subsection 

24 (a) or (e)(1)(B) of section 3. 


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Calendar No. 241 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1208 

[Report No. 115–171] 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to 

for other purposes. firmation service in delivering the document, and Hold for Pickup service or the Signature Conhave the United States Postal Service use the ment is sent under that initiative may elect to tiative under which a person to whom a docuprovide for an option under the Secure Mail IniOCTOBER 16, 2017 

Reported with amendments 


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