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104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 3401

To allow postal patrons to contribute to funding for breast–cancer research

through the voluntary purchase of certain specially issued United States

postage stamps.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 7, 1996

Mr. FAZIO of California introduced the following bill; which was referred to

the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, and in addition to

the Committee on Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined

by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall

within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To allow postal patrons to contribute to funding for breast–

cancer research through the voluntary purchase of certain specially issued United States postage stamps.

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 ‘‘Breast–Cancer Re5 search Stamp Act’’.

6 SEC. 2. SPECIAL POSTAGE STAMPS.

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—In order to afford the public a

8 convenient way to contribute to funding for breast–cancer
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1 research, the United States Postal Service shall establish

2 a special rate of postage for first–class mail under this

3 section.

4 (b) HIGHER RATE.—The rate of postage established

5 under this section—

6 (1) shall be 1 cent higher than the rate that

7 would otherwise apply;

8 (2) may be established without regard to any

9 procedures under chapter 36 of title 39, United

10 States Code, and notwithstanding any other provi11 sion of law; and

12 (3) shall be offered as an alternative to the rate

13 that would otherwise apply.

14 The use of the rate of postage established under this sec15 tion shall be voluntary on the part of postal patrons.

16 (c) USE OF FUNDS.—

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—The amounts attributable to

18 the 1–cent differential established under this Act

19 shall be paid by the United States Postal Service to

20 the National Institutes of Health under such ar21 rangements as those agencies shall by mutual agree22 ment establish in order to carry out the purposes of

23 this Act, except that under those arrangements, pay24 ments shall be made at least twice a year.
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1 (2) AMOUNTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE 1–CENT

2 DIFFERENTIAL.—For purposes of this subsection,

3 the term ‘‘amounts attributable to the 1–cent dif4 ferential established under this Act’’ means, as de5 termined by the United States Postal Service under

6 regulations that it shall prescribe—

7 (A) the total amount of revenues received

8 by the United States Postal Service that it

9 would not have received but for the enactment

10 of this Act, reduced by

11 (B) an amount sufficient to cover reason12 able administrative and other costs of the Unit13 ed States Postal Service attributable to carrying

14 out this Act.

15 (d) SPECIAL POSTAGE STAMPS.—The United States

16 Postal Service may provide for the design and sale of spe17 cial postage stamps to carry out this Act.

18 (e) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the Con19 gress that—

20 (1) nothing in this Act should directly or indi21 rectly cause a net decrease in total funds received by

22 the National Institutes of Health or any other agen23 cy or instrumentality of the Government (or any

24 component or other aspect thereof) below the level
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1 that would otherwise have been anticipated absent

2 this Act; and

3 (2) nothing in this Act should affect regular

4 first–class rates or any other regular rate of postage.

5 SEC. 3. ANNUAL REPORTS.

6 The Postmaster General shall include in each annual

7 report rendered under section 2402 of title 39, United

8 States Code, information concerning the operation of this

9 Act.

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