II 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4675 

To require the United States Postal Service to submit a comprehensive 

proposal to the Postal Regulatory Commission before implementing any 

network changes, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 11 (legislative day, JULY 10), 2024 

Mr. PETERS (for himself, Ms. COLLINS, and Ms. ROSEN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 

A BILL 

To require the United States Postal Service to submit a 

comprehensive proposal to the Postal Regulatory Commission before implementing any network changes, and 

for other purposes. 

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 ‘‘United States Postal 

5 Service Stop and Study Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 


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•S 4675 IS

1 (1) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 

2 means the Postal Regulatory Commission. 

3 (2) NETWORK CHANGES.—The term ‘‘network 

4 changes’’— 

5 (A) means permanent changes to the facili6 ties or network of the Postal Service, includ7 ing— 

8 (i) consolidation or partial consolida9 tion of processing or logistics facilities; 

10 (ii) aggregation or consolidation of 

11 processing, distribution, or delivery oper12 ations; 

13 (iii) conversions or construction of fa14 cilities in order to centralize operations; or 

15 (iv) the systematic reduction of trans16 portation trips between sorting facilities 

17 and delivery units; and 

18 (B) does not include temporary operational 

19 changes that are necessary to maintain reliable 

20 service between facilities or to alleviate conges21 tion that has caused delays or disruption of 

22 service. 

23 (3) POSTAL SERVICE.—The term ‘‘Postal Serv24 ice’’ means the United States Postal Service. 


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•S 4675 IS

1 SEC. 3. ADVISORY OPINION ON NETWORK CHANGES. 

2 (a) ADVISORY OPINION.— 

3 (1) PROPOSAL.—Prior to implementing any 

4 network changes, the Postal Service shall submit to 

5 the Commission a comprehensive proposal with re6 spect to all such network changes using the proce7 dures under section 3661(b) of title 39, United 

8 States Code. 

9 (2) OPINION.—Not later than 180 days after 

10 the submission of a comprehensive proposal under 

11 paragraph (1), the Commission shall issue an opin12 ion on the comprehensive proposal using the proce13 dures under section 3661(c) of title 39, United 

14 States Code. 

15 (3) REVERSAL.—An opinion under paragraph 

16 (2) shall also address the extent to which reversal of 

17 any network changes implemented on or after Janu18 ary 1, 2023, is advisable. 

19 (4) ACCESS.—The Postal Service shall provide 

20 the Commission any information and records the 

21 Commission deems necessary to issue an opinion 

22 under paragraph (2), including any access to Postal 

23 Service facilities. 

24 (b) PAUSE.—The Postal Service shall not implement 

25 any proposed network changes until— 


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•S 4675 IS

1 (1) the Commission issues an opinion on the 

2 proposed network changes under subsection (a)(2); 

3 and 

4 (2) the Postal Service— 

5 (A) considers the opinion; and 

6 (B) submits to Congress and the Commis7 sion a response to the opinion that— 

8 (i) addresses the opinion and any rec9 ommendations therein; and 

10 (ii) explains the decision of the Postal 

11 Service to implement or not implement 

12 each recommendation contained in the 

13 opinion. 

14 (c) PROHIBITION.—The Postal Service shall not im15 plement any network changes if the opinion under sub16 section (a)(2) finds that such changes are likely to have 

17 a negative impact on service if implemented. 

Æ 


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