I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 9024 

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

under which a person to whom a document is sent may elect to use 

the United States Postal Service’s Signature Confirmation service or 

Priority Mail Signature Confirmation Restricted Delivery service to send 

secure identity documents, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 17, 2020 

Ms. SPEIER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, 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 direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide 

for an option under which a person to whom a document 

is sent may elect to use the United States Postal Service’s Signature Confirmation service or Priority Mail Signature Confirmation Restricted Delivery service to send 

secure identity documents, 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, 


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•HR 9024 IH

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Strengthening Depart3 ment of Homeland Security Secure Mail Act’’. 

4 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

5 In this Act— 

6 (1) the terms ‘‘Signature Confirmation service’’ 

7 and ‘‘Priority Mail Signature Confirmation Re8 stricted Delivery service’’ means the services de9 scribed in section 503.8.1.1.a and 503.8.1.1.b, re10 spectively, of the Domestic Mail Manual (or any suc11 cessor services); 

12 (2) the term ‘‘Immigration Examinations Fee 

13 Account’’ means the account established under sec14 tion 286(m) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 

15 (8 U.S.C. 1356(m)); 

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

17 States Postal Service; 

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

19 of Homeland Security; and 

20 (5) the term ‘‘secure identity document’’ means 

21 an Employment Authorization Document, a Perma22 nent Resident Card, a Travel Document (including 

23 advance parole document), or any other document so 

24 designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security. 


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•HR 9024 IH

1 SEC. 3. USE OF SIGNATURE CONFIRMATION AND PRIORITY 

2 MAIL SIGNATURE CONFIRMATION RE3 STRICTED DELIVERY SERVICES TO DELIVER 

4 SECURE IDENTITY DOCUMENT. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Beginning not later than 18 

6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec7 retary of Homeland Security shall provide for an option 

8 under which a person to whom a document is sent may 

9 elect to use the United States Postal Service’s Signature 

10 Confirmation service or Priority Mail Signature Confirma11 tion Restricted Delivery service (or any successor services) 

12 to send a secure identity document. 

13 (b) NOTICE OF CHANGES; APPLICATION.— 

14 (1) NOTICE OF CHANGES.—The Postal Service 

15 shall notify the Secretary of any changes to the Sig16 nature Confirmation service or the Priority Mail Sig17 nature Confirmation Restricted Delivery service. 

18 (2) APPLICATION.—In carrying out subsection 

19 (a), the Postal Service shall allow any individual rep20 resented by an attorney or accredited representative 

21 and who elects to have a secure identity document 

22 delivered by a service described in such subsection to 

23 elect that such document may be delivered to any 

24 employee of such attorney or accredited representa25 tive. 

26 (c) USE OF PRIVATE CARRIER.— 


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•HR 9024 IH

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

2 that a private carrier that offers substantially simi3 lar services to the Signature Confirmation service or 

4 the Priority Mail Signature Confirmation Restricted 

5 Delivery service would provide better service and 

6 value than the Postal Service provides under sub7 section (a), the Secretary may, in accordance with 

8 paragraph (2) of this subsection— 

9 (A) decline or discontinue use of the Sig10 nature Confirmation service or Priority Mail 

11 Signature Confirmation Restricted Delivery 

12 service under subsection (a); and 

13 (B) enter into a contract with the private 

14 carrier to provide such substantially similar 

15 services. 

16 (2) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary may not 

17 exercise the authority under paragraph (1) unless 

18 the Secretary determines, and notifies the Postal 

19 Service, that the private carrier offers services that 

20 are substantially similar to the Signature Confirma21 tion service or Priority Mail Signature Confirmation 

22 Restricted Delivery service. 


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1 SEC. 4. REPORT. 

2 Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 

3 of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a re4 port that describes— 

5 (1) the implementation of the requirements 

6 under section 3; and 

7 (2) the number of times during the previous 

8 year that a person used a service under subsection 

9 (a) or (c)(1)(B) of section 3. 

Æ 


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