I

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 3981

To provide that a person may use a private express for the private carriage

of certain letters and packets without being penalized by the Postal

Service, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

AUGUST 2, 1996

Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey introduced the following bill; which was referred

to the Committee on on Government Reform and Oversight

A BILL

To provide that a person may use a private express for

the private carriage of certain letters and packets without

being penalized by the Postal Service, 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. PRIVATE CARRIAGE OF CERTAIN LETTERS AND

4 PACKETS.

5 (a) POSTAL SERVICE ADMINISTRATION.—(1) Section

6 601(a) of title 39, United States Code, is amended by

7 striking out ‘‘A letter’’ and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘Sub8 ject to the provisions of section 607, a letter’’.
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HR 3981 IH

1 (2)(A) Chapter 6 of title 39, United States Code, is

2 amended by adding after section 606 the following new

3 section:

4 ‘‘§ 607. Administration relating to certain letters and

5 packets

6 ‘‘In the administration of the provisions of this chap7 ter and chapter 4 of this title by the Postal Service or

8 the Attorney General of the United States and in the ad9 ministration of sections 1693 through 1699 of title 18 by

10 the Attorney General of the United States, the Postal

11 Service or the Attorney General of the United States, re12 spectively, may not fine or otherwise penalize any person

13 who transmits by private express or other unlawful means,

14 or delivers to any agent thereof, or deposits at any ap15 pointed place, for the purpose of being so transmitted any

16 letter or packet.’’.

17 (B) The table of sections for chapter 6 of title 39,

18 United States Code, is amended by adding after the item

19 relating to section 606 the following:

‘‘607. Administration relating to certain letters and packets.’’.

20 (b) PRIVATE EXPRESS PROVISIONS.—(1) Chapter 83

21 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

22 (A) in section 1696—

23 (i) by striking out subsection (b); and

24 (ii) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub25 section (b); and
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HR 3981 IH

1 (B) by inserting after section 1699 the follow2 ing new section:

3 ‘‘§ 1699A. Application of postal service provisions

4 ‘‘The provisions of sections 1693 through 1699 of

5 this title shall be subject to the provisions of section 607

6 of title 39.’’.

7 (2) The table of sections for chapter 83 of title 18,

8 United States Code, is amended by inserting after the

9 item relating to section 1699 the following:

‘‘1699A. Application of Postal Service provisions.’’.

10 SEC. 2. SEARCHES.

11 Section 603 of title 39, United States Code, is

12 amended by striking ‘‘The Postal Service’’ and inserting:

13 ‘‘(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the Postal

14 Service’’ and by adding at the end the following:

15 ‘‘(b) The Postal Service may not authorize any officer

16 or employee of the Postal Service to make searches of mail

17 matter listed in subsection (a) in any store or office of

18 a customer of a common carrier or transportation com19 pany.’’.

Æ