I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 704 
To provide for free mailing privileges for personal correspondence and parcels 
sent to members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty in Iraq 
or Afghanistan. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 27, 2009 
Mr. KING of New York (for himself and Mr. BILIRAKIS) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To provide for free mailing privileges for personal cor-
respondence and parcels sent to members of the Armed 
Forces serving on active duty in Iraq or Afghanistan. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Supply Our Soldiers 
Act of 2009’’. 
SEC. 2. POSTAL BENEFITS PROGRAM FOR MEMBERS OF 
THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, in con-
sultation with the United States Postal Service, shall pro-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
23:02 Jan 28, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H704.IH
H704
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
vide for a program under which postal benefits shall be 
provided to qualified individuals in accordance with suc-
ceeding provisions of this Act. 
(b) QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL.—For purposes of this 
Act, the term ‘‘qualified individual’’ means an individual 
who is— 
(1) a member of the Armed Forces of the 
United States on active duty (as defined in section 
101 of title 10, United States Code); and 
(2)(A) serving in Iraq or Afghanistan; or 
(B) hospitalized at a facility under the jurisdic-
tion of the Armed Forces of the United States as a 
result of a disease or injury incurred as a result of 
service in Iraq or Afghanistan. 
(c) POSTAL BENEFITS DESCRIBED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The postal benefits provided 
under this Act shall consist of such coupons or other 
similar evidence of credit (whether in printed, elec-
tronic, or other format, and hereinafter in this Act 
referred to as ‘‘vouchers’’) as the Secretary of De-
fense (in consultation with the Postal Service) shall 
determine, entitling the bearer or user to make 
qualified mailings free of postage. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
23:02 Jan 28, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H704.IH
H704
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
(2) QUALIFIED MAILING.—For purposes of this 
Act, the term ‘‘qualified mailing’’ means the mailing 
of a single mail piece which— 
(A) is described in subparagraph (A) or 
(B) of paragraph (3); 
(B) is sent from within an area served by 
a United States post office; and 
(C) is addressed to a qualified individual. 
(3) MAIL DESCRIBED.—Mail described in this 
paragraph is— 
(A) any first-class mail (including any 
sound- or video-recorded communication) not 
exceeding 13 ounces in weight and having the 
character of personal correspondence; and 
(B) parcel post not exceeding 15 pounds in 
weight. 
(4) LIMITATIONS.— 
(A) NUMBER.—An individual shall be eligi-
ble for 1 voucher for each month in which such 
individual is a qualified individual. 
(B) USE.—Any such voucher may not be 
used— 
(i) for more than a single qualified 
mailing; or 
(ii) after the earlier of— 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
23:02 Jan 28, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H704.IH
H704
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
(I) the expiration date of such 
voucher, as designated by the Sec-
retary of Defense; or 
(II) the last day of the 1-year pe-
riod referred to in section 4. 
(5) 
COORDINATION
RULE.—Postal 
benefits 
under this Act shall be in addition to, and not in lieu 
of, any reduced rates of postage or other similar 
benefits which might otherwise be available by or 
under law, including any rates of postage resulting 
from the application of section 3401(b) of title 39, 
United States Code. 
(d) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
(in consultation with the Postal Service) shall prescribe 
any regulations necessary to carry out this Act, includ-
ing— 
(1) procedures by which vouchers will be pro-
vided or made available in timely manner to persons 
duly identified by qualified individuals to receive 
those vouchers; and 
(2) procedures to ensure that the number of 
vouchers provided or made available with respect to 
any qualified individual complies with subsection 
(c)(4)(A). 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
23:02 Jan 28, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H704.IH
H704
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
SEC. 3. FUNDING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated to the Department of Defense a sum determined 
by the Department of Defense to be equal to the expenses 
incurred by the Department in providing the benefits de-
scribed in section 2(c). 
(b) TRANSFERS TO POSTAL SERVICE.— 
(1) BASED ON ESTIMATES.—The Department 
of Defense shall transfer to the Postal Service, out 
of any amount so appropriated and in advance of 
each calendar quarter during which postal benefits 
under this Act may be used, an amount equal to the 
amount of postal benefits that the Department of 
Defense estimates will be used during such quarter, 
reduced or increased (as the case may be) by any 
amounts by which the Department finds that a de-
termination under this section for a prior quarter 
was greater than or less than the amount finally de-
termined for such quarter. 
(2) BASED
ON
FINAL
DETERMINATION.—A 
final determination of the amount necessary to cor-
rect any previous determination under this section, 
and any transfer of amounts between the Postal 
Service and the Department of Defense based on 
that final determination, shall be made not later 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
23:02 Jan 28, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H704.IH
H704
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
than 6 months after the end of the 1-year period re-
ferred to in section 4. 
(c) CONSULTATION REQUIRED.—All estimates and 
determinations under this section of the amount of postal 
benefits under this Act used in any period shall be made 
by the Department of Defense in consultation with the 
Postal Service. 
SEC. 4. DURATION. 
The postal benefits under this Act shall apply with 
respect to mail matter sent during the 1-year period begin-
ning on the date on which the regulations under section 
2(d) take effect. 
Æ 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
23:02 Jan 28, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H704.IH
H704
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with BILLS