I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6217 
To amend title 39, United States Code, to modify the procedures governing 
the closure or consolidation of post offices. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 9, 2008 
Mr. SIRES (for himself, Mr. PAYNE, and Mr. ROTHMAN) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Gov-
ernment Reform 
A BILL 
To amend title 39, United States Code, to modify the proce-
dures governing the closure or consolidation of post of-
fices. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. MODIFIED PROCEDURES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 404(d) of title 39, United 
States Code, is amended by striking the matter before 
paragraph (5) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(d)(1) Before making any determination under sub-
section (a)(3) to close or consolidate a post office, the 
Postal Service shall conduct an investigation to assess the 
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need for the proposed closure or consolidation and shall 
provide appropriate notice to the persons served by such 
post office to ensure that such persons will have an oppor-
tunity to present their views. Such notice shall be made 
to each person by mail, as well as by publication in news-
papers of general circulation in the area within which such 
persons reside. 
‘‘(2) In deciding whether or not to close or consoli-
date a post office, the Postal Service— 
‘‘(A) shall consider— 
‘‘(i) the effect such closing or consolidation 
would have on the community served by such 
post office; 
‘‘(ii) the effect such closing or consolida-
tion would have on employees of the Postal 
Service employed at such office; and 
‘‘(iii) whether such closing or consolidation 
would be consistent with the policy of the Gov-
ernment, as stated in section 101(b), that the 
Postal Service shall provide a maximum degree 
of effective and regular postal services to rural 
areas, communities, and small towns where post 
offices are not self-sustaining; and 
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‘‘(B) may not consider compliance with any 
provision of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 
of 1970. 
‘‘(3)(A) A decision to proceed with the proposal to 
close or consolidate, following an investigation under para-
graph (1), shall be made in writing and shall include the 
findings of the Postal Service with respect to each of the 
considerations specified in paragraph (2)(A). 
‘‘(B) Notice of the decision and findings under sub-
paragraph (A) shall be posted prominently in each post 
office that would be affected, and notice of the posting 
shall be sent by mail to all persons served by such post 
office, at least 90 days before a final determination is 
made, to ensure that such persons will have an oppor-
tunity to submit comments. 
‘‘(C) Any posting under subparagraph (B) shall in-
clude the following: ‘This is notice of a proposal to 
lllll this post office. A final determination will not 
be made before the end of the 90-day period beginning 
on the date on which this notice is first posted.’, with the 
blank space being filled in with ‘close’ or ‘consolidate’ 
(whichever is appropriate), and with instructions for how 
any interested person may submit comments. 
‘‘(4) A final determination to close or consolidate a 
post office shall be made, in writing, after taking into con-
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sideration any comments received in the course of the 90- 
day period referred to in paragraph (3). The Postal Serv-
ice shall take no action to close or consolidate a post office 
before the end of the 60-day period beginning on the date 
as of which the Postal Service— 
‘‘(A) posts a copy of its final determination in 
a prominent location in each affected post office; 
and 
‘‘(B) sends to all persons served by such post 
office— 
‘‘(i) a notice of such determination; and 
‘‘(ii) notice of any appeal rights available 
with respect to such determination.’’. 
(b) 
SUSPENSION
PENDING
APPEAL.—Section 
404(d)(5) of title 39, United States Code, is amended in 
the next to last sentence by striking ‘‘may suspend’’ and 
inserting ‘‘shall suspend’’. 
(c) EXCEPTION.—Section 404(d) of title 39, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(7) The preceding provisions of this subsection shall 
not apply in the case of a closing or consolidation which 
occurs— 
‘‘(A) by reason of an emergency suspension, as 
defined under regulations of the Postal Service; or 
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‘‘(B) in the case of a leased facility, by reason 
of the termination or cancellation of the lease by a 
party other than the Postal Service.’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 404 of title 39, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) For purposes of this section— 
‘‘(1) the term ‘post office’ includes an office, 
branch, station, or other facility which— 
‘‘(A) is operated by the Postal Service; and 
‘‘(B) provides services to persons described 
in paragraph (2); and 
‘‘(2) any reference to the persons served by a 
post office shall include any postal patrons receiving 
mail delivery service from such post office, residents 
within any ZIP code served by such post office, post-
al patrons holding post office boxes at such post of-
fice, and (as further defined under regulations of the 
Postal Service) the relevant local government offi-
cials.’’. 
Æ 
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