dreamproit/uscode huggingface dataset:
39 U.S.C. § 3206 (POSTAL SERVICE)
§ 3206. Reimbursement for penalty mail service
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, executive departments and agencies, independent establishments of the Government of the United States, and Government corporations concerned, shall transfer to the Postal Service as postal revenue out of any appropriations or funds available to them, as a necessary expense of the appropriations or funds and of the activities concerned, the equivalent amount of postage due, as determined by the Postal Service, for matter sent in the mails by or to them as penalty mail under authority of section 3202 of this title.
(b) The Department of Agriculture shall transfer to the Postal Service as postal revenues out of any appropriations made to it for that purpose the equivalent amount of postage, as determined by the Postal Service, for penalty mailings under clauses (1)(F) and (4) of section 3202(a) of this title.
(c) The Department of State shall transfer to the Postal Service as postal revenues out of any appropriations made to it for that purpose the equivalent amount of postage, as determined by the Postal Service, for penalty mailings under clause (1)(C) and (D) of section 3202(a) of this title.
(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 753; Pub. L. 93–191, § 9, Dec. 18, 1973, 87 Stat. 745; Pub. L. 94–553, § 105(e), Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2599.)
heading: Amendments
text: 1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–553 substituted “subsection (b)” for “subsections (b) and (c)”.
Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 94–553 redesignated subsec. (d) as (c). Former subsec. (c), directing the Library of Congress to transfer to the Postal Service as postal revenues out of any appropriations made to the Library for that purpose the equivalent amount of postage, as determined by the Postal Service, for penalty mailings under clause (5) of section 3202(a) of this title, was struck out.
1973—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 93–191 added subsec. (d).
heading: Effective Date of 1976 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 94–553 effective Jan. 1, 1978, see section 102 of Pub. L. 94–553, set out as an Effective Date note preceding section 101 of Title 17, Copyrights.
heading: Effective Date of 1973 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 93–191 effective Dec. 18, 1973, see section 14 of Pub. L. 93–191, set out as a note under section 3210 of this title.
39 U.S.C. § 3207 (POSTAL SERVICE)
§ 3207. Limit of weight of penalty mail; postage on overweight matter
(a) Penalty mail is restricted to articles not in excess of the weight and size prescribed for that class of mail receiving high priority in handling and delivery, except—
(1) stamped paper and supplies sold or used by the Postal Service; and
(2) books and documents published or circulated by order of Congress when mailed by the Superintendent of Documents.
(b) A penalty mail article which is—
(1) over 4 pounds in weight;
(2) not in excess of the weight and size prescribed for mail matter; and
(3) otherwise mailable;
is mailable at rates for that class of mail entitled to the lowest priority in handling and delivery, even though it may include written matter and may be sealed.
(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 753.)
39 U.S.C. § 3208 (POSTAL SERVICE)
§ 3208. Shipment by most economical means
Shipments of official matter other than franked mail shall be sent by the most economical means of transportation practicable. The Postal Service may refuse to accept official matter for shipment by mail when in its judgment it may be shipped by other means at less expense, or it may provide for its transportation by freight or express whenever a saving to the Government of the United States will result therefrom without detriment to the public service.
(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 753.)
39 U.S.C. § 3209 (POSTAL SERVICE)
§ 3209. Executive departments to supply information
Persons and governmental organizations authorized to use penalty mail shall supply all information requested by the Postal Service necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter as soon as practicable after request therefor.
(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 754.)
39 U.S.C. § 3211 (POSTAL SERVICE)
§ 3211. Public documents
The Vice President, Members of Congress, the Secretary of the Senate, the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, each of the elected officers of the House of Representatives (other than a Member of the House) during the 90-day period immediately following the expiration of their respective terms of office, may send and receive as franked mail all public documents printed by order of Congress.
(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 754; Pub. L. 93–191, § 2, Dec. 18, 1973, 87 Stat. 741; Pub. L. 97–69, § 5(a), Oct. 26, 1981, 95 Stat. 1043.)
heading: Amendments
text: 1981—Pub. L. 97–69 substituted “during the 90-day period immediately” for “until the first day of April”.
1973—Pub. L. 93–191 substituted “each of the elected officers of the House of Representatives (other than a Member of the House) until the first day of April” for “the Clerk of the House of Representatives, and the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives, until the thirtieth day of June”.
heading: Effective Date of 1973 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 93–191 effective Dec. 18, 1973, see section 14 of Pub. L. 93–191, set out as a note under section 3210 of this title.
39 U.S.C. § 3212 (POSTAL SERVICE)
§ 3212. Congressional Record under frank of Members of Congress
(a) Members of Congress may send the Congressional Record as franked mail.
(b) Members of Congress may send, as franked mail, any part of, or a reprint of any part of, the Congressional Record, including speeches or reports contained therein, if such matter is mailable as franked mail under section 3210 of this title.
(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 754; Pub. L. 93–191, § 3, Dec. 18, 1973, 87 Stat. 741.)
heading: Amendments
text: 1973—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 93–191 incorporated existing text in provisions designated as subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 93–191 incorporated existing text in provisions designated as subsec. (b), authorized sending, as franked mail, reprints of parts of Congressional Record, and authorized the mailing of Congressional Record if the listed matter is mailable as franked mail under section 3210 of this title.
heading: Effective Date of 1973 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 93–191 effective Dec. 18, 1973, see section 14 of Pub. L. 93–191, set out as a note under section 3210 of this title.
39 U.S.C. § 3213 (POSTAL SERVICE)
§ 3213. Seeds and reports from Department of Agriculture
Seeds and agricultural reports emanating from the Department of Agriculture may be mailed—
(1) as penalty mail by the Secretary of Agriculture; and
(2) during the 90-day period immediately following the expiration of their terms of office, as franked mail by Members of Congress.
(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 754; Pub. L. 97–69, § 5(b), Oct. 26, 1981, 95 Stat. 1043.)
heading: Amendments
text: 1981—Par. (2). Pub. L. 97–69 substituted “during the 90-day period immediately” for “until the thirtieth day of June”.
39 U.S.C. § 3214 (POSTAL SERVICE)
§ 3214. Mailing privilege of former President; surviving spouse of former President
A former President and the surviving spouse of a former President may send nonpolitical mail within the United States and its territories and possessions as franked mail. Such mail of a former President and of the surviving spouse of a former President marked “Postage and Fees Paid” in the manner prescribed by the Postal Service shall be accepted by the Postal Service for transmission in the international mails.
(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 754; Pub. L. 93–191, § 4(a), Dec. 18, 1973, 87 Stat. 742; Pub. L. 103–123, title IV, § 6(b), Oct. 28, 1993, 107 Stat. 1246; Pub. L. 105–61, title IV, § 409(b), Oct. 10, 1997, 111 Stat. 1299.)
heading: Amendments
text: 1997—Pub. L. 105–61 struck out subsec. (a) designation, substituted “A former President” for “Subject to subsection (b), a former President”, and struck out subsec. (b) which read as follows: “Subsection (a) shall cease to apply—
“(1) 5 years after the effective date of this subsection, in the case of any individual who, on such effective date—
“(A) is a former President (including any individual who might become entitled to the mailing privilege under subsection (a) as the surviving spouse of such a former President); or
“(B) is the surviving spouse of a former President; and
“(2) 4 years and 6 months after the expiration of the period for which services and facilities are authorized to be provided under section 4 of the Presidential Transition Act of 1963 (3 U.S.C. 102 note), in the case of an individual who becomes a former President after such effective date (including any surviving spouse of such individual, as described in the parenthetical matter in paragraph (1)(A)).”
1993—Pub. L. 103–123 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), substituted “Subject to subsection (b), a former” for “A former”, and added subsec. (b).
1973—Pub. L. 93–191 limited the mailing privilege to nonpolitical mail, extended the privilege to surviving spouse of former President and provided for acceptance of such mail marked “Postage and Fees Paid” by the Postal Service for transmission in the international mails.
heading: Effective Date of 1993 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 103–123, title IV, § 6(c), Oct. 28, 1993, 107 Stat. 1247, provided that: “The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) [amending this section and provisions set out as a note under section 102 of Title 3, The President] shall take effect on October 1, 1993.”
heading: Effective Date of 1973 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 93–191 effective Dec. 27, 1972, see section 14 of Pub. L. 93–191, set out as a note under section 3210 of this title.
39 U.S.C. § 3215 (POSTAL SERVICE)
§ 3215. Lending or permitting use of frank unlawful
A person entitled to use a frank may not lend it or permit its use by any committee, organization, or association, or permit its use by any person for the benefit or use of any committee, organization, or association. This section does not apply to any standing, select, special, or joint committee, or subcommittee thereof, or commission, of the Senate, House of Representatives, or Congress, composed of Members of Congress, or to the Democratic caucus or the Republican conference of the House of Representatives or of the Senate.
(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 754; Pub. L. 93–191, § 10, Dec. 18, 1973, 87 Stat. 746.)
heading: Amendments
text: 1973—Pub. L. 93–191 substituted provision for nonapplication of section to “any standing, select, special, or joint committee, or subcommittee thereof, or commission, of the Senate, House of Representatives, or Congress, composed of Members of Congress, or to the Democratic caucus or the Republican conference of the House of Representatives or of the Senate” for such nonapplication to “any committee composed of Members of Congress”.
heading: Effective Date of 1973 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 93–191 effective Dec. 18, 1973, see section 14 of Pub. L. 93–191, set out as a note under section 3210 of this title.
39 U.S.C. § 3217 (POSTAL SERVICE)
§ 3217. Correspondence of members of diplomatic corps and consuls of countries of Postal Union of Americas and Spain
Correspondence of the members of the diplomatic corps of the countries of the Postal Union of the Americas and Spain stationed in the United States may be reciprocally transmitted in the domestic mails free of postage, and be entitled to free registration without right to indemnity in case of loss. The same privilege is accorded consuls and vice consuls when they are discharging the function of consuls of countries stationed in the United States, for official correspondence among themselves, and with the Government of the United States.
(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 755.)
heading: Free Mailing Privileges Continue Unchanged
text: Pub. L. 109–435, title V, § 505(c), Dec. 20, 2006, 120 Stat. 3236, provided that: “Nothing in this Act [see Tables for classification] or any amendment made by this Act shall affect any free mailing privileges accorded under section 3217 or sections 3403 through 3406 of title 39, United States Code.”
39 U.S.C. § 3218 (POSTAL SERVICE)
§ 3218. Franked mail for survivors of Members of Congress
Upon the death of a Member of Congress during his term of office, the surviving spouse of such Member (or, if there is no surviving spouse, a member of the immediate family of the Member designated by the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House of Representatives, as appropriate, in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Secretary or the Clerk) may send, for a period not to exceed 180 days after his death, as franked mail, nonpolitical correspondence relating to the death of the Member.
(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 755; Pub. L. 93–191, § 11, Dec. 18, 1973, 87 Stat. 746; Pub. L. 97–69, § 6(b), (c)(1), Oct. 26, 1981, 95 Stat. 1043.)
heading: Amendments
text: 1981—Pub. L. 97–69 substituted “survivors” for “surviving spouses” in section catchline and, in text, inserted “(or, if there is no surviving spouse, a member of the immediate family of the Member designated by the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House of Representatives, as appropriate, in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Secretary or the Clerk)” after “such Member”.
1973—Pub. L. 93–191 inserted “nonpolitical” before “correspondence”.
heading: Effective Date of 1973 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 93–191 effective Dec. 18, 1973, see section 14 of Pub. L. 93–191, set out as a note under section 3210 of this title.
39 U.S.C. § 3219 (POSTAL SERVICE)
§ 3219. Mailgrams
Any Mailgram sent by the Vice President, a Member of or Member-elect to Congress, the Secretary of the Senate, the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, an elected officer of the House of Representatives (other than a Member of the House), the Legislative Counsel of the House of Representatives or the Senate, the Law Revision Counsel of the House of Representatives, or the Senate Legal Counsel, and then delivered by the Postal Service, shall be considered as franked mail, subject to section 3216(a)(2) of this title, if such Mailgram contains matter of the kind authorized to be sent by that official as franked mail under section 3210 of this title.
(Added Pub. L. 93–191, § 12(a), Dec. 18, 1973, 87 Stat. 746; amended Pub. L. 95–521, title VII, § 714(c), Oct. 26, 1978, 92 Stat. 1884; Pub. L. 97–263, § 1(4), Sept. 24, 1982, 96 Stat. 1132.)
heading: Amendments
text: 1982—Pub. L. 97–263 inserted reference to Law Revision Counsel of House of Representatives.
1978—Pub. L. 95–521 inserted reference to Senate Legal Counsel.
heading: Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 95–521 effective Jan. 3, 1979, see section 717 of Pub. L. 95–521, set out as an Effective Date note under section 288 of Title 2, The Congress.
heading: Effective Date
text: Section effective Dec. 18, 1973, see section 14 of Pub. L. 93–191, set out as an Effective Date of 1976 Amendment note under section 3210 of this title.
39 U.S.C. § 3402 (POSTAL SERVICE)
[§ 3402. Repealed. Pub. L. 96–70, title I, § 1331(e)(3)(A), Sept. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 482]
text: Section, Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 757, related to mailing privileges of members of Armed Forces of the United States and of friendly foreign nations in the Canal Zone.
heading: Effective Date of Repeal
text: Repeal effective Oct. 1, 1979, see section 3304 of Pub. L. 96–70, set out as an Effective Date note under section 3601 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.
39 U.S.C. § 3403 (POSTAL SERVICE)
§ 3403. Matter for blind and other handicapped persons
(a) The matter described in subsection (b) of this section (other than matter mailed under section 3404 of this title) may be mailed free of postage, if—
(1) the matter is for the use of the blind or other persons who cannot use or read conventionally printed material because of a physical impairment and who are certified by competent authority as unable to read normal reading material in accordance with the provisions of sections 135a and 135b of title 2;
(2) no charge, or rental, subscription, or other fee, is required for such matter or a charge, or rental, subscription, or other fee is required for such matter not in excess of the cost thereof;
(3) the matter may be opened by the Postal Service for inspection; and
(4) the matter contains no advertising.
(b) The free mailing privilege provided by subsection (a) of this section is extended to—
(1) reading matter and musical scores;
(2) sound reproductions;
(3) paper, records, tapes, and other material for the production of reading matter, musical scores, or sound reproductions;
(4) reproducers or parts thereof, for sound reproductions; and
(5) braille writers, typewriters, educational or other materials or devices, or parts thereof, used for writing by, or specifically designed or adapted for use of, a blind person or a person having a physical impairment as described in subsection (a)(1) of this section.
(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 757.)
39 U.S.C. § 3404 (POSTAL SERVICE)
§ 3404. Unsealed letters sent by blind or physically handicapped persons
Unsealed letters sent by a blind person or a person having a physical impairment, as described in section 3403(a)(1) of this title, in raised characters or sightsaving type, or in the form of sound recordings, may be mailed free of postage.
(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 758.)
39 U.S.C. § 3405 (POSTAL SERVICE)
§ 3405. Markings
All matter relating to blind or other handicapped persons mailed under section 3403 or 3404 of this title, shall bear the words “Free Matter for the Blind or Handicapped”, or words to that effect specified by the Postal Service, in the upper right-hand corner of the address area.
(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 758.)
39 U.S.C. § 3406 (POSTAL SERVICE)
§ 3406. Balloting materials under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act
(a) Balloting materials under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (individually or in bulk)—
(1) shall be carried expeditiously and free of postage; and
(2) may be mailed at a post office established outside the United States under section 406 of this title, unless such mailing is prohibited by treaty or other international agreement of the United States.
(b) As used in this section, the term “balloting materials” has the meaning given that term in section 107 of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.
(Added Pub. L. 99–410, title II, § 201(a), Aug. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 928.)
heading: References in Text
text: The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 99–410, Aug. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 924, as amended, which is classified principally to subchapter I–G (§ 1973ff et seq.) of chapter 20 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. Section 107 of that Act is classified to section 1973ff–6 of Title 42. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1986 Amendment note set out under section 1971 of Title 42 and Tables.
heading: Effective Date
text: Section applicable with respect to elections taking place after Dec. 31, 1987, see section 204 of Pub. L. 99–410, set out as a note under section 1973ff of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.
39 U.S.C. § 3621 (POSTAL SERVICE)
§ 3621. Applicability; definitions
(a) Applicability.—
This subchapter shall apply with respect to—
(1) first-class mail letters and sealed parcels;
(2) first-class mail cards;
(3) periodicals;
(4) standard mail;
(5) single-piece parcel post;
(6) media mail;
(7) bound printed matter;
(8) library mail;
(9) special services; and
(10) single-piece international mail,
subject to any changes the Postal Regulatory Commission may make under section 3642.
(b) Rule of Construction.—
Mail matter referred to in subsection (a) shall, for purposes of this subchapter, be considered to have the meaning given to such mail matter under the mail classification schedule.
(Added Pub. L. 109–435, title II, § 201(a), Dec. 20, 2006, 120 Stat. 3200.)
heading: Prior Provisions
text: A prior section 3621, Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 760, authorized the Governors to fix rates and classes, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 109–435, title II, § 201(a), Dec. 20, 2006, 120 Stat. 3200.
heading: Ratemaking Limitations
text: Pub. L. 103–123, title VII, § 704(b)(2), Oct. 28, 1993, 107 Stat. 1270, provided that:
“(A) In general.—
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), rates of postage may not be established, under subchapter II [now I] of chapter 36 of title 39, United States Code, in a manner designed to allow the United States Postal Service to receive through revenues any portion of the additional revenues (referred to in section 2401(d) of such title, as amended by paragraph (1)(E)) for which amounts are authorized to be appropriated under such section 2401(d).
“(B) Exception.—
If Congress fails to appropriate an amount authorized under section 2401(d) of title 39, United States Code (as amended by paragraph (1)(E)), rates for the various classes of mail may be adjusted in accordance with the provisions of subchapter II [now I] of chapter 36 of such title (excluding section 3627 thereof) such that the resulting increase in revenues will equal the amount that Congress so failed to appropriate.”
39 U.S.C. § 3623 to 3625 (POSTAL SERVICE)
[§§ 3623 to 3625. Repealed. Pub. L. 109–435, title II, § 201(b), Dec. 20, 2006, 120 Stat. 3205]
text: Section 3623, Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 761; Pub. L. 94–421, § 8, Sept. 24, 1976, 90 Stat. 1310, related to mail classification.
text: Section 3624, Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 761; Pub. L. 94–421, § 5(a), Sept. 24, 1976, 90 Stat. 1306, related to recommended decisions of the Postal Rate Commission.
text: Section 3625, Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 762; Pub. L. 103–123, title VII, § 708(d), Oct. 28, 1993, 107 Stat. 1273, related to action of the Board of Governors of the Postal Service.