Postal Vehicle Modernization Act
Bill: H.R.1636 | Sponsor: Rep. Huffman, Jared (D-CA)
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
Postal Vehicle Modernization Act
This bill establishes requirements for U.S. Postal Service (USPS) vehicle purchases and charging stations. The bill's provisions only apply if specified funding is appropriated.
Specifically, the bill requires the USPS to ensure that at least 75% of the total number of next generation delivery vehicles purchased using such funds are electric or zero-emission vehicles. The bill provides for a phase-out of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles that are not electric or zero-emission vehicles.
The USPS must provide by January 1, 2026, at each postal facility accessible to the public, at least one electric vehicle charging station for use by the public or USPS officers and employees.

To authorize funding for the purchase of electric or zero-emission 
    vehicles for United States Postal Service fleet, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Postal Vehicle Modernization Act''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION FOR UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE 
              FOR MODERNIZATION OF POSTAL VEHICLES.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to the United States Postal 
Service for the purchase of delivery vehicles, to remain available 
until expended, $6,000,000,000. Any amount appropriated under this 
section shall be deposited into the Postal Service Fund established 
under section 2003 of title 39, United States Code.

SEC. 3. ELECTRIC OR ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLES FOR UNITED STATES POSTAL 
              SERVICE FLEET.

    (a) In General.--Any next generation delivery vehicle purchased by 
the United States Postal Service using the funds appropriated under 
section 2 shall, to the greatest extent practicable, be an electric or 
zero-emission vehicle, and the Postal Service shall ensure that at 
least 75 percent of the total number of vehicles purchased using such 
funds shall be electric or zero emission vehicles. In this subsection, 
the term ``next generation delivery vehicle'' means a vehicle purchased 
to replace a right-hand-drive, long-life vehicle in use by the Postal 
Service.
    (b) Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles.--
            (1) Date of enactment and 2030.--Between the period 
        beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on 
        December 31, 2029, not less than 50 percent of the total number 
        of new medium- or heavy-duty vehicles purchased by the Postal 
        Service during such period shall be electric or zero-emission 
        vehicles.
            (2) After 2039.--Beginning on January 1, 2040, the Postal 
        Service may not purchase any new medium- or heavy-duty vehicle 
        that is not an electric or zero-emission vehicle.
    (c) Compliance.--In carrying out subsections (a) and (b), the 
Postal Service shall comply with chapter 83 of title 41, United States 
Code (popularly known as the Buy American Act), and any applicable 
Federal labor or civil rights laws.
    (d) Charging Stations.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than January 1, 2026, the Postal 
        Service shall provide, at each postal facility accessible to 
        the public, not less than one electric vehicle charging station 
        for use by the public or officers and employees of the Postal 
        Service.
            (2) Fleet operation.--The Postal Service shall ensure that 
        adequate charging stations are available at Postal Service 
        facilities to keep the Postal Service fleet operational.
    (e) Plan and Update.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Postmaster General shall submit a plan to 
carry out this section to the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the Committees on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The 
Postmaster General shall submit an update and progress report on 
implementing such plan to such committees not less than once every 2 
years beginning on the date the plan is submitted under the previous 
sentence and ending on the day that is 6 years after such date.
    (f) Contingent on Appropriation.--The requirements of subsections 
(a) through (e) of this section shall not apply unless the funds 
authorized for vehicles under section 2 are appropriated.
    (g) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that, as the 
Postal Service replaces or upgrades its fleet of delivery vehicles, the 
Postal Service should take all reasonable steps to ensure that its 
vehicles are equipped with climate control units to protect the health 
and safety of its mail carriers, especially those working in areas of 
the country that are subject to extreme temperatures.
                                 <all>