Postal Service Electric Fleet Authorization Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.3521 | Sponsor: Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. (D-MA)
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
Postal Service Electric Fleet Authorization Act of 2021
This bill establishes requirements for U.S. Postal Service (USPS) acquisition of vehicles and the infrastructure required to operate a fleet of electric vehicles. 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 modernize the fleet of delivery vehicles used by the Postal Service 
    with electric or zero-emission vehicles, 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 Service Electric Fleet 
Authorization Act of 2021''.

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

    There is authorized to be appropriated to the United States Postal 
Service $8,000,000,000, to remain available until expended, for the 
acquisition of vehicles and the infrastructure required to operate a 
fleet of electric vehicles. Any amounts appropriated under this 
subsection 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 2025.--Between the period 
        beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on 
        December 31, 2024, not less than 75 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 2029.--Beginning on January 1, 2030, the Postal 
        Service may not purchase any new medium or heavy-duty vehicle 
        that is not an electric or zero-emission vehicle.
    (c) Compliance.--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--
            (1) in carrying out subsections (a) and (b); and
            (2) with respect to any vehicle purchased using funds 
        appropriated under section 2.
    (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 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 a plan to carry out this section. The Postmaster General 
shall submit an update and progress report on implementing such plan to 
such committees not less than once every two years beginning on the 
date the plan is submitted under the previous sentence and ending on 
the day that is six 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 under section 2 are appropriated.
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