Mental Health Awareness Semipostal Stamp Act

Bill: 114-hr-3640
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Curbelo, Carlos [R-FL-26]
Introduced: 2015-09-29
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Department of Health and Human Services

Health programs administration and funding

Health promotion and preventive care

Medical research

Mental health

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Postal service

Research administration and funding
Latest action: action_date: 2015-10-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-09-29
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Mental Health Awareness Semipostal Stamp Act</b></p> <p>This bill directs the United States Postal Service to issue and sell, at a premium, a Mental Health Awareness Semipostal Stamp. Use of this stamp must be voluntary for postal patrons. </p> <p>Proceeds from the sale of this stamp must be transferred to the National Institute of Mental Health to help fund mental illness research and suicide prevention programs. </p> The stamp must be available to the public for at least six years.

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3640 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 29, 2015 Mr. Curbelo of Florida (for himself, Mrs. Napolitano , Mr. Farenthold , Mr. Grijalva , Ms. Norton , and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform , and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To provide for the issuance of a Mental Health Awareness Semipostal Stamp.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Mental Health Awareness Semipostal Stamp Act . 2. Mental Health Awareness Semipostal Stamp (a) In general In order to afford a convenient way for members of the public to contribute to funding for mental illness research and suicide prevention programs within the National Institute of Mental Health, the United States Postal Service shall issue a semipostal stamp (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the Mental Health Awareness Semipostal Stamp ) in accordance with succeeding provisions of this section. (b) Cost and use (1) In general The Mental Health Awareness Semipostal Stamp shall be offered at a cost equal to the cost of mailing a letter weighing 1 ounce or less at the nonautomation single-piece first-ounce letter rate, in effect at the time of purchase, plus a differential of not less than 15 percent. (2) Voluntary use The use of any semipostal issued under this section shall be voluntary on the part of postal patrons. (3) Special rate The special rate of postage of an individual stamp under this section shall be an amount that is evenly divisible by 5. (c) Other terms and conditions The issuance and sale of the Mental Health Awareness Semipostal Stamp shall be governed by the provisions of section 416 of title 39, United States Code, and regulations issued under such section, subject to subsection (b) and the following: (1) Disposition of proceeds (A) In general All amounts becoming available from the sale of the Mental Health Awareness Semipostal Stamp (as determined under section 416(d) of such title 39) shall be transferred to the National Institute of Mental Health, for the purpose described in subsection (a), through payments which shall be made at least twice a year, to fund the Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neuro­tech­nol­o­gies (BRAIN) Initiative. (B) Proceeds not to be offset In accordance with section 416(d)(4) of such title 39, amounts becoming available from the sale of the Mental Health Awareness Semipostal Stamp (as so determined) shall not be taken into account in any decision relating to the level of appropriations or other Federal funding to be furnished in any year to the National Institute of Mental Health. (2) Duration The Mental Health Awareness Semipostal Stamp shall be made available to the public for a period of at least 6 years, beginning no later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act. (3) Limitation The Mental Health Awareness Semipostal Stamp shall not be subject to, or taken into account for purposes of applying, any limitation under section 416(e)(1)(C) of such title 39. (d) Definition For purposes of this Act, the term semipostal stamp refers to a stamp described in section 416(a)(1) of title 39, United States Code.