United States Postal Service Shipping Equity Act

Bill: 114-hr-3412
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14]
Introduced: 2015-07-29
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Alcoholic beverages

Postal service

Sales and excise taxes

State and local taxation

U.S. Postal Service
Latest action: action_date: 2015-09-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-07-29
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>United States Postal Service Shipping Equity Act</strong></p> <p> Authorizes the mailing of alcoholic beverages by a covered entity in accordance with the delivery requirements otherwise applicable to a privately carried shipment. Defines a &quot;covered entity&quot; as an entity (including a winery, brewery, or beverage distilled spirits plant, or other wholesale, distributer, or retailer of alcoholic beverages) that has registered with, obtained a permit from, or obtained approval of an application from the Department of the Treasury pursuant to the Federal Alcohol Administration Act or the Internal Revenue Code provisions regarding alcohol, tobacco, and certain other excise taxes. </p> <p>Directs the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to prescribe regulations: (1) requiring such mailing to be through a means that ensures direct delivery to a duly authorized agent at a postal facility or to the addressee, who must be at least 21 years of age and present a valid, government-issued photo identification at the time of delivery; (2) prohibiting such alcoholic beverages from being for resale or any other commercial purpose; and (3) requiring such covered entity to certify that the mailing is not in violation of applicable laws or regulations and to provide other information as directed by the USPS, including with respect to the prepayment of state alcohol beverage taxes. </p> <p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3412 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 29, 2015 Ms. Speier (for herself, Mr. Beyer , Mr. Blumenauer , Ms. Bonamici , Mr. Cartwright , Ms. Clarke of New York , Mr. Costa , Mr. DeFazio , Ms. Frankel of Florida , Mr. Garamendi , Mr. Grayson , Mr. Grijalva , Mr. Hinojosa , Mr. Huffman , Mr. Johnson of Ohio , Mr. Jones , Mrs. Kirkpatrick , Mr. LaMalfa , Mrs. Lawrence , Mrs. Lowey , Mr. McKinley , Mr. Polis , Mr. Rangel , Ms. Slaughter , and Mr. Veasey ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform , and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary , 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 amend title 18, United States Code, and title 39, United States Code, to provide the United States Postal Service the authority to mail alcoholic beverages, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the United States Postal Service Shipping Equity Act . 2. Shipping of alcoholic beverages (a) Mailability (1) Nonmailable articles Section 1716(f) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking mails and inserting mails, except to the extent that the mailing is allowable under section 3001(p) of title 39 . (2) Alcoholic beverages Section 1154(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended, by inserting or, with respect to the mailing of alcoholic beverages to the extent allowed under section 3001(p) of title 39 after mechanical purposes . (b) Regulations Section 3001 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (p) (1) Alcoholic beverages shall be considered mailable if mailed— (A) by a covered entity in accordance with applicable regulations under paragraph (2); and (B) in accordance with the delivery requirements otherwise applicable to a privately carried shipment of an alcoholic beverage in the State, territory, or district of the United States where the addressee or duly authorized agent takes delivery. (2) The Postal Service shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this subsection, including regulations providing that— (A) the mailing shall be by a means established by the Postal Service to ensure direct delivery to the addressee or a duly authorized agent at a postal facility; (B) the addressee (and any duly authorized agent) shall be an individual at least 21 years of age, and shall present a valid, government-issued photo identification at the time of delivery; (C) the alcoholic beverage may not be for resale or other commercial purpose; and (D) the covered entity involved shall— (i) certify in writing to the satisfaction of the Postal Service, through a registration process administered by the Postal Service, that the mailing is not in violation of any provision of this subsection or regulation prescribed under this subsection; and (ii) provide any other information or affirmation that the Postal Service may require, including with respect to the prepayment of State alcohol beverage taxes. (3) For purposes of this subsection— (A) the term alcoholic beverage has the meaning given such term in section 203 of the Federal Alcohol Administration Act ( 27 U.S.C. 214 ); and (B) the term covered entity means an entity (including a winery, brewery, or beverage distilled spirits plant, or other wholesaler, distributer, or retailer of alcoholic beverages) that has registered with, obtained a permit from, or obtained approval of a notice or an application from, the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to— (i) the Federal Alcohol Administration Act ( 27 U.S.C. 201 et seq. ); or (ii) Chapter 51 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 ( 26 U.S.C. 5001 et seq. ). . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the earlier of— (1) the date on which the Postal Service issues regulations under section 3001(p) of title 39, United States Code, as amended by this section; or (2) 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act.