Postal Innovation Act

Bill: 114-hr-3319
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3]
Introduced: 2015-07-29
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Alcoholic beverages

Bank accounts, deposits, capital

Climate change and greenhouse gases

Congressional oversight

Elections, voting, political campaign regulation

Emergency communications systems

Energy efficiency and conservation

Government studies and investigations

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Motor vehicles

Oil and gas

Postal service

Public contracts and procurement

Public-private cooperation

Rural conditions and development

Telephone and wireless communication

Transportation safety and security

U.S. Postal Service

Visas and passports
Latest action: action_date: 2015-10-01
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>Postal Innovation Act</strong></p> <p>This bill directs the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to establish a pilot program to provide nonpostal services through public-private partnerships in five postal districts or regions, including at least one rural area. Such nonpostal services may include financial services, warehousing, experimental postal products market testing, community support services, Internet voting, municipal broadband and public wireless Internet service, emergency broadband Internet service, and passport services. The bill also authorizes the USPS to furnish property and services to a state, local, or tribal government. USPS may use cost savings from providing such services to reinvest in innovation, research and development, and operations.</p> <p>The bill sets forth conditions under which alcoholic beverages shall be considered mailable. They must be mailed: (1) by a covered shipper, (2) in accordance with delivery requirements otherwise applicable to privately carried shipments, and (3) by 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 must present a valid, government-issued photo identification at the time of delivery. The alcoholic beverage may not be for resale or other commercial purpose.</p> <p>The bill authorizes USPS to enter into contracts to upgrade its fleet of vehicles to increase long-term savings by reducing collision, maintenance, fuel, or other costs. USPS must: (1) develop guidelines for carbon dioxide emissions, fuel economy, and safety for its vehicles; and (2) reduce the petroleum consumption of its vehicles by not less than 2% annually through the end of FY2025. </p> <p>The Government Accountability Office must conduct a study on the feasibility of USPS providing Internet services to the public.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3319 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 29, 2015 Mr. Blumenauer (for himself and Mr. Huffman ) 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 direct the Postmaster General to conduct a pilot program to provide nonpostal services at certain post offices, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Postal Innovation Act . 2. Expanded services (a) Pilot program for provision of nonpostal services (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and notwithstanding the provisions of title 39, United States Code, the Postmaster General shall establish a pilot program to provide nonpostal services through public-private partnerships in 5 postal districts or regions, as determined by the Postmaster General, of which at least 1 district or region contains a post office located in a rural area. (2) Services The nonpostal services described in paragraph (1) may include— (A) financial services; (B) warehousing; (C) experimental postal products market testing; (D) community support services; (E) Internet voting; (F) municipal broadband Internet service; (G) public wireless Internet service; (H) emergency broadband Internet service; and (I) passport services. (3) Report Not later than 1 year after the date of the establishment of the pilot program under subsection (a), the Postmaster General shall submit to Congress a report containing— (A) an analysis of the pilot program conducted under paragraph (1); and (B) an assessment of the most cost-effective implementation of nonpostal services under the pilot program. (b) Governmental services Section 411 of title 39, United States Code, is amended— (1) in the second sentence, by striking this section and inserting this subsection ; (2) in the heading of such section, by striking Government and inserting government ; (3) by striking Executive agencies and inserting (a) Federal Government .—Executive agencies ; and (4) by adding at the end the following: (b) State, local, and tribal governments (1) Authority of Postal Service The Postal Service is authorized to furnish property and services to a State, local government, or tribal government under such terms and conditions, including the possibility for reimbursement, as the Postal Service and the applicable State, local government, or tribal government shall determine appropriate. (2) Definitions In this subsection— (A) the term State means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and any other territory or possession of the United States. (B) the term tribal government means the government of an Indian tribe (as defined in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination Act ( 25 U.S.C. 450b(e) )). . (c) Clerical amendment The item related to section 411 in the analysis of chapter 4 of title 39, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 411. Cooperation with other government agencies. . 3. 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) Mailable 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 shipper in accordance with applicable regulations under paragraph (2); and (B) in accordance with the delivery requirements otherwise applicable to privately carried shipments of alcoholic beverages. (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 shipper 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 shipper means a winery, brewery, or beverage distilled spirits plant, or other wholesaler, distributer, or retailer of alcoholic beverages that— (i) possesses a notice of registration or permit approved by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau of the Department of the Treasury pursuant to the Federal Alcohol Administration Act ( 27 U.S.C. 201 et seq. ); or (ii) has registered with, obtained a permit from, or obtained approval of a notice or an application from, the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to 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. 4. Upgrading the fleet of the Postal Service (a) Contracting (1) In general The Postmaster General may enter into contracts to upgrade the postal fleet to increase long-term savings by reducing collision, maintenance, fuel, or other costs. (2) Review In determining whether to enter into contracts under paragraph (1), the Postal Service shall review and identify routes for which the Postal Service provides delivery to determine if motor vehicles used on such routes can be replaced or retrofitted with commercially available technologies that— (A) increase average fuel economy; (B) reduce collisions with other motorized vehicles, nonmotorized vehicles, and pedestrians; or (C) reduce emissions of carbon dioxide. (b) Guidelines The Postmaster General shall develop guidelines for contracted vehicles and vehicles purchased or leased for use by the Postal Service, that, at a minimum, require that— (1) in the case of a passenger car, the car meets— (A) with respect to emissions of carbon dioxide, the more stringent of— (i) the applicable standards developed by the Environmental Protection Agency under title II of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7521 et seq. ); or (ii) on average, less than 235 grams per mile; and (B) with respect to average fuel economy, the more stringent of— (i) the applicable average fuel economy standards developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under chapter 329 of title 49, United States Code; or (ii) 37.8 miles per gallon; (2) in the case of a light-duty truck, the truck meets— (A) with respect to emissions of carbon dioxide, the more stringent of— (i) the applicable standards developed by the Environmental Protection Agency under title II of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7521 et seq. ); or (ii) on average, less than 310 grams per mile; and (B) with respect to average fuel economy, the more stringent of— (i) the applicable average fuel economy standards developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under chapter 329 of title 49, United States Code; or (ii) 28.8 miles per gallon; (3) medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles comply with applicable standards— (A) for emissions of carbon dioxide developed by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under title II of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7521 et seq. ); and (B) for average fuel economy developed by the Secretary of Transportation under chapter 329 of title 49, United States Code; and (4) for safety, the vehicles described in paragraphs (1) through (3) are equipped with commercially available crash avoidance solutions, including— (A) camera-based sensors; and (B) automatic emergency braking for new vehicles. (c) Applicability of guidelines The standards described in subsection (b) shall apply to contracted vehicles and vehicles purchased or leased for use by the Postal Service after the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act. (d) Reduction of consumption of petroleum products The Postmaster General shall reduce the total consumption of petroleum products by vehicles in the postal fleet by not less than 2 percent annually through the end of fiscal year 2025, relative to the baseline established for fiscal year 2005. 5. Investing in the future of the Postal Service The Postmaster General may use cost savings from section 2 to reinvest in innovation, research and development, and operations of the Postal Service. 6. GAO report Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the feasibility of the Postal Service providing Internet services to the public, including access to broadband Internet and Internet voting services. Such study shall include— (1) cost-effective strategies for using the infrastructure, technology, and processes of existing networks that the Postal Service uses for transportation, delivery, and retail to provide the Internet services; (2) recommendations for providing such services in a manner that is consistent with the public interest; and (3) an analysis of whether providing such services has the potential to improve the financial position of the Postal Service. 7. Definition In this Act, the term Postal Service means the United States Postal Service.