USPS Subpoena Authority Act

Bill: 119-hr-170
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11]
Introduced: 2025-01-03
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation

Evidence and witnesses

U.S. Postal Service
Latest action: action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-01-03
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>USPS Subpoena Authority Act</strong></p><p>This bill expands the administrative subpoena authority of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).</p><p>Specifically, the bill authorizes subpoenas to investigate additional violations of law that involve the mail, including violations related to controlled substances and hazardous materials.</p><p>The bill also expands the senior USPS officials to whom subpoena approval authority may be delegated to include the Chief Postal Inspector.</p>

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 170 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 3, 2025 Ms. Malliotakis (for herself, Ms. Meng , and Mr. Smith of New Jersey ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform A BILL To amend title 39, United States Code, to enhance the administrative subpoena authority of the United States Postal Service, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the USPS Subpoena Authority Act . 2. United States Postal Service administrative subpoena authority Section 3016(a)(1) of title 39, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (D); (2) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following: (A) In general In any investigation relating to a covered offense, the Postmaster General may issue in writing and cause to be served a subpoena requiring the production and testimony described in subparagraph (B). In this subparagraph, the term covered offense means a violation of— (i) any section in this chapter; (ii) any section of chapter 83 of title 18 insofar as such violation involves the use of the mails; (iii) any other provision of law enumerated in section 3001(a); or (iv) the Controlled Substances Act ( 21 U.S.C. 801 et seq. ), insofar as such violation involves the use of the mails. (B) Production and testimony Except as provided in subparagraph (C), a subpoena issued under subparagraph (A) may require— (i) the production of any records (including books, papers, documents, and other tangible things that constitute or contain evidence) that the Postmaster General considers relevant or material to such investigation; and (ii) testimony by the custodian of the things required to be produced concerning the production and authenticity of those things. (C) Application A subpoena issued in connection with an investigation under section 3005(a) shall not require testimony as set forth in subparagraph (B)(ii). ; and (3) in subparagraph (D), as redesignated by paragraph (1) of this section, by amending clause (iii) to read as follows: (iii) delegation of subpoena approval authority be limited to the Postal Service’s General Counsel, a Deputy General Counsel, or the Chief Postal Inspector. .