An Act to improve and modernize the postal service, to reorganize the Post Office Department, and for other purposes
PL 91-375 (H.R.17070), enacted 08/12/1970

84 STAT. 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
719 
Public Law 91-375 
AN ACT 
August 12, 1970 
Tf) improve and modernize the postal servk-e, to reorganize the Post Office 
[H. R. 17070] 
Deiwirtnient, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacteA 
hy the Senate 
and House 
of Representatives 
of 
the 
United 
States 
of America 
in Congress 
assembled. 
That this Act may 
^°^^^} ^1°"*'^' 
be cited as the "Postal Keorganization Act . 
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE 
SEC. '2. Title 39, United States Code, is revised and reenacted, and 
74 stat. 573. 
the sections thereof may be cited as "39 U.S.C. § 
", as follows: 
"TITLE 39—POSTAL SERVICE 
'•Part 
See. 
'M. GENBiRAL 
101 
"II. PERSONNEL 
1001 
•III. MODERNIZATION AND FISCAL ADMINISTRATION 
2001 
•IV. MAIL MATTER 
3001 
•v. TRANSPORTATION OF MAIL 
5001 
"PART I—GENERAL 
"CHAPTER 
Sec. 
"1. POSTAL' POLICY AND DEFINITIONS 
101 
"2. ORGANIZATION 
•
_ 
201 
"4. GENERAL AUTHORITY 
; 
401 
"H. PRIVATE CARRIAGE OF LETTERS 
601 
"Chapter 1.—POSTAL POLICY A N D 
D E F I N I T I O N S 
"Sec. 
"101. Postal policy. 
"102. Definitions. 
"§101. Postal policy 
"'(a) The United States Postal Service shall be operated as a basic 
and fundamental service provided to the people by the Government 
of the LTnited States, authorized by the Constitution, created by Act 
of Congress, and supported by the people. The Postal Service shall 
have as its basic function the obligation to provide postal services to 
bind the Nation together through the personal, educational, literary, 
and business correspondence of the people. I t shall provide prompt, 
reliable, and efficient services to patrons in all areas and shall render 
l)ostal services to all communities. The costs of establishing and main-
taining the Postal Service shall not be apportioned to impair the over-
all value of such service to the people. 
" ( b ) The Postal Service shall provide a maximum degree of effec-
tive and regular postal services to rural areas, communities, and small 
towns where post offices are not self-sustaining. No small post office 
shall be closed solely for operating at a deficit, it being the specific 
intent of the Congress that effective postal services be insured to 
lesidents of both urban and rural communities. 
"(c) As an employer, the Postal Service shall achieve and main-
tain compensation for its officers and employees comparable to the 
rates and types of compensation paid in the private sector of the 
economy of the United States. It shall place particular emphasis upon 
opportunities for career advancements of all officers and employees 
and the achievement of worthwhile and satisfying careers in the 
service of the United States. 
" ( d ) Postal rates shall be established to apportion the costs of all 
postal operations to all users of the mail on a fair and equitable basis. 
720 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
"'(e) In determining^ all policies for postal services, the Postal 
Service shall give the highest consideration to the requirement for 
the most expeditious collection, transportation, and delivery of im-
portant letter mail. 
"(f) In selecting modes of transportation, the Postal Service shall 
give highest consideration to the prompt and economical delivery of 
all mail and shall make a fair and equitable distribution of mail busi-
ness to carriers providing similar modes of transportation services to 
the Postal Service. Modern methods of transporting mail by con-
tainerization and programs designed to achieve overnight transporta-
tion to the destination of important letter mail to all parts of the 
Nation shall be a primary goal of postal operations. 
"(g) In planning and building new postal facilities, the Postal 
Service shall emphasize the need for facilities and equipment de-
signed to create desirable working conditions for its officers and em-
ployees, a maximum degree of convenience for efficient postal services, 
proper access to existing and future air and surface transportation fa-
cilities, and control of costs to the Postal Service. 
"§ 102. Definitions 
'"As used in this title— 
"(1) 'Postal Service" means the United States Postal Service 
established by section 201 of this title; 
"(2) 'Board of (xovernors', and 'Board', unless the context 
otherwise requires, mean the Board of (xovernors established 
under section 202 of this title; and 
"(3) 'Governors' means the 9 members of the Board of Gov-
ernors appointed by the President, by and with the advice and 
consent of the Senate, \mder section 202(a) of this title. 
"Chapter 2—ORGANIZATION 
"Sec. 
•201. United States Postal Service. 
"202. Board of Governors. 
"203. Postmaster General; Deputy Postmaster General. 
"204. Assistant Postmasters General; General Counsel: .Judicial Officer. 
"205. Procedures of the Board of Governors. 
"206. Advisory Council. 
"207. Seal. 
"208. Reservation of powers. 
"§ 201. United States Postal Service 
"There is established, as "an independent establishment of the ex-
ecutive branch of the Government of the United States, the United 
States Postal Service. 
"§ 202. Board of Governors 
"(a) The exercise of the power of the Postal Service shall be 
directed by a Board of Governors composed of 11 members appointed 
in accordance with this section. Nine of the members, to be known 
as Governors, shall be appointed by the President, by and with the 
advice and consent of the Senate, not more than 5 of whom may 
be adherents of the same political party. The Governors shall elect 
a (Chairman from among the members of the Board. The Governors 
shall be chosen to represent the public interest generally, and shall 
not be representatives of specific interests using the Postal Service, 
and may be removed only for caiuse. Each Governor shall receive a 
salary of $10,000 a year plus $300 a day for not more than 30 days 
of meetings each year and shall be reimbursed for travel and rea-
sonable expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board. Noth-
ing in the preceding sentence shall be construed to limit the num-
ber of days of meetings each year to 30 days. 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
721 
"(b) The terms of tlie 9 Governors shall be 9 years, except that the 
^erm o
f office. 
terms of the 9 (xovernors first taking office shall expire as designated by 
the President at the time of appointment, 1 at the end of 1 year, 1 at 
the end of 2 years, 1 at the end of 3 years, 1 at the end of 4 years, 1 at the 
end of 5 years, 1 at the end of 6 years, 1 at the end of 7 years, 1 at the 
end of 8 years, and 1 at the end of 9 years, following the appointment 
of the first of them. Any Governor appointed to fill a vacancy before 
the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was appointed 
shall serve for the remainder of such term. 
"(c) The Governors shall appoint and shall have the power to ^ Postmaster 
1 
-r-. 
y^ 
1
1 
1 
11 1 
,• 
1 
£ J^^ 
General, appoint-
remove the Postmaster General, who shall be a voting member ot the ment, etc. 
Board. His pay and term of service shall be fixed by the Governors. 
"(d) The Governors and the Postmaster General shall appoint 
and shall have the power to remove the Deputy Postmaster General, 
who shall be a voting member of the Board. His term of service shall 
be fixed by the Governors and the Postmaster General and his pay by 
the Governors. 
"§203. Postmaster General; Deputy Postmaster General 
"The chief executive officer of the Postal Service is the Postmaster 
General appointed under section 202(c) of this title. The alternate 
chief executive officer of the Postal Service is the Deputy Postmaster 
(xeneral appointed under section 202 (d) of this title. 
"§ 204. Assistant Postmasters General; General Counsel; Judicial 
Officer 
"There shall be within the Postal Service a General Counsel, such 
number of Assistant Postmasters General as the Board shall consider 
appropriate, and a Judicial Officer. The General Counsel, the Assist-
ant Postmasters General, and the Judicial Officer shall be appointed 
by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Postmaster General. The Judicial 
Officer shall perform such quasi-judicial duties, not inconsistent with 
chapter 86 of this title, as the Postmaster General may designate. The 
Judicial Officer shall be the agency for the purposes of the require-
ments of chapter 5 of title 5, to the extent that functions are delegated 
so stat. aso; 
Post, 
p. 
758., 
to him by the Postmaster General. 
83 stat! 446. 
"§ 205. Procedures of the Board of Governors 
' "^"^ '°''-
"(a) The Board shall direct and control the expenditures and re- 
Poncy review. 
view the practices and policies of the Postal Service, and perform 
other functions and duties prescribed by this title. 
"(b) Vacancies in the Board, as long as there are sufficient members 
to form a quorum, shall not impair the powers of the Board under 
this title. 
"^c) The Board shall act upon majority vote of those members qj^^im'^xcept' 
who are present, and any 6 members present shall constitute a quorum tu^ns. 
for the transaction of business by the Board, except— 
" (1) that in the appointment or removal of the Postmaster Gen-
eral, and in setting the compensation of the Postmaster General 
and Deputy Postmaster General, a favorable vote of an absolute 
majority of the Governors in office shall be required; 
"(2) that in the appointment or removal of the Deputy Post-
master General, a favorable vote of an absolute majority of the 
Governors in office and the member serving as Postmaster Gen-
eral shall be required; and 
" (3) as otherwise provided in this title. 
"(d) No ofiicer or employee of the Ignited States may serve concur-
rently as a Governor. A Governor may hold any other office or employ-
ment not inconsistent or in conflict with his duties, responsibilities, 
and powei-s as an officer of the Government of the I Jiited States in 
the Postal Service. 
722 
PUBLIC L
A
W 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
Membership. 
Compensation, 
80 Stat. 463; 
83 Stat. 864, 
"§ 206. Advisory Council 
" (a) There shall be a Postal Service Advisory Council of which the 
Postmaster General shall be the Chairman and the Deputy Postmaster 
General shall be the Vice Chairman. The Advisory Council shall have 
11 additional members appointed by the President. He shall appoint 
as such members (1) 4 persons from among persons nominated by 
those labor organizations recognized as collective-bargaining repre-
sentatives for employees of the Postal Service in one or more collec-
tive-bargaining units, (2) 4 persons as representatives of major mail 
users, and (3)3 persons as representatives of the public at large. All 
members shall be appointed for terms of 2 years except that, of those 
first appointed, 2 of the members representative of labor organiza-
tions, 2 of the members representative of major postal users, and 1 
member representing the public at large shall be appointed for 1 year. 
Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expira-
tion of the term for which his predecessor was appointed shall serve 
for the remainder of such term. 
" (b) The Postal Service shall consult with and receive the advice 
of the Advisory Council regarding all aspects of postal operations. 
"(c) The members of the Council representative of the public at 
large shall receive for each meeting of the Council an amount equal 
to me daily rate applicable to level V of the Executive Schedule under 
section 5316 of title 5. All members of the Council shall be reimbursed 
for necessary travel and reasonable expenses incurred in attending 
meetings of the Council. 
"§207. Seal 
"The seal of the Postal Service shall be filed by the Board in the 
Office of the Secretary of State, judicially noticed, affixed to all com-
missions of officers of the Postal Service, and used to authenticate rec-
ords of the Postal Service. 
"§ 208. Reservation of powers 
"Congress reserves the power to alter, amend, or repeal any or all of 
the sections of this title, but no such alteration, amendment, or repeal 
shall impair the obligation of any contract made by the Postal Service 
under any power conferred by this title. 
"Chapter 4.—GENERAL AUTHORITY 
"Sec. 
"401. General powers of the Postal Service. 
"402. Delegation of authority. 
"403. General duties. 
"404. Specific powers. 
"405. Printing of illustrations of United States postage stamps. 
"406. Postal services at Armed Forces installations. 
"407. International postal arrangements. 
"408. International money-order exchanges. 
"409. Suits by and against the Postal Service. 
"410. Application of other laws. 
"411. Ck>operation with other Government agencies. 
"412. Nondisclosure of lists of names and addresses. 
"§ 401. General powers of the Postal Service 
"The Postal Service shall have the following general powers: 
" (1) to sue and be sued in its official name; 
"(2) to adopt, amend, and repeal such rules and reg^ulations as 
it deems necessary to accomplish the objectives of this title; 
"(3) to enter into and perform contracts, execute instruments, 
and determine the character of, and necessity for, its expenditures; 
"(4) to determine and keep its own system of accounts and 
the forms and contents of its contracts and other business docu-
ments, except as otherwise provided in this title; 
Post, 
p. 738. 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
723 
"(5) to acquire, in any lawful manner, such personal or real 
propertj^, or any interest therein, as it deems necessary or con-
venient in the transaction of its business; to hold, maintain, sell, 
lease, or otherwise dispose of such property or any interest there-
in; and to provide services in connection therewith and charges 
therefor; 
" (6) to construct, operate, lease, and maintain buildings, facili-
ties, equipment, and other improvements on any property owned 
or controlled by it, including, without limitation, any property 
or interest therein transferred to it under section 2002 of this 
title; 
"(7) to accept gifts or donations of services or property, real 
or personal, as it deems, necessary or convenient in the transac-
tion of its business; 
" (8) to settle and compromise claims by or against it; 
"(9) to exercise, in the name of the United States, the right of 
eminent domain for the furtherance of its official purposes; and to 
have the priority of the United States with respect to the payment 
of debts out of bankrupt, insolvent, and decedents' estates; and 
"(10) to have all other powers incidental, necessary, or appro-
priate to the carrying on of its functions or the exercise of its spe-
cific powers. 
"§ 402. Delegation of authority 
"Except for those powers, duties, or obligations specifically vested 
in the Governors, as distinguished from the Board of Governors, the 
Board may delegate the authority vested in it to the Postmaster Gen-
eral under such terms, conditions, and limitations, including the power 
of redelegation, as it deems desirable. The Board may establish such 
committees of the Board, and delegate such powers to any committee, 
as the Board determines appropriate to carry out its functions and du-
ties. Delegations to the Postmaster General or committees shall be con-
sistent with other provisions of this title, shall not relieve the Board 
of full responsibility for the carrying out of its duties and functions, 
and shall be revocable by the Governors in their exclusive judgment. 
"§ 403. General duties 
"(a) The Postal Service shall plan, develop, promote, and provide 
adequate and efficient postal services at fair and reasonable rates and 
fees. Except as provided in the Canal Zone Code, the Postal Service 
'^^^ ^*^*- ^' 
shall receive, transmit, and deliver throughout the United States, its 
territories and possessions, and, pursuant to arrangements entered 
into under sections 406 and 411 of this title, throughout the w^orld, 
written and printed matter, parcels, and like materials and provide 
such other services incidental thereto as it finds appropriate to its 
functions and in the public interest. The Postal Service shall serve 
as nearly as practicable the entire population of the United States. 
"(b) It shall be the responsibility of the Postal Service— 
"(1) to maintain an efficient system of collection, sorting, and 
delivery of the mail nationwide; 
"(2) to provide types of mail service to meet the needs of dif-
ferent categories of mail and mail users; and 
"(3) to establish and maintain postal facilities of such char-
acter and in such locations that postal patrons throughout the Na-
tion will, consistent with reasonable economies of postal opera-
tions, have ready access to essential postal services. 
"(c) In providing services and in estaolishing classifications, rates, 
and fees under this title, the Postal Service shall not, except as specif-
ically authorized in this title, make any undue or unreasonable dis-
crimination among users of the mails, nor shall it grant any undue or 
unreasonable preferences to any such user. 
724 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
"§ 404. Specific powers 
"•'AVithout limitation of the generality of its powei's, the Postal Serv-
ice shall have the following specific powers, among others: 
"(1) to provide for the collection, handling, transportation, 
delivery, forwarding, returning, and holding of mail, and for the 
disposition of undeliverable mail; 
"(2) to prescribe, in accordance with this title, the amount of 
postage and the manner in which it is to be paid; 
"(3) to determine the need for post offices, postal and training 
facilities and equipment, and to provide such offices, facilities, and 
equipment as it determines are needed; 
"(4) to provide and sell postage stamps and other stamped 
paper, cards, and envelopes and to provide such other evidences 
of payment of postage and fees as may be necessary or desirable; 
" (5) to provide pihilatelic services; 
"•'(6) to provide, establish, change, or abolish special nonpostal 
O
T
- similar services; 
''(7) to investigate postal offenses and civil matters i-elating to 
the Postal Service; 
"'(8) to offer and pay r-ewards for information and services in 
connection with violations of the postal laws, and, unless a dif-
ferent disposal is expressly prescribed, to pay one-half of all 
penalties and forfeitures imposed for violations of law affecting 
the Postal Service, its r-evenues, or pi^operiy, to the person infoi-m-
ling for the same, and to pay the other one-half into the Postal 
Ser-vice Fund; and 
"'(9) to authorize the issuance of a substitute check for a lost, 
stolen, or desti'oyed check of the Postal Service. 
"§ 405. Printing of illustrations of United States postage stamps 
"(a) When requested by the Postal Service, the Public Printer 
shall print, as a public document for sale by the Superintendent of 
Documents, illustrations in black and white or in color of postage 
stamps of the United States, together with such descriptive, historical, 
and philatelic information with regard to the stamps as the Postal 
Service deems suitable. 
'' (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 505 of title 44, stere-
otype or electrotype plates, or duplicates thereof, used in the publica-
tions authorized to be printed by this section may not be sold or other-
wise disposed of. 
"§ 406. Postal services at Armed Forces installations 
''(a) The Postal Service may establish branch post offices at camps. 
l)osts, bases, or stations of the Armed Forces and at defense oi- other 
strategic installations. 
"'(b) The Secretaries of Defense and Transportation shall make ar-
rangements with the Postal Service to perform postal services through 
personnel designated by them at or througli branch post offices estab-
lished under subsection (a) of this section. 
"§ 407. International postal arrangements 
"(a) The Postal Service, w^ith the consent of the President, may 
negotiate and conclude postal treaties or conventions, and may establish 
the rates of postage or other charges on mail matter conveyed between 
the United States and other countries. The decisions of the Postal 
Service construing or interpreting the provisions of any treaty or 
convention which has been or may be negotiated and concluded shall, 
if approved by the President, be conclusive upon all officers of the 
(Tovemment of the United States. 
82 Stat. 1244. 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
725 
"(b) The Postal Service shall transmit a copy of each postal con-
vention concluded with other governments to the Secretary of State, 
who shall furnish a copy of the same to the Public Printer for 
publication. 
"§ 408. International money-order exchanges 
"The Postal Service may make arrangements with other govern-
ments, with which postal conventions are or may be concluded, for the 
exchange of sums of money by means of postal orders. It shall fix 
limitations on the amount which may be so exchanged and the rates 
of exchange. 
"§ 409. Suits by and against the Postal Service 
"(a) Except as provided in section 3628 of this title, the United 
^°^'' P- ''^^• 
States district courts shall have original but not exclusive jurisdiction 
over all actions brought by or against the Postal Service. Any action 
brought in a State court to which the Postal Service is a party may be 
removed to the appropriate United States district court under the 
provisions of chapter 89 of title 28. 
^
^
^
^
^ stat^^ga?; 
"(b) Unless otherwise provided in this title, the provisions of title 
28 use 1441, 
28 relating to service of process, venue, and limitations of time for 
bringing action in suits in which the United States, its officers, or em-
ployees are parties, and the rules of procedure adopted under title 28 
for suits in which the United States, its officers, or employees are 
parties, shall apply in like manner to suits in which the Postal Service, 
its officers, or employees are parties. 
"(c) The provisions of chapter 171 and all other provisions of title 
28 relating to tort claims shall apply to tort claims arising out of ac- 
^2 stat. 982; 
tivities of the Postal Service. 
28 use 26*71. 
"(d) The Department of Justice shall furnish, under section 411 of 
this title, the Postal Service such legal representation as it may require, 
but with the prior consent of the Attorney General the Postal Service 
may employ attorneys by contract or otherwise to conduct litigation 
brought by or against the Postal Service or its officers or employees in 
matters affecting the Postal Service. 
"§ 410. Application of other laws 
"(a) Except as provided by subsection (b) of this section, and ex-
cept as otherwise provided in this title or insofar as such laws remain 
in force as rules or regulations of the Postal Service, no Federal law 
dealing with public or Federal contracts, property, works, officers, 
employees, budgets, or funds, including the provisions of chapters 
5 and 7 of title 5, shall apply to the exercise of the powers of the 
so stat. sso, 
Postal Service. 
_ 
_ _ 
''s'usc'sooJoi: 
"(b) The following provisions shall apply to the Postal Service: 
"(1) section 552 (public information), section 3333 and chap- 8o^star424^' 
ters 71 (employee policies) and 73 (suitability, security, and con- 
5 use 7101, 
duct of employees), and section 5532 (dual pay) of title 5, except ^^o^-
that not regulation issued under such chapters or sections shall 
apply to the Postal Service unless expressly made applicable; 
"(2) all provisions of title 18 dealing with the Postal Service, 
^2 stat. ess. 
the mails, and officers or employees of the Government of the 
^
^ 
TJnited States; 
"(3) section 107 of title 20 (known as the Randolph-Sheppard 
Act, relating to vending machines operated by the blind) ; 
^^ ^*^'' ^^^' 
" (4) the following provisions of title 40: 
"(A) sections 258a-258e (relating to condemnation pro- 
46 stat. 1421; 
T 
\ 
\ 
e 
i- 
Post, 
p. 835. 
ceedmgs); 
, v ooo 
"(B) sections 270a-270e (known as the Miller Act, relating 8o'*star\"i3?' 
to performance bonds); 
69 stat! ss. ' 
50 Stat. 479. 
40 u s e 721. 
49 Stat, 2036; 
66 Stat, 308. 
79 Stat. 1034. 
41 u s e 351, 
78 Stat, 252, 
Post, p. 733, 
Post, p. 758. 
726 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
"(C) sections 276a—276a-7 (known as the Davis-Bacon 
55^813^ 49^°^ ^' 
•''^^'*' I'sl'^ting to prevailing wages) ; 
63 Stat, 108, 
"(I^) section 276c (relating to wage payments of certain 
contractors); 
"(E) chapter 5 (the Contract Work Hours Standards 
83'itar96!"^ 
Act); and 
"(F) chapter 15 (the Government Losses in Shipment 
Act) ; 
" (5) the following provisions of title 41: 
"(A) sections 35-45 (known as the Walsh-Healey Act, 
relating to wages and hours); and 
"(B) chapter 6 (the Service Contract Act of 1965) ; and 
"(6) sections 2000d, 2b00d-l—2000d-4 of title 42 (title VI, the 
Civil Rights Act of 1964). 
"(c) Subsection (b)(1) of this section shall not require the dis-
closure of— 
" (1) the name or address, past or present, of any postal patron; 
"(2) information of a commercial nature, including trade 
secrets, whether or not obtained from a person outside the Postal 
Service, which under good business practice would not be publicly 
disclosed; 
"(3) information prepared for use in connection with the nego-
tiation of collective-Dargaining agreements under chapter 12 of 
this title or minutes of, or notes kept during, negotiating sessions 
conducted under such chapter; 
" (4) information prepared for use in connection with proceed-
ings under chapter 36 of this title; 
"(5) the reports and memoranda of consultants or independent 
contractors except to the extent that they would be required to be 
disclosed if prepared within the Postal Service; and 
"(6) investigatory files, whether or not considered closed, com-
piled for law enforcement purposes except to the extent available 
by law to a party other than the Postal Service. 
"(d) (1) A lease agreement by the Postal Service for rent of net 
interior space in excess of 6,600 square feet in any building or facility, 
or part of a building or facility, to be occupied for purposes of the 
Postal Service shall include a provision that all laborers and me-
chanics employed in the construction, modification, alteration, repair, 
painting, decoration, or other improvement of the building or space 
covered by the agreement, or improvement at the site of such build-
ing or facility, shall be paid wages at not less than those prevailing 
for similar work in the locality as determined by the Secretary of 
Labor under section 276a of title 40. 
" (2) The authority and functions of the Secretary of Labor with re-
spect to labor standards enforcement under Reorganization Plan Num-
64 Stat. 1267. 
bered 14 of 1950 (title 5, appendix), and regulations for contractors 
and subcontractors under section 276c of title 40, shall apply to the 
work under paragraph (1) of this subsection, 
"(3) Paragraph (2) of this subsection shall not be construed to 
give the Secretary of Labor authority to direct the cancellation of the 
lease agreement referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection. 
"§ 411. Cooperation with other Government agencies 
80 Stat. 379, 
"Executive agencies within the meaning of section 105 of title 5 
and the Government Printing Office are authorized to furnish prop-
erty, both real and personal, and personal and nonpersonal services to 
the Postal Service, and the Postal Service is authorized to furnish 
property and services to them. The furnishing of property and serv-
ices under this section shall be under such terms and conditions, in-
cluding reimbursability, as the Postal Service and the head of the 
agency concerned shall deem appropriate. 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
727 
"§ 412. Nondisclosure of lists of names and addresses 
"Except as specifically provided by law, no officer or employee of 
the Postal Service shall make available to the public by any means 
or for any purpose any mailing or other list of names or addresses 
(past or present) of postal patrons or other persons. 
"Chapter 6.—PRIVATE CARRIAGE OF LETTERS 
"Sec. 
"601. Letters carried out of the mail. 
"602. Foreign letters out of the mails. 
"603. Searches authorized. 
"60i. Seizing and detaining letters. 
"605. Searching vessels for letters. 
"606. Disposition of seized mail. 
"§ 601. Letters carried out of the mail 
" (a) A letter may be carried out of the mails when— 
" (1 ^ it is enclosed in an envelope; 
" (2) the amount of postage which would have been charged on 
the letter if it had been sent by mail is paid by stamps, or postage 
meter stamps, on the envelope; 
"(3) the envelope is properly addressed; 
"(4) the envelope is so sealed that the letter cannot be taken 
from it without defacing the envelope; 
"(5) any stamps on the envelope are canceled in ink by the 
sender; and 
"(6) the date of the letter, of its transmission or receipt by the 
carrier is endorsed on the envelope in ink. 
"(b) The Postal Service may suspend the operation of any part 
of this section upon any mail route where the public interest requires 
the suspension. 
"§ 602. Foreign letters out of the mails 
"(a) Except as provided in section 601 of this title, the master of a 
vessel departing from the United States for foreign ports may not 
receive on board or transport any letter which originated in the 
United States that— 
" (1) has not been regularly received from a United States post 
office; or 
" (2) does not relate to the cargo of the vessel. 
"(b) The officer of the port empowered to grant clearances shall 
I'equire from the master of such a vessel, as a condition of clearance, 
an oath that he does not have under his care or controlj and will not 
receive or transport, any letter contrary to the provisions of this 
section. 
"(c) Except as provided in section 1699 of title 18, the master of a 66^|tat?32r^' 
vessel arriving at a port of the United States carrying letters not 
regularly in the mails shall deposit them in the post office at the port 
of arrival. 
"§ 603. Searches authorized 
"Tl'he Postal Service may authorize any officer or employee of the 
Postal Service to make searches for mail matter transported in viola-
tion of law. When the authorized officer has reason to believe that mail-
able matter transported contrary to law may be found therein, he may 
open and search any— 
"(1) vehicle passing, or having lately passed, from a place at 
which there is a post office of the LTnited States; 
"(2) article being, or having lately been, in the vehicle; or 
"(3) store or office, other than a dwelling house, used or oc-
cupied by a common carrier or transportation company, in which 
an article may be contained. 
47-348 O - 72 - 50 (Pt. 1) 
728 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
"§ 604. Seizing and detaining letters 
"An officer or employee of the Postal Service performing duties re-
lated to the inspection of postal matters, a customs officer, or United 
States marshal or his deputy, may seize at any time, letters and bags, 
packets, or parcels containing letters which are being carried contrary 
to law on board any vessel or on any post road. The officer or employee 
who makes the seizure shall convey the articles seized to the nearest 
post office, or, by direction of the Postal Service or the Secretary of 
the Treasury, he ma^ detain them until 2 months after the final de-
termination of all suits and proceedings which may be brought within 
6 months after the seizure against any person for sending or carrying 
the letters. 
"§ 605. Searching vessels for letters 
"An officer or employee of the Postal Service performing duties 
related to the inspection of postal matters, when instructed by the 
Postal Service to make examinations and seizures, and any customs 
officer without special instructions shall search vessels for letters which 
may be on board, or which may have been conveyed contrary to law. 
''§ 606. Disposition of seized mail 
"Every package or parcel seized by an officer or employee of the 
Postal Service performing duties related to the inspection of postal 
matters, a customs officer, or United States marshal or his deputies, 
in which a letter is unlawfully concealed, shall be forfeited to the 
United States. The same proceedings may be used to enforce forfei-
tures as are authorized in respect of goods, wares, and merchandise 
forfeited for violation of the revenue laws. Laws for the benefit and 
protection of customs officers making seizures for violating revenue 
law^s apply to officers and employees making seizures for violating 
the postal laws. 
"PART II—PERSONNEL 
"CHAPTER 
Sec, 
"10. EMPLOYMENT W I T H I N THE POSTAL SERVICE 
1001 
"12. 
EMPLOYEE-MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS 
1201 
"Chapter 10.—EMPLOYMENT WITHIN THE POSTAL 
SERVICE 
"Sec. 
"1001. Appointment and status. 
"1002. Political recommendations. 
"1003. Employment policy. 
"1004. Supervisory and other managerial organizations. 
"1005. Applicability of laws relating to Federal employees. 
"1006. Right of transfer. 
"1007. Seniority for employees in rural service. 
"1008. Temporary employees or carriers. 
"1009. Personnel not to receive fees. 
"1010. Administration of oaths related to postal inspection matters. 
"1011. Oath of office. 
"§ 1001. Appointment and status 
"(a) Except as otherwise provided in this title, the Postal Service 
shall appoint all officers and employees of the Postal Service. 
"(b) Officers and employees of the Postal Service (other than those 
individuals appointed under sections 202, 204, and 1001(c) of this 
Ante, pp. 7 20, 
title) shall be in the postal career service, which shall be a part of the 
civil service. Such appointments and promotions shall be in accord-
ance with the procedures established by the Postal Service. The Postal 
Service shall establish procedures, in accordance with this title, to as-
sure its officers and employees meaningful opportunities for promo-
tion and career development and to assure its officers and employees 
full iJrotection of their employment rights by guaranteeing them an 
721. 
Executives, 
ployment con-
484. 
Post, p. 733. 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
729 
opportunity for a fair hearing on adverse actions, with representatives 
of their own choosing. 
"(c) The Postal Service may hire individuals as executives under ^ ^ 
employment contracts for periods not in excess of 5 years. Not 
with- Tracts. 
standing any such contract, the Postal Service may at its discretion 
and at any time remove any such individual without prejudice to his 
contract rights. 
"(d) Notwithstanding section 5533, 5535, or 5536 of title 5, or any ^Jjjf^ ^"P^°^" 
other provision of law, any officer or employee of the Government of 
so stat. 483, 
the United States is eligible to serve and receive pay concurrently as '"' 
an officer or employee of the Postal Service (other than as a member 
of the Board or of the Postal Rate Commission) and as an officer or 
employee of any other department, agency, or establishment of the 
Government of the United States. 
" (e) The Postal Service shall have the right, consistent with section 
1003 and chapter 12 of this title and applicable laws, regulations, and 
collective-bargaining agreements— 
" (1) to direct officers and employees of the Postal Service in the 
performance of official duties; 
"(2) to hire, promote, transfer, assign, and retain officers and 
employees in positions within the Postal Service, and to suspend, 
demote, discharge, or take other disciplinary action against such 
officers and employees ; 
"(3) to relieve officers and employees from duties because of 
lack of work or for other legitimate reasons; . 
"(4) to maintain the efficiency of the operations entrusted to it; 
" (5) to determine the methods, means, and personnel by which 
such operations are to be conducted; 
"(6) to prescribe a uniform dress to be worn by letter carriers 
and other designated employees; and 
" (7) to take whatever actions may be necessary to carry out its 
mission in emergency situations. 
"§ 1002. Political recommendations 
"(a) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, each 
appointment, promotion, assignment, transfer, or designation, interim 
or otherwise, of an officer or employee in the Postal Service (except a 
Governor or member of the Postal Rate Commission) shall be made 
without regard to any recommendation or statement, oral or written, 
with respect to any person who requests or is under consideration for 
such appointment, promotion, assignment, transfer, or designation, 
made by— 
"(1) any Member of the Senate or House of Representatives 
(including the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico); 
" (2) any elected official of the government of any State (includ-
ing the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) or of any county, city, or 
other political subdivision of such State or Commonwealth; 
"(3) any official of a national political party or of a political 
party of any State (including the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico), county, city, or other subdivision of such State or Common-
wealth; or 
"(4) any other individual or organization. 
"(b) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, a person exce°'tion'°"' 
or organization referred to in clause (1), (2), (3), or (4) of subsection 
(a) of this section is prohibited from making or transmitting to the 
Postal Service, or to any other officer or employee of the Government 
of the United States, any recommendation or statement, oral or 
written, with respect to any person who requests or is under considera-
tion for any such appointment, promotion, assignment, transfer, or 
designation. The Postal Service and any officer or employee of the 
730 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
Government of tlie United States, subject to subsection (e) of this 
section— 
"(1) shall not solicit, request, consider, or accept any such 
recommendation or statement; and 
"(2) shall return any such written recommendation or state-
ment received by him, appropriately marked as in violation of 
this section, to the person or organization making or transmitting 
the same. 
"(c) A person who requests or is under consideration for any such 
appointment, promotion, assignment, transfer, or designation is pro-
hibited from requesting or soliciting any such recommendation or 
statement from any person or organization except a statement of the 
type referred to in subsection (e) (2) of this section. 
"(d) Each employment form of the Postal Service used in connec-
tion with any such appointment, promotion, assignment, transfer, or 
designation shall contain appropriate language in boldface type in-
forming all persons concerned of the provisions of this section. During 
the time any such appointment, promotion, assignment, transfer, or 
designation is under consideration, appropriate notice of the provisions 
of this section printed in boldface type shall be posted in the post office 
concerned. 
"(e) The Postal Service or any authorized officer or employee of the 
Government of the United States may solicit, accept, and consider, and 
any other individual or organization may furnish or transmit to the 
Postal Service or such authorized officer or employee, any statement 
with respect to a person who requests or is under consideration for 
such appointment, promotion, assignment, transfer, or designation, 
if— 
"(1) the statement is furnished pursuant to a request or re-
quirement of the Postal Service and consists solely of an evalua-
tion of the work performance, ability, aptitude, and general quali-
fications of such person; 
"(2) the statement relates solely to the character and residence 
of such person; 
"(3) the statement is furnished pursuant to a request made by 
an authorized representative of the Government of the United 
States solely in order to determine whether such person meets 
the loyalty, suitability, and character requirements for employ-
ment with the Government of the United States; or 
"(4) the statement is furnished by a former employer of such 
person pursuant to a request of the Postal Service, and consists 
solely of an evaluation of the work performance, ability, aptitude, 
and general qualifications of such person during his employment 
with such former employer. 
"(f) The Postal Service shall take any action it determines neces-
sary and proper, including but not limited to suspension, removal from 
office, or disqualification from the Postal Service, to enforce the provi-
sions of this section. 
"(g) The provisions of this section shall not affect the right of an 
officer or employee of the Postal Service to petition Congress as au-
80 Stat. 523. 
thoHzed by section 7102 of title 5. 
"§ 1003. Employment policy 
p'ost, p. 73°! 
"(^) Except as provided under chapters 2 and 12 of this title or 
other provision of law, the Postal Service shall classify 
and 
fix the compensation and benefits of all officers and employees in the 
Postal Service. It shall be the policy of the Postal Service to main-
tain compensation and benefits for all officers and employees on a 
standard of comparability to the compensation and benefits paid for 
comparable levels of work in the private sector of the economy. No 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
731 
officer or employee shall be paid compensation at a rate in excess of 
the rate for level I of the Executive Schedule under section 5312 
of title 5. 
ssltTseT' 
"(b) The Postal Service shall follow an employment policy de-
signed, without compromising the policy of section 101(a) of this 
title, to extend opportunity to tlie disadvantaged and the handicapped. 
"§ 1004. Supervisory and other managerial organizations 
"(a) It shall be the policy of the Postal Service to provide compen-
sation, working conditions, and career opportunities that will assure 
the attraction and retention of qualified and capable supervisory and 
other managerial personnel; to provide adequate and reasonable differ-
entials in rates of pay between employees in the clerk and carrier 
grades in the line work force and supervisory and other managerial 
personnel; to establish and maintain continuously a program for all 
such personnel that reflects the essential importance of a well-trained 
and well-motivated force to improve the effectiveness of postal opera-
tions; and to promote the leadership status of such personnel with 
respect to rank-and-file employees, recognizing that the role of such 
personnel in primary level management is particularly vital to the 
process of converting general postal policies into successful postal 
operations. 
"(b) The Postal Service shall provide a program for consultation 
with recognized organizations of supervisory and other managerial 
personnel w^ho are not subject to collective-bargaining agreements 
under chapter 12 of this title. Upon presentation of evidence satis- 
Post, p. 733. 
factory to the Postal Service that a supervisory organization repre-
sents a majority of supervisors, or that a managerial organization 
(other than an organization representing supervisors) represents a 
substantial percentage of managerial employees, such organization 
or organizations shall be entitled to participate directly in the plan-
ning and development of pay policies and schedules, fringe benefit 
programs, and otlier programs relating to supervisory and other man-
agerial employees. 
"§ 1005. Applicability of laws relating to Federal employees 
"(a) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the pro-
visions of chapter 75 of title 5 shall apply to officers and employees 
s^us^c'ys^oi'' 
of the Postal Service except to the extent of any inconsistency with— 
"(A) the provisions of any collective-bargaining agreement 
negotiated on behalf of and applicable to them; or 
"(B) procedures established by the Postal Service and approved 
by the Civil Service Commission. 
"(2) The provisions of title 5 relating to a preference eligible (as 
that term is defined under section 2108(3) of such title) shall apply to gi^stat^^ige^"' 
fin applicant for appointment and any officer or employee of the 
Postal Service in the same manner and under the same conditions as if 
the applicant, officer, or employee were subject to the competitive serv-
ice under such title. The provisions of this paragraph shall not be 
modified by any pros^ram developed under section 1004 of this title or 
any collective-bargaining agreement entered into under chapter 12 of 
this title, 
" (3) The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to those indi-
viduals appointed under sections 202, 204, and 1001 (c) of this title. 
"(b) Section 5941 of title 5 shall apply to the Postal Service. For 
«° ^'^'- ^i^-
purposes of such section, the pay of officers and employees of the 
Postal Service shall be considered to be fixed by statute, and the basic 
pay of an employee shall be the pay (but not any allowance or benefit) 
of that officer or employee established in accordance w^ith the provi-
sions of this title. 
8701, 8901. 
732 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
"(c) Officers and employees of the Postal Service shall be covered 
80 Stat. 532; 
^y suDchapteF I of chapter 81 of title 5, relating to compensation for 
5 use 8°io'i. 
work injuries. 
"(d) Officers and employees of the Postal Service (other than the 
83*statr\'36l^' 
Govemors) shall be covered by chapter 83 of title 5 relating to civil 
Post, p. 776. 
service retirement. The Postal Service shall withhold from pay and 
5 use 8301. 
shall pay into the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund the 
amounts specified in such chapter. The Postal Service, upon request 
of the Civil Service Commission, but not less frequently than annu-
ally, shall pay to the Civil Service Commission the costs reasonably 
related to the administration of Fund activities for officers and em-
ployees of the Postal Service. 
" (e) Sick and annual leave, and compensatory time of officers and 
employees of the Postal Service, whether accrued prior to or after 
commencement of operations of the Postal Service, shall be obligations 
of the Postal Service under the provisions of this chapter. 
"(f) Compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions of 
employment in effect immediately prior to the effective date of this 
section, whether provided by statute or by rules and regulations of 
the former Post Office Department or the executive branch of the 
Government of the United States, shall continue to apply to officers 
and employees of the Postal Service, until changed by the Postal Serv-
ice in accordance with this chapter and chapter 12 of this title. Sub-
ject to the provisions of this chapter and chapter 12 of this title, the 
provisions of subchapter I of chapter 85 and chapters 87 and 89 of 
s^^usc^ssoi, 
^[I\Q 5 shall apply to officers and employees of the Postal Service, 
unless varied, added to, or substituted for, under this subsection. No 
variation, addition, or substitution with respect to fringe benefits shall 
result in a program of fringe benefits which on the whole is less favor-
able to the officers and employees than fringe benefits in effect on the 
effective date of this section, and as to officers and employees for whom 
there is a collective-bargaining representative, no such variation, addi-
tion, or substitution shall be made except by agreement between the 
collective-bargaining representative and the Postal Service. 
"§ 1006. Right of transfer 
"Officers and employees in the postal career service of the Postal 
Service shall be eligible for promotion or transfer to any other posi-
tion in the Postal Service or the executive branch of the Government 
of the United States for which they are qualified. The authority given 
by this section shall be used to provide a maximum degree of career 
promotion opportunities for officers and employees and to insure 
continued improvement of postal services. 
"§ 1007. Seniority for employees in rural service 
"Subject to agreements made under chapter 12 of this title, the 
seniority of an employee, of the Postal Service occupying a position 
whose regular duty involves the collection and delivery of mail on a 
rural route shall be preserved. Seniority for such employee shall com-
mence on the first day of his service in such a position, or, in the event 
such an employee transfers to another such position, on the day he 
enters duty in the other position. Upon initial assignment, such an 
employee shall be assigned to the least desirable route and shall attain 
assignment to more desirable routes by seniority. Promotions and 
assignments for such an employee in such position shall be based on 
seniority and ability. If ability be sufficient, seniority shall govern. 
"§ 1008. Temporary employees or carriers 
"(a) A person temporarily employed to deliver mail is deemed an 
employee of the Postal Service and is subject to the provisions of 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
733 
62 Stat. 776. 
chapter 83 of title 18 to the same extent as other employees of the 
Postal Service. 
"(b) Any person, when engaged in carrying mail under contract 
with the Postal Service, or employed by the Postal Service, is deemed 
a carrier or person entrusted with the mail and having custody thereof, 
within the meaning of sections 1701, 1708, and 2114 of title 18. 
"§ 1009. Personnel not to receive fees 
"An officer or employee of the Postal Service may not receive any 
fee or perquisite from a patron of the Postal Service on account of 
the duties performed by virtue of his appointment, except as au-
thorized by law. 
"§ 1010. Administration of oaths related to postal inspection 
matters 
"Officers and employees of the Postal Service performing duties 
related to the inspection of postal matters may administer oaths 
required or authorized by law or regulation with respect to any 
matter coming before them in the performance of their official duties. 
"§ 1011. Oath of office 
"Before entering upon their duties and before receiving any salary, 
all officers and employees of the Postal Service shall take and subscribe 
the following oath or affirmation: 
" 'I, 
, do solemnly sw^ear (or affirm) that I will 
support and defend the Constitution of the United States against 
all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and 
allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without 
any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will 
well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I 
am about to enter.' 
A person authorized to administer oaths by the laws of the United 
States, including section 2903 of title 5, or of a State or territory, or 
so ^tat. 411. 
an officer, civil or military, holding a commission under the United 
States, or any officer or employee of the Postal Service designated by 
the Board may administer and certify the oath or affirmation. 
"Chapter 12.—EMPLOYEE-MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS 
"Sec. 
"1201. Definition. 
"1202. Bargaining units. 
"1203. Recognition of labor organizations. 
"1204. Elections. 
"1205. Deductions of dues. 
"1206. Collective-bargaining agreements. 
"1207. Labor disputes. 
"1208. Suits. 
"1209. Applicability of Federal labor laws. 
"§1201. Definition 
"As used in this chapter, 'guards' means— 
"(1) maintenance guards who, on the effective date of this 
chapter, are in key position KP-5 under the provisions of former 
section 3514 of title 39; and 
^ 71!!°*;.^,^'• 
"(2) security guards, who may be employed in the Postal 
Service and whose primary duties shall include the exercise of 
authority to enforce rules to protect the safety of property, mail, 
or persons on the premises. 
"§1202. Bargaining units 
"The National Labor Relations Board shall decide in each case the 
unit appropriate for collective bargaining in the Postal Service. The 
il Stat. 627. 
734 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
Na>tional Labor Relations Board shall not include in any bargaining 
unit— 
" (1) any management official or supervisor; 
"(2) any employee engaged in personnel work in other than a 
purely nonconfidential clerical capacity; 
"(3) both professional employees and employees who are not 
professional employees unless a majority of such professional 
employees vote for inclusion in such unit; or 
"(4) together with other employees, any individual employed 
as a security guard to enforce against employees and other per-
sons, rules to protect property of the Postal Service or to protect 
the safety of property, mail, or persons on the premises of the 
Postal Service; but no labor organization shall be certified as the 
representative of employees in a bargaining unit of security guards 
if such organization admits to membership, or is affiliated directly 
or indirectly with an organization which admits to membership, 
employees other than guards. 
"§ 1203. Recognition of labor organizations 
"(a) The Postal Service shall accord exclusive recognition to a 
labor organization when the organization has been selected by a major-
ity of the employees in an appropriate unit as their representative. 
"(b) Agreements and supplements in effect on the date of enactment 
of this section covering employees in the former Post Office Depart-
ment shall continue to be recognized by the Postal Service until altered 
or amended pursuant to law. 
"(c) When a petition has been filed, in accordance with such regula-
tions as may be prescribed by the National Labor Relations Board— 
" (1) by an employee, a group of employees, or any labor orga-
nization acting in their behalf, alleging that (A) a substantial 
number of employees wish to be represented for collective bargain-
ing by a labor organization and that the Postal Service declines to 
recognize such labor organization as the representative; or (B) 
the labor organization which has been certified or is being cur-
rently recognized by the Postal Service as the bargaining repre-
sentative is no longer a representative; or 
"(2) by the Postal Service, alleging that one or more labor 
organizations has presented to it a claim to be recognized as the 
representative; 
the National Labor Relations Board shall investigate such petition 
and, if it has reasonable cause to believe that a question of representa-
tion exists, shall provide for an appropriate hearing upon due notice. 
Such hearing may be conducted by an officer or employee of the 
National Labor Relations Board, who shall not make any recom-
mendations with respect thereto. If the National Labor Relations 
Board finds upon the record of such hearing that such a question of 
representation exists, it shall direct an election by secret ballot and 
shall certify the results thereof. 
"(d) A petition filed under subsection (c) (1) of this section shall be 
accompanied by a statement signed hj at least 30 percent of the 
employees in the appropriate unit stating that they desire that an 
election be conducted for either of the purposes set forth in such 
subsection. 
"(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the 
waiving of hearings by stipulation for the purpose of a consent elec-
tion in conformity with regulations and rules of decision of the 
National Labor Relations Board. 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
735 
* § 1204. Elections 
" (a) All elections authorized under this chapter shall be conducted 
under the supervision of the National Labor Kelations Board, or 
persons designated by it, and shall be by secret ballot. Each employee 
eligible to vote shall be provided the opportunity to choose the labor 
organization he wishes to represent him, from among those on the bal-
lot, or 'no union'. 
"(b) In any election where none of the choices on the ballot receives 
a majority, a runoff shall be conducted, the ballot providing for a 
selection between the 2 choices receiving the largest and second 
largest number of valid votes cast in the election. In the event of a tie 
vote, additional runoff elections shall be conducted until one of the 
choices has received a majority of the votes. 
"(c) No election shall be held in any bargaining unit within which, 
in the preceding 12-month period, a valid election has been held. 
"§ 1205. Deductions of dues 
"(a) When a labor organization holds exclusive recognition, or 
when an organization of personnel not subject to collective-bargaining 
agreements has consultation rights under section 1004 of this title, 
the Postal Service shall deduct the regular and periodic dues of the 
organization from the pay of all members of the organization in the 
unit of recognition if the Post Office Department or the Postal Service 
has received from each employee, on whose account such deductions 
are made, a written assignment which shall be irrevocable for a period 
of not more than one year. 
"(b) Any agreement in effect innnediately prior to the date of 
enactment of the Postal Eeorganization Act Ibetween the Post Office 
Department and any organization of postal employees which provides 
for deduction by the Department of the regular and periodic dues of 
the organization from the pay of its members, shall continue in full 
force and effect and the obligation for such deductions shall be as-
sumed by the Postal Service. No such deduction shall be made from 
the pay of any employee except on his written assignment, which shall 
be irrevocable for a period of not more than one year. 
"§ 1206. Collective-bargaining agreements 
"(a) Collective-bargaining agreements between the Postal Service 
and bargaining representatives recognized under section 1203 of this 
title shall be eft'ective for not less than 2 years. 
"(b) Collective-bargaining agreements between the Postal Service 
and bargaining representatives recognized under section 1203 may 
include any procedures for resolution by the parties of grievances and 
adverse actions arising under the agreement, including procedures 
culminating in binding third-party arbitration, or the parties may 
adopt any such procedures by mutual agreement in the event of a 
dispute. 
"(c) The Postal Service and bargaining representatives recognized 
under section 1203 may by mutual agreement adopt procedures for 
the resolution of disputes or impasses arising in the negotiation of a 
collective-bargaining agreement. 
*
*
§ 1207. Labor disputes 
"(a) If there is a collective-bargaining agreement in effect, no party 
to such agreement shall terminate or modify such agreement unless 
the party desiring such termination or modification serves written 
notice upon the other party to the agreement of the proposed termi-
nation or modification not less than 90 days prior to the expiration 
736 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
Factfinding 
panel. 
Arbitration 
board. 
Full hearing 
opportunity. 
Costs. 
date thereof, or not less than 90 days prior to the time it is proposed 
to make such termination or modification. The party serving such 
notice shall notify the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service 
of the existence of a dispute within 45 days of such notice, if no agree-
ment has been reaxjhed by that time. 
"(b) If the parties fail to reach agreement or to adopt a procedure 
providing for a binding resolution of a dispute by the expiration 
date of the agreement in effect, or the date of the proposed termina-
tion or modification, the Director of the Federal Mediation and Con-
ciliation Service shall direct the establishment of a factfinding panel 
consisting of 3 persons. For this purpose, he shall submit to the parties 
a list of not less than 15 names, from which list each party, within 10 
days, shall select 1 person. The 2 so selected shall then choose from the 
list a third person who shall serve as chairman of the factfinding panel. 
If either of the parties fails to select a person or if the 2 members are 
unable to agree on the third person within 3 days, the selection shall 
be made by the Director. The factfinding panel shall issue after due 
investigation a report of its findings, with or without recommenda-
tions, to the parties no later than 45 days from the date the list of 
names is submitted. 
"(c) (1) If no agreement is reached within 80 days after the expi-
ration or termination of the agreement or the date on which the agree-
ment became subject to modification under subsection (a) of this sec-
tion, or if the parties decide upon arbitration but do not a^ree upon 
the procedures therefor, an arbitration board shall be established con-
sisting of 3 members, not members of the factfinding panel, 1 of whom 
shall be selected by the Postal Service, 1 by the bargaining represent-
ative of the employees, and the third by the 2 thus selected. If either 
of the parties fails to select a member, or if the members chosen by the 
parties fail to agree on the third person within 5 days after their first 
meeting, the selection shall be made by the Director. If the parties do 
not agree on the framing of the issues to be submitted, the factfinding 
panel shall frame the issues and submit them to the arbitration board. 
"(2) The arbitration board shall give the parties a full and fair 
hearing, including an opportunity to present evidence in support of 
their claims, and an opportunity to present their case in person, by 
counsel or by other representative as they may elect. Decisions of the 
arbitration board shall be conclusive and binding upon the parties. 
The arbitration board shall render its decision within 45 days after its 
appointment. 
"(3) Costs of the arbitration iboard and factfinding panel shall be 
shared equally by the Postal Service and the bargaining representa-
tive. 
"(d) In the case of a bargaining unit whose recognized collective-
bargaining representative does not have an agreement with the Postal 
Service, if the parties fail to reach agreement within 90 days of the 
commencement of collective bargaining, a factfinding panel will be 
established in accordance with the terms of subsection (b) of this 
section, unless the parties have previously agreed to another procedure 
for a binding resolution of their diffei-ences. If the parties fail to reach 
agreement within 180 days of the commencement of collective bar-
gaining, and if they have not agreed to another procedure for binding 
resolution, an arbitration board shall be established to provide con-
clusive and binding arbitration in accordance with the terms of 
subsection (c) of this section. 
"§ 1208. Suits 
"(a) The courts of the LTnited States shall have jurisdiction with 
respect to actions brought by the National Labor Relations Board 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12. 1970 
737 
iiiider this ohaptei- to the same extent that they have jurisdiction with 
respect to actions under title 29. 
^^ ^^^ ^
^
g
^
^
-
"(b) Suits for violation of contracts between the Postal Service 
contract vioia-
and a labor organization representing Postal Service employees, or tion. 
between any such labor organizations, may be brought in any district 
court of the United States having jurisdiction of the parties, without 
respect to the amount in controversy. 
" (c) A labor organization and the Postal Service shall be bound by ^^^^^^ organi-
the authorized acts of their agents. Any labor organization may sue 
or be sued as an entity and in behalf of the employees whom it repre-
sents in the courts of the United States. Any money judgment against 
a labor organization in a district court of the United States shall be 
enforcible only against the organization as an entity and against its 
assets, and shall not be enforcible against any individual member or hi? 
assets. 
"(d) For the purposes of actions and proceedings by or against diction?'^""^" 
labor organizations in the district courts of the United States, district 
courts shall be deemed to have jurisdiction of a labor organization 
(1) in the district in which such organization maintains its principal 
offices, or (2) in any district in which its duly authorized officers or 
agents are engaged in representing or acting for employee members. 
"(e) The service of summons, subpena, or other legal process of 
any court of the Ignited States upon an officer or agent of a labor or-
ganization, in his capacity as such, shall constitute service upon the 
labor organization. 
"§ 1209. Applicability of Federal labor laws 
"(a) Employee-management relations shall, to the extent not in-
consistent with provisions of this title, be subject to the provisions of 
subchapter II of chapter 7 of title 29. 
"(b) The provisions of chapter 11 of title 29 shall be applicable 
9^ use ^^^' 
to labor organizations that have or are seeking to attain recognition note. 
under section 1203 of this title, and to such organizations' officers, 
agents, shop stew^ards, other representatives, and members to the 
extent to which such provisions would be applicable if the Postal 
Service were an employer under section 402 of title 29. In addition 
to the authority conferred on him under section 438 of title 29, the 
Secretary of Labor shall have authority, by regulation issued with 
the written concurrence of the Postal Service, to prescribe simplified 
reports for any such labor organization. The Secretary of Labor 
may revoke such provision for simplified forms of any such labor 
organization if he determines, after such investigation as he deems 
proper and after due notice and opportunity for a hearing, that 
the purposes of this chapter and of chapter 11 of title 29 would be 
served thereby. 
"(c) Each employee of the Postal Service shall have the right, em^ploJe^paX'i. 
freely and without fear of penalty or reprisal, to form, join, and pation. 
assist a labor organization or to refrain from any such activity, and 
each employee shall be protected in the exercise of this right. 
"PART III—MODERNIZATION AND FISCAL 
ADMINISTRATION 
"CHAPTKR 
See. 
"20. 
FINANCE 
2001 
"22. 
CONVICT 
LABOR 
2201 
"24. 
APPROPRIATIONS AND ANNXTAI. REPORT 
„ 
2401 
"26. 
DEBTS AND COLLECTION 
2601 
738 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
"Chapter 20.—FINANCE 
"Sec. 
"2001. Definitions. 
"2002. Capital of the Postal Service. 
"2003. The Postal Service Fund. 
"2004. Transitional appropriations. 
"2005. Obligations. 
"2006. Relationship between the Treasury and the Postal Service. 
"2007. Public debt character of the obligations of the Postal Service. 
"2008. Audit and expenditures. 
"2009. Annual budget. 
"2010. Restrictions on agreements. 
"§2001. Definitions 
''As used in this chapter— 
"(1) 'Fund' means the Postal Service Fund established by sec-
tion 2008 of this chapter; and 
"' (2) 'obligations', when referring to debt instruments issued by 
the Postal Service, means notes, bonds, debentures, mortgages, 
and any other evidence of indebtedness. 
"§ 2002. Capital of the Postal Service 
"(a) The initial capital of the Postal Service shall consist of the 
equity, as reflected in the budget of the President, of the Government 
of the United States in the former Post Office Department. The value 
of assets and the amount of liabilities transferred to the Postal Service 
upon the commencement of operations of the Postal Service shall be 
determined by the Postal Service subject to the approval of the Comp-
troller General, in accordance with the following guidelines: 
"'(l) Assets shall be valued on the basis of original cost less 
depreciation, to the extent that such value can be determined. The 
value recorded on the former Post Office Department's books of 
account shall be prima facie evidence of asset value. 
" (2) All liabilities attributable to operations of the former Post 
Office Department shall remain liabilities of the Government of 
the ITnited States, except that upon commencement of operations 
of the Postal Service, the unexpended balances of appropriations 
made to, held or used by, or available to the former Post Office 
Department and all liabilities chargeable thereto shall become 
assets and liabilities, respectively, of the Postal Service. 
''(b) The capital of the Postal Service at any time shall consist of 
its assets, including the balance in the Fund, less its liabilities. 
"(c) The Postal Service, and the Administrator of General Services 
where properties under the jurisdiction of the Administrator are in-
volved, with the approval of the Director of the Office of Management 
and Budget, shall determine which Federal properties shall be trans-
ferred to the Postal Service and which shall remain under the jurisdic-
tion of any other department, agency, or establishment of the Govern-
ment of the United States upon the commencement of operations of 
the Postal Service. The transfer shall be accomplished at the time of or 
as near as possible to the commencement of operations of the Postal 
Service and the valuation of the assets and capital of the Postal Serv-
tra^Tferf^ 
ice shajl be adjusted accordingly. The following properties shall be in-
cluded in the transfer: 
" (1) the mail equipment shops located in Washington, Di^rict 
of Columbia; 
"(2) all machinery, equipment, and appurtenances of the for-
mer Post Office Department; 
"(3) all real property whose ownership was acquired by the 
s/stat^'i/^"' 
Postmaster General under former section 2103 of this title, as in 
effect immediately prior to the effective date of this section, or 
which immediately prior to such effective date, is vmder the 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
739 
administration of the former Post Office Department for the pur-
pose of constructing a postal building from funds appropriated or 
transferred to the former Post Office Department, together with 
all funds appropriated or allocated therefor; 
"(4) all real property 55 percent or more of which is occupied 
by or under control of the former Post Office Department imme-
diately prior to the effective date of this section; 
" (5) all contracts, records, and documents relating to the opera-
tion of the departmental service and the postal field service of the 
former Post Office Department; and 
"(6) all other property and assets of the former Post Office 
Department. 
"(d) After the commencement of operations of the Postal Service, 
the President is authorized to transfer to the Postal Service, and the 
Postal Service is authorized to transfer to other departments, agen-
cies, or independent establishments of the Government of the United 
States, with or without reimbursement, any property of that depart-
ment, agency, or independent establishment and the Postal Service, 
respectively, when the public interest would be served by such 
transfer. 
"§ 2003. The Postal Service Fund 
"(a) There is established in the Treasury of the United States a 
revolving fund to be called the Postal Service Fund which shall be 
available to the Postal Service without fiscal-year limitation to carry 
out the purposes, functions, and powers authorized by this title. 
"(b) There shall be deposited in the Fund, subject to withdrawal 
by check by the Postal Service— 
" (1) revenues from postal and nonpostal services rendered by 
the Postal Service; 
"(2) amounts received from obligations issued by the Postal 
Service; 
"(3) amounts ajjpropriated for the use of the Postal Service; 
" (4) interest which may be earned on investments of the Fund; 
"(5) any other receipts of the Postal Service; and 
"(6) the balance in the Post Office Department Fund estab-
lished under former section 2202 of title 39 as of the commence- 
7
"
* ^*^*' 594.. 
ment of operations of the Postal Service. 
"(c) If the Postal Service determines that the moneys of the Fund 
are in excess of current needs, it may request the investment of such 
amounts as it deems advisable by the Secretary of the Treasury in 
obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the Government of the 
United States, and, with the approval of the Secretary, in such other 
obligations or securities as it deems appropriate. 
" (d) With the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, the Postal 
Service may deposit moneys of the Fund in any Federal Eeserve bank, 
any depository for public funds, or in such other places and in such 
manner as the Postal Service and the Secretary may mutually agree. 
"(e) The Fund shall be available for the payment of all expenses 
incurred by the Postal Service in carrying out its functions under this 
title and, subject to the provisions of section 3604 of this title, all 
^°^'' P- ''^^ 
of the expenses of the Postal Rate Commission. Neither the Fund 
nor any of the funds credited to it shall be subject to apportionment 
under the provisions of section 665 of title 31. 
''§2004. Transitional appropriations 
"Such sums as are necessary to insure a sound financial transi-
tion for the Postal Service and a rate policy consistent with chap-
ter 36 of this title are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the 
Fund without regard to fiscal-year limitation. 
Excess funds, 
investment. 
740 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
Issuance, forms, 
etc. 
Negotiability, 
etc. 
Tax exemption, 
exception. 
*§2005. Obligations 
"(a) The Postal Service is authorized to borrow money and to 
issue and sell such obligations as it determines necessary to carry out 
the purposes of tliis title. The aggregate amount of any such obli-
gations outstanding at any one time shall not exceed $10,000,000,000. 
in any one fiscal year the net increase in the amount of obligations 
outstanding issued for the purpose of capital improvements shall not 
exceed $1,500,000,000, and the net increase in the amount of obliga-
tions outstanding issued for the purpose of defraying operating 
expenses of the Postal Service shall not exceed $500,000,000. 
" (b) The Postal Service may pledge the assets of the Postal Service 
and pledge and use its revenues and receipts for the payment of the 
principal of or interest on such obligations, for the purchase or re-
demption thereof, and for other purposes incidental thereto, including 
creation of reserve, sinking, and other funds which may be similarly 
pledged and used, to such extent and in such manner as it deems neces-
sary or desirable. The Postal Service is authorized to enter into binding 
covenants with the holders of such obligations, and with the trustee, if 
any, under any agreement entered into m connection with the issuance 
thereof Avith respect to the establishment of reserve, sinking, and other 
funds, application and use of revenues and receipts of the Postal 
Service, stipulations concerning the subsequent issuance of obligations 
or the execution of leases or lease purchases relating to properties of 
the Postal Service and such ether matters as the Postal Service deems 
necessary or desirable to enhance the marketability of such obligations. 
"(c) Oblig.itions issued by the Postal Service under this section— 
" (1) shall be in such forms and denominations; 
" (2) shall be sold at such times and in such amounts; 
" (3) shall mature at such time or times; 
" (4) shall be sold at such prices; 
" (5) shall bear such rates of interest; 
"(6) may be redeemable before maturity in such manner, at 
such times, and at such redemption premiums; 
"(7) may be entitled to such relative priorities of claim on the 
assets of the Postal Service with respect to principal and interest 
payments; and 
" (8) shall be subject to such other terms and conditions; 
as the Postal Service determines. 
"(d) Obligations issued by the Postal Service under this section 
shall— 
"(1) be negotiable or nonnegotiable and bearer or registered 
instruments, as specified therein and in any indenture or covenant 
relating thereto; 
"(2) contain a recital that they are issued under this section, 
and such recital shall be conclusive evidence of the regularity of 
the issuance and sale of such obligations and of their validity; 
"(3) be lawful investments and may be accepted as security for 
all fiduciary, trust, and public funds, the investment or deposit 
of which shall be under the authority or control of any officer or 
agency of the Government of the United States, and the Secre-
tary of the Ti'easury or any other officer or agency having author-
ity over or control of any such fiduciary, trust, or public funds, 
may at any time sell any of the obligations of the Postal Service 
acquired under this section; 
''(4) be exempt both as to principal and interest from all taxa-
tion now or hereafter imposed by any State or local taxing au-
thority except estate, inheritance, and gift taxes; and 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
741 
"(5) not be obligations of, nor sliall payment of the principal 
thereof or interest thereon be guaranteed by, the Government of 
the United States, except as provided in section 2006(c) of this 
title. 
"§ 2006. Relationship between the Treasury and the Postal Service 
"(a) At least 15 days before selling any issue of obligations under 
section 2005 of this title, the Postal Service shall advise the Secretary 
of the Treasury of the amount, proposed date of sale, maturities, terms 
and conditions, and expected maximum rates of interest of the pro-
ix)sed issue in appropriate detail and shall consult with him or his 
designee thereon. The Secretary may elect to purchase such obligations 
under such terms, including rates of interest, as he and the Postal 
Service may agree, but at a rate of yield no less than the prevailing 
yield on outstanding marketable Treasury securities of comparable 
maturity, as determined by the Secretary. If the Secretary does not 
purchase such obligations, the Postal Service may proceed to issue and 
sell them to a party or parties other than the Secretary upon notice to 
the Secretary and upon consultation as to the date of issuance, maxi-
mum rates of interest, and other terms and conditions. 
"(b) Subject to the conditions of subsection (a) of this section, the 
Postal Service may require the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase 
obligations of the Postal Service in such amounts as will not cause the 
holding by the Secretary of the Treasury resulting from such required 
l)urchases to exceed $2,000,000,000 at any one time. This subsection shall 
not be construed as limiting the authority of the Secretary to purchase 
obligations of the Postal Service in excess of such amount. 
"(c) Notwithstanding section 2005(d)(5) of this title, obligations ^
j
^
P
°
g
"
^
\
^
J
^
s
e
^
^
^
^
^
^
^ 
issued by the Postal Service shall be obligations of the Government of Government'gu'ar-
the United States, and payment of principal and interest thereon shall ^"'y-
be fully guaranteed by the Government of the United States, such 
guaranty being expressed on the face thereof, if and to the extent 
that— 
"(1) the Postal Service requests the Secretary of the Treasury 
to pledge the full faith and credit of the Government of the 
United States for the payment of principal and interest thereon; 
and 
"(2) the Secretary, in his discretion, determines that it would 
be in the public interest to do so. 
"§2007. Public debt character of the obligations of the Postal 
Service 
^ "For the purpose of any purchase of the obligations of the Postal 
Service, the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to use as a public 
debt transaction the proceeds from the sale of any securities issued 
under the Second Liberty Bond Act, as now or hereafter in force, and 
1° J*sc 7?4' 
the purposes for which securities may be issued under the Second 
Liberty Bond Act, as now or hereafter in force, are extended to include 
any purchases of the obligations of the Postal Service under this 
chapter. The Secretary of the Treasury may, at any time, sell any of 
the obligations of the Postal Service acquired by him under this chaj)-
ter. All redemptions, purchases, and sales by the Secretary of the obli-
gations of the Postal Service shall be treated as public debt transactions 
of the United States. 
"§ 2008. Audit and expenditures 
"(a) The accounts and operations of the Postal Service shall be 
audited by the Comptroller General and reports thereon made to the 
Reports to 
Congress to the extent and at such times as he may determine. 
ongress. 
742 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
"(b) The Postal Service shall maintain an adequate internal audit 
of the financial transactions of the Postal Service. 
" (c) Subject only to the provisions of this chapter, the Postal Service 
is authorized to make such expenditures and to enter into such con-
tracts, agreements, and arrangements, upon such terms and conditions 
and in such manner as it deems necessary, including the final settlement 
of all claims and litigation by or against the Postal Service. 
"(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed as denying to the 
Postal Service the power to obtain audits of the accounts of the Postal 
Service and reports concerning its financial condition and operations 
by certified public accounting firms. Such audits and reports shall be 
in addition to those required by this section. 
"(e) At least once each year beginning with the fiscal year com-
mencing after June 30,1971, the Postal Service shall obtain a certifica-
tion from an independent, certified public accounting firm of the 
accuracy of any financial statements of the Postal Service used in deter-
mining and establ ishing postal rates. 
"§ 2009. Annual budget 
"The Postal Service shall cause to be prepared annually a budget 
program w^hich shall be submitted to the Office of Management and 
Budget, under such rules and regulations as the President may estab-
lish as to the date of submission, the form and content, the classifica-
tions of data, and the manner in which such budget program shall be 
prepared and presented. The budget program shall be a business-type 
budget, or plan of operations, with due allowance given to the need 
for flexibility, including provision for emergencies and contingencies, 
in order that the Postal Service may properly carry out its activities 
as authorized by law. The budget program shall contain estimates of 
the financial condition and operations of the Postal Service for tlie 
current and ensuing fiscal years and the actual condition and results 
of operation for the last completed fiscal year. Such budget program 
shall include a statement of financial condition, a statement of income 
and expense, an analysis of surplus or deficit, a statement of sources 
and application of funds, and such other supplementary statements 
and information as are necessary or desirable to make known the 
financial condition and operations of the Postal Service. Such state-
ments shall include estimates of operations by major types of activities, 
together with estimates of administrative expenses and estimates of 
borrowings. 
"§ 2010. Restrictions on agreements 
"The Postal Service shall promote modern and efficient operations 
and should refrain from expending any funds, engaging in any prac-
tice, or entering into any agreement or contract, other than an agree-
Ante, p. 733. 
ineut Or contract under chapter 12 of this title, which restricts the use 
of new equipment or devices whic'h may reduce the cost or improve 
the quality of postal services, except w-here such restriction is necessary 
to insure safe and healthful employment conditions. 
"Chapter 22.—CONVICT LABOR 
"See. 
"2201. No postal equipment or supplies manufactured by convict labor. 
"§ 2201. No postal equipment or supplies manufactured by convict 
labor 
1
8 use 41^21. 
"Except as provided in chapter 307 of title 18, the Postal Service 
may not make a contract for the purchase of equipment or supplies to 
be manufactured by convict labor. 
84 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
743 
"Chapter 24.—APPROPRIATIONS AND ANNUAL REPORT 
"Sec. 
"2401. Appropriations. 
'•2402. Annual report. 
"§2401. Appropriations 
"(a) There are appropriated to the Postal Service nil revenues 
received by the Postal Service. 
"(b) (1) As reimbursement to the Postal Service for public service 
costs incurred by it in providing a maximum degree of effective and 
regular postal service nationwide, in communities where post offices 
may not be deemed self-sustaining, as elsewhere, there are authorized 
to be appropriated to the Postal Service the following amounts: 
" (A) for each of the fiscal years 1972 through 1979, an amount 
equal to 10 percent of the sum appropriated to the former Post 
Office Department by Act of Congress for its use in fiscal year 
1971; 
"(B) for fiscal year 1980, an amount equal to 9 percent of such 
sum for fiscal year 1971; 
"(C) for fiscal year 1981, an amount equal to 8 percent of such 
sum for fiscal year 1971; 
"(D) for fiscal year 1982, an amount equal to 7 percent of such 
sum for fiscal year 1971; 
"(E) for fiscal year 1983, an amount equal to 6 percent of such 
sum for fiscal year 1971; 
"(F) for fiscal year 1984, an amount equal to 5 percent of such 
sum for fiscal year 1971; and 
"(G) except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, 
for each fiscal year thereafter an amount equal to 5 percent of such 
sum for fiscal year 1971. 
"(2) After fiscal year 1984, the Postal Service may reduce the per-
centage figure in paragraph (1) (G) of this subsection, including a re-
duction to 0, if the Postal Service finds that the amounts deteiTnined 
under such paragraph are no longer required to operate the Postal 
Service in accordance with the policies of this title. 
"(3) The Postal Service, in requesting amounts to be appropriated 
under this subsection, shall present to the appropriate commi'tees of 
the Congress a comprehensive statement of its compliance with the pub-
lic service cost policy established under section 101(b) of this title. 
"(c) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Postal Serv-
ice each year a sum determined by the Postal Service to be equal to the 
difference between the revenues the Postal Service would have re-
ceived if sections 3217, 3403-3405, and 3626 of this title and the Fed-
eral Voting Assistance Act of 1955 had not been enacted and the 
estimated revenues to be received on mail carried under such sections 
and Act. 
"§ 2402. Annual report 
"The Postmaster General shall render an annual report to the Board 
concerning the operations of the Postal Service under this title. Upon 
approval thereof, or after making such changes as it considers appro-
priate, the Board shall transmit such report to the President and the ^'^^^^ 
Conarress. 
Ante, p. 719. 
Post, 
pp. 755-
762. 
69 Stat. 584; 
82 Stat. 181. 
50 u s e 1451. 
Report, trans-
mittal to Presi-
dent and Con-
"Chapter 26.—DEBTS AND COLLECTION 
"Sec. 
"2t)01. Collection and adjustment of debts. 
•'2602. Transportation of international mail by air carriers of the United States. 
"2603. Settlement of claims for damages caused by the Postal Service. 
"2604. Delivery of stolen money to owner. 
"260.5. Suits to recover wrongful or fraudulent i>ayments. 
47-348 O - 72 - 51 (Pt. 1) 
744 
' 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
"§2601. Collection and ad 
justment of debts 
"(a) The Postal Servic^-
" (1) shall collect debts due the Postal Service; 
"(2) shall collect and remit fines, penalties, and forfeitures 
arising out of matters affecting the Postal Service; 
" (3) may adjust, pay, or credit the account of a postmaster or of 
an enlisted person of an Armed Force performing postal duties, 
for any loss of Postal Service funds, papers, postage, or other 
stamped stock or accountable paper; and 
"(4) may prescribe penalties for failure to render accounts. 
The Postal Service may refer ^my matter, which is uncollectable 
through administrative action, to the General Accounting Office for 
collection. This subsection does not affect the authority of the Attorney 
General in cases in which judicial proceedings are instituted. 
"(b) In all cases of disability or alleged liability for any sum of 
money by way of damages or otherwise, under any provision of law in 
relation to the officers, employees, operations, or business of the Postal 
Service, the Postal Service shall determine whether the interests of 
the Postal Service probably require the exercise of its powers over 
the same. Upon the determination, the Postal Service on such terms 
as it deems just and expedient, may— 
" (1) remove the disability; or 
"'(2) compromise, release, or discharge the claim for such sum 
of money and damages, 
"§ 2602. Transportation of international mail by air carriers of the 
United States 
"(a) The Postal Service may offset against any balances due an-
other country resulting from the transaction of international money 
order business, or otherwise, amounts due from that country to the 
United States, or to the United States for the account of air carriers 
of the United States transporting mail of that country, when— 
"(1) the Postal Service puts into effect rates of compensation 
to be charged another country for transportation; and 
"(2) the United States is required to collect from another 
country the amounts owed for transportation for the account of 
the air carriers. 
"(b) When the Postal Service has proceeded under authority of 
subsection (a) of this section, it shall— 
"(1) give appropriate credit to the country involved; 
" (2) pay to the air carrier the portion of the amount so credited 
which is owed to the air carrier for its services in transporting 
the mail of the other country; and 
"(8) deposit in the Postal Service Fund that portion of the 
amount so credited which is due the United States on its own 
account. 
" (c) The Postal Service, may advance to an air carrier, out of funds 
available for payment of balances due other countries, the amounts 
determined by the Postal Service to be due from another country to 
an air carrier for the transportation of its mails when— 
"(1) collections are to be made by the Ignited States for the 
account of air carriers; and 
"(2) the Postal Service determines that the balance of funds 
available is such that the advances may be made therefrom. 
Collection from another country of the amount so advanced shall be 
made by offset, or otherwise, and the appropriation from which the 
advance is made shall be reimbursed by the collections made by the 
ITnited States. 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
745 
"(d) If the L^nited States is unable to collect fi-om the debtor coun-
try an amount paid or advanced to an air carrier within 12 months 
after payment or advance has been made, the United States may 
deduct the uncollected amount from any sums owed by it to the air 
carrier. 
"(e) The Postal Service shall adopt such accounting procedures 
as may be necessary to conform to and carry out the purposes of this 
section. 
"§ 2603. Settlement of claims for damages caused by the Postal 
Service 
"When the Postal Service finds a claim for damage to persons or 
property resulting from the operation of the Postal Service to be a 
proper charge against the United States, and it is not cognizable under 
section 2672 of title 28, it may adjust and settle the claim. 
so^statr^aoe!^'' 
"§ 2604. Delivery of stolen money to owner 
"When the Postal Service is satisfied that money or property in the 
possession of the Postal Service represents money or property stolen 
from the mails, or the proceeds thereof, it may deliver it to the person 
it finds to be the rightful owner. 
"§ 2605. Suits to recover wrongful or fraudulent payments 
"The Postal Service shall request the Attorney General to bring a 
suit to lecover with interest any payment made from moneys of, or 
credit granted by, the Postal Service as a result of— 
"(1) mistake; 
"(2) fraudulent representations; 
"(8) collusion;or 
" (4) misconduct of an officer or employee of the Postal Service. 
"PART IV—MAIL MATTER 
" C H A P T E E 
Sec. 
'"30. NONMAILABLE 
MATTEK 
3001 
"32. 
PENALTY AND FBANKED MAIL 
3201 
"34. 
ARMED FORCES AND FREE POSTAGE 
3401 
"36. 
POSTAL 
RATES, 
CLASSES, 
AND 
SERVICES 
3601 
**Chapter 30.—NONMAILABLE MATTER 
"Sec. 
"3001. Nonmailable matter. 
"3002. Nonmailable motor vehicle master keys. 
"3003. Mail bearing a fictitious name or address. 
"3004. Delivery of mail to persons not residents of the place of address. 
"3005. False representations ; lotteries. 
"3006. Unlawful matter. 
"3007. Detention of mail for temporary periods. 
"3008. Prohibition of pandering advertisements. 
"3009. Mailing of unordered merchandise. 
"3010. Mailing of sexually oriented advertisements. 
"3011. Judicial enforcement. 
"§300L Nonmailable matter 
"(a) Matter the deposit of which in the mails is punishable under 
section 1302, 1341, 1342, 1461, 146^^, 1714. 1715, 1716, 1717 or 1718 of 
title 18 is nonmailable. 
62 stat. 762-
"(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, nonmail-
able matter which reaches the office of delivery, or which may be seized 
or detained for violation of law, shall be disposed of as the Postal 
Service shall direct. 
"(c) (1) Matter which— 
"(A) exceeds the size and weight limits prescribed for the par-
ticular class of mail; or 
746 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
•'(B) is of a character perishable within the period required for 
transportation and delivery; 
is nonmailahle. 
"(2) Matter made nonmailable by this subsection which reaches 
the office of destination may be delivered in accordance with its address, 
if the party addressed furnishes the name and address of the sender. 
"(d) Matter otherwise legally acceptable in the mails which— 
" (1) is in the form of, and reasonably could be interpreted or 
construed as, a bill, invoice, or statement of account due; but 
"(2) constitutes, in fact, a solicitation for the order by the ad-
dressee of goods or services, or both; 
is nonmailable matter, shall not be carried or delivered by mail, and 
shall be disposed of as the Postal Service directs, unless such matter 
bears on its face, in conspicuous and legible type in contrast by typog-
raphy, layout, or color with other printing on its face, in accordance 
with regulations which the Postal Service shall prescribe— 
"(A) the following notice: 'This is a solicitation for the order 
of goods or services, or both, and not a bill, invoice, or state-
ment of account due. You are under no obligation to make any 
payments on account of this offer unless you accept this offer.'; or 
"(B) in lieu thereof, a notice to the same effect in words which 
the Postal Service may prescribe. 
"(e) Except as otherwise provided by law, proceedings concerning 
the mailability of matter under this chapter and chapters 71 and 88 
62 Stat. 768, 
^f fjtle 18 shall be conducted in accordance with chapters 5 and 7 of 
776. 
. , 
„ 
A 
1
8 use 1461, 
title 0. 
80 Stat. 380, 
"§ 3002. Nonmailable motor vehicle master keys 
^
^
5
^ use^500 m ' 
"(^) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, any motor 
vehicle master key, any pattern, impression, or mold from w^hich a 
motor vehicle master key may be made, or any advertisement for the 
sale of any such key, pattern, impression, or mold, is nonmailable 
matter and shall not be carried or delivered by mail. 
"(b) The Postal Service is authorized to make such exemptions 
from the provisions of subsection (a) of this section as it deems 
necessary. 
mal'tl°r ke''^'^'''^* 
"^^) 
^^® purposcs of this scctiou, 'motor vehicle master key' 
^^' 
means any key (other than the key furnished by the manufacturer 
w'ith the motor vehicle, or the key furnished with a replacement lock, 
or any exact duplicate of such keys) designed to operate 2 or more 
motor vehicle ignition, door, or trunk locks of different combinations. 
^'§ 3003. Mail bearing a fictitious name or address 
"(a) Upon evidence satisfactory to the Postal Service that any 
person is using a fictitious, false, or assumed name, title, or address 
m conducting, promoting, or carrying on or assisting therein, by means 
of the postal services of the United States, an activity in violation of 
62 Stat. 762. 
scctious 1302,1341, and 1342 of title 18, it may— 
" (1) withhold mail so addressed from delivery; and 
"(2) require the party claiming the mail to furnish proof to 
it of the claimant's identity and right to receive the mail. 
"(b) The Postal Service may issue an order directing that mail, 
covered by subsection (a) of this section, be forwarded to a dead 
letter office as fictitious matter, or be returned to the sender when— 
"(1) the party claiming the mail fails to furnish proof of his 
identity and right to receive the mail; or 
"(2) the Postal Service determines that the mail is addressed 
to a fictitious, false, or assumed name, title, or address. 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
747 
"§ 3004. Delivery of mail to persons not residents of the place of 
address 
"Wlienever the Postal Service determines that letters or parcels 
sent in the mail are addressed to places not the residence or regular 
business address of the person for whom they are intended, to enable 
the person to escape identification, the Postal Service may deliver 
the mail only upon identification of the person so addressed. 
"§ 3005. False representations; lotteries 
"(a) Upon evidence satisfactory to the Postal Service that any per-
son is engaged in conducting a scheme or device for obtaining money 
or property through the mail by means of false representations, or is 
engaged in conducting a lottery, gift enterprise, or scheme for the 
distribution of money or of real or personal property, by lottery, 
chance, or drawing of any kind, the Postal Service may issue an order 
which— 
"(1) directs the postmaster of the ix)st office at which mail ar-
rives, addressed to such a person or to his representative, to return 
such mail to the sender appropriately marked as in violation of 
this section, if the person, or his representati^-e, is first notified 
and given reasonable opportunity to be present at the receiving-
post office to survey the mail before the postmaster returns the 
mail to the sender; and 
"(2) forbids the payment by a j^ostmaster to the person or his 
representative of any money order or postal note drawn to the 
order of either and provides for the return to the remitter of the 
sum named in the money order or postal note. 
"(b) The public advertisement by a person engaged in activities 
covered by subsection (a) of this section, that remittances may be 
made by mail to a person named in the advertisement, is prima facie 
evidence that the latter is the agent or representative of the advertiser 
for the receipt of remittances on behalf of the advertiser. The Postal 
Service may ascertain the existence of the agency in any other legal 
way satisfactory to it, 
"(c) As used in this section and section 3006 of this title, the term 
. "Representa-
'representative' includes an agent or representative acting as an indi-
vidual or as a firm, bank, corporation, or association of any kind. 
«§ 3006. Unlawful matter 
"Upon evidence satisfactory to the Postal Service that a person is 
obtaining or attempting to obtain remittances of money or ijroperty of 
any kind through the mail for an obscene, lewd, lascivious, indecent, 
filthy, or vile thing or is depositing or causing to be deposited in the 
United States mail information as to where, how, or from whom such 
a thing may be obtained, the Postal Service may— 
"(1) direct any postmastei- at an office at which mail arrives, 
addressed to such a person or to his represejitative, to return the 
mail to the sender marked 'ITnlawfuF; and 
"(2) forbid the payment by a postmastei- to such a person or 
his representative of any money order or postal note di-awn to 
the order of either and provide for the return to the remitter of 
the sum named in the money order. 
*
*
§ 3007. Detention of mail for temporary periods 
"(a) In preparation for or during the pendency of proceedings 
under sections 3005 and 3006 of this title, the United States district 
court in the district in w^hich the defendant receives his mail shall, 
upon application therefor by the Postal Service and upon a showing 
of probable cause to believe either section is being violated, enter a 
temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction pursuant to 
748 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
28 u s e app. 
Refraining order 
to cease mailing. 
Complaint 
notice. 
Court order. 
Penalty, 
Minor children. 
rule 65 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure directing the deten-
tion of the defendant's incoming mail by the postmaster pending 
the conclusion of the statutory proceedings and any appeal therefrom. 
The district court may provide in the order that tlie detained mail be 
open to examination by the defendant and such mail be delivered as 
is clearly not connected with the alleged unlawful activity. An action 
taken by a court hereunder does not affect or determine any fact at 
issue in the statutory proceedings. 
"(b) This section does not apply to mail addressed to publishers of 
newspapers and other periodical publications entitled to a periodical 
publication rate or to mail addressed to the agents of those publishers. 
"§ 3008. Prohibition of pandering advertisements 
"(a) Whoever for himself, or by his agents or assigns, mails or 
causes to be mailed any pandering advertisement which offers for sale 
matter which the addressee in his sole discretion believes to be eroti-
cally arousing or sexually provocative shall be subject to an order of the 
Postal Service to refrain from further mailings of such materials to 
designated addresses thereof. 
"(b) Upon receipt of notice from an addressee that he has received 
such mail matter, determined by the addressee in his sole decretion to 
be of the character described m subsection (a) of this section, the 
Postal Service shall issue an order, if requested by the addressee, to the 
sender thereof, directing the sender and his agents or assigns to refrain 
from further mailings to the named addressees. 
"(c) The order of the Postal Service shall expressly prohibit the 
sender and his agents or assigns from making any further mailings 
to the designated addresses, effective on the thirtieth calendar day 
after receipt of the order. The order shall also direct the sender and 
his agents or assigns to delete immediately the names of the designated 
addressees from all mailing lists owned or controlled by the sender 
or his agents or assigns and, further, shall prohibit the sender and 
hin agents or assigns from the sale, rental, exchange, or other transac-
tion involving mailing lists bearing the names of the designated 
addressees. 
"(d) Whenever the Postal Service believes that the sender or any-
one actino- on his behalf has violated or is violating the order given 
under this section, it shall serve upon the sender, by registered or cer-
tified mail, a complaint stating the reasons for its belief and request 
that any response thereto be filed in writing with the Postal Service 
within 15 days after the date of such service. If the Postal Service, 
after appropriate hearing if requested by the sender, and without a 
hearing if such a hearing is not requested, thereafter determines that 
the order given has been or is being violated, it is authorized to request 
the Attorney General to make application^ and the Attorney General 
is authorized to make application, to a district court of the United 
States for an order directing compliance with such notice. 
"(e) Any district court of the United States within the jurisdic-
tion of which any mail matter shall have been sent or received in viola-
tion of the order provided for by this section shall have jurisdiction, 
upon application by the Attorney General, to issue an order command-
ing compliance with such notice. Failure to observe such order may be 
punishable bv the court as contempt thereof. 
"(f) Receipt of mail matter 30 days or more after the effective 
date of the order provided for by this section shall create a rebuttable 
presumption that such mail was sent after such effective date. 
"(g) TTnon request of any addressee, the order of the Postal Service 
shall include the names of any of his minor children who have not 
attained their nineteenth birthday, and who reside with the addressee. 
84 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
749 
"(h) The provisions of subchapter II of chapter 5, relating to ad-
ministrative procedure, and chapter 7, rehiting to judicial review, of 
title 5, shall not apply to any provisions of this section. 
" (i) For purposes of this section— 
"(1) mail matter, directed to a specific address covered in the 
order of the Postal Service, without designation of a specific 
addressee thereon, shall be considered as addressed to the person 
named in the Postal Service's order; and 
" (2) the term 'children' includes natural children, stepchildren, 
adopted children, and children who are wards of or in custody of 
the addressee or who are living with such addressee in a regular 
parent-child relationship. 
"§ 3009. Mailing of unordered merchandise 
" (a) Except for (1) free samples clearly and conspicuously marked 
as such, and (2) merchandise mailed by a charitable organization so-
liciting contributions, the mailing of unordered merchandise or of 
commun'cations prohibited by subsection (c) of this section consti-
tutes an unfair method of competition and an unfair trade practice 
in violation of section 45(a) (1) of title 15. 
"(b) Any merchandise mailed in violation of subsection (a) of this 
section, or within the exceptions contained therein, may be treated as 
a gift by the recipient, who shall have the right to retain, use, discard, 
or dispose of it in any manner he sees fit w ithout any obligation what-
vsoever to the sender. All such merchandise shall have attached to it 
a clear and conspicuous statement informing the recipient that he may 
treat the merchandise as a gift to him and has the right to retain, 
use, discard, or dispose of it in any manner he sees fit without any 
()bligation whatsoever to the sender. 
"(c) No mailer of any merchandise mailed in violation of subsec-
tion (a) of this section, or within the exceptions contained therein, 
shall mail to any recipient of such merchandise a bill for such mer-
chandise or any dunning communications. 
"(d) For the purposes of this section, 'unordered merchandise' 
means merchandise mailed without the prior expressed request or 
consent of the recipient. 
"§ 3010. Mailing of sexually oriented advertisements 
"(a) Any person who mails or causes to be mailed any sexually 
oriented advertisement shall place on the envelope or cover thereof his 
name and address as the sender thereof and such mark or notice as 
the Postal Service may prescribe. 
"(b) Any person, on his own behalf or on the behalf of any of his 
children who has not attained the age of 19 years and who resides 
with him or is under his care, custody, or supervision, may file with 
the Postal Service a statement, in such form and manner as the Postal 
Service may prescribe, that he desires to receive no sexually oriented 
advertisements through the mails. The Postal Service shall maintain 
and keep current, insofar as practicable, a list of the names and ad-
dresses of such persons and shall make the list (including portions 
tliereof or changes therein) available to any person, upon such reason-
able terms and conditions as it may prescribe, including the payment 
of such service charge as it determines to be necessary to defray the 
cost of compiling and maintaining the list and making it available 
as provided in this sentence. No person shall mail or cause to be mailed 
any sexually oriented advertisement to any individual whose name and 
address has been on the list for more than 30 days. 
" (c) No person shall sell, lease, lend, exchange, or license the use of, 
or, except for the purpose expressly authorized by this section, use 
80 Stat. 381, 
392. 
5 u s e 551, 701. 
'Children. 
Unfair trade 
practice. 
66 Stat. 632. 
Recipient, relief 
from any obliga-
tion. 
Bills or dun-
ning communica-
tions, prohibition. 
"Unordered 
merchandise." 
Identity of 
sender. 
Minor children. 
List, mainte-
nance. 
List, sale, 
prohibition. 
750 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
"Sexually 
oriented adver-
tisement." 
Court order. 
Agent or 
representative. 
Temporary re-
straining order. 
any mailing list compiled in wliole or in part from the list maintained 
by the Postal Service pursuant to this section. 
"(d) 'Sexually oriented advertisement' means any advertisement 
that depicts, in actual or simulated form, or explicitly describes, in a 
predominantly sexual context, human genitalia, any act of natural 
or unnatural sexual intercourse, any act of sadism or masochism, or 
any other erotic subject directly related to the foregoing. Material 
otherwise within the definition of this subsection shall be deemed not 
to constitute a sexually oriented advertisement if it constitutes only 
a small and insignificant part of the whole of a single catalog, book, 
periodical, or other work the remainder of which is not primarily 
devoted to sexual matters. 
"§ 3011. Judicial enforcement 
''(a) Whenever the Postal Service believes that any person is mail-
ing or causing to be mailed any sexually oriented advertisement in 
violation of section 8010 of this title, it may request the Attorney (xen-
eral to commence a civil action against such person in a district court 
of the United States. Upon a finding by the court of a violation of 
that section, the court may issue an order including one or more of 
the following 
provisions as the court deems just under 
the 
circumstances: 
"'(l) a direction to the defendant to refrain from mailing any 
sexually oriented advertisement to a specific addressee, to any 
group of addressees, or to all persons; 
"(2) a direction to any postmaster to whom sexually oriented 
advertisements originating with such defendant are tendered for 
ti-ansmission through the mails to refuse to accept such advertise-
ments for mailing; or 
"(3) a direction to any postmaster at the office at which regis-
tered or certified letters or other letters or mail arrive, addressed 
to the defendant or his representative, to i-eturn the registered or 
certified letters or other letters or mail to the sender appropriately 
marked as being in response to mail in violation of section 8010 of 
this title, after the defendant, or his representative, has been 
notified and given reasonable opportunity to examine such letters 
or mail and to obtain delivery of mail which is clearly not con-
nected with activity alleged to be in violation of section 8010 of 
this title. 
" (b) The statement that remittances may be made to a pei-son named 
in a sexually oriented advertisement is prima facie evidence that such 
named person is the principal, agent, or- representative of the mailer 
for the receipt of remittances on his behalf. The court is not precluded 
from ascertaining the existence of the agency on the basis of any other 
evidence. 
"(c) In preparation for, or during the pendency of, a civil action 
under subsection (a) of this section, a district court of the United 
States, upon application therefor by the Attorney (jeneral and upon a 
showing of probable cause to believe the statute is being violated, may 
enter a tempoi-ary restraining order or preliminary injunction con-
taining such ter-ms as the court deems just, including, but not limited 
to, provisions enjoining the defendant from mailing any sexually 
oi'iented advertisement to any person or class of persons, dii'ecting any 
postmaster to i-efuse to accept such defendant's sexually oriented ad-
vertisements for mailing, and directing the detention of the defend-
ant's incoming mail by any postmaster pending the conclusion of the 
judicial proceedings. Any action taken by a court under this subsection 
does not affect or determine any fact at issue in any other proceeding 
under this section. 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
751 
"(d) A civil action under this section may be brought in the judi-
cial district in which the defendant resides, or has his principal place 
of business, or in any judicial district in which any sexually oriented 
advertisement mailed m violation of section 3010 has been delivered 
by mail according to the direction thereon. 
"(e) Nothing m this section or in section 3010 shall be construed as 
amending, preempting, limiting, modifying, or otherwise in any way 
affecting section 1461 or 1463 of title 18 or section 3006, 3007, or 3008 
62 stat. yes. 
of this title. 
"Chapter 32.—PENALTY AND FRANKED MAIL 
"Sec. 
"3201. Definitions. 
"3202. Penalty mail. 
"3203. Endorsements on penalty covers. 
"3204. Restrictions on use of penalty mail. 
"3205. Accounting for penalty covers. 
"3206. Reimbursement for penalty mail service. 
"3207. Limit of weight of penalty mail; postage on overweight matter. 
"3208. Shipment by most economical means. 
"3209. Executive departments to supply information. 
"3210. Official correspondence of Vice President and Members of Congress. 
"3211. Public documents. 
"3212. Congressional Record under frank of Members of Congress. 
"3213. Seeds and reports from Department of Agriculture. 
"3214. Mailing privilege of former Presidents. 
"3215. Lending or permitting use of frank unlawful. 
"3216. Reimbursement for franked mailings. 
"3217. Correspondence of members of diplomatic corps and consuls of countries 
of Postal Union of Americas and Spain. 
"3218. Franked mail for surviving spouses of Members of Congress. 
"§320L Definitions 
"As used in this chapter— 
" (1) 'penalty mail' means official mail, other than franked mail, 
which is authorized by law to be transmitted in the mail with-
out prepayment of postage ; 
" (2) 'penalty cover' means envelopes, wrappers, labels, or cards 
used to transmit penalty mail; 
"(3) 'frank' means the autographic or facsimile signature of 
persons authorized by sections 3210-3216 and 3218 of this title 
to transmit matter through the mail without prepayment of post-
age or other indicia contemplated by sections 733 and 907 of title 
44; 
82 Stat. 1253, 
" (4) 'franked mail' means mail which is transmitted in the mail ^^^^" 
under a frank; and 
"(5) 'Members of Congress' includes Senators, Representatives, 
Delegates, and Resident Commissioners. 
«§3202. Penalty mail 
" ( a ) Subject to the limitations imposed by sections 3204 and 3207 
of this title, there may be transmitted as penalty mail— 
" (1) official mail of— 
" (A) officers of the Grovernment of the United States other 
than Members of Congress; 
"(B) the Smithsonian Institution; 
"(C) the Pan American Union; 
"(D) the Pan American Sanitary Bureau; 
"(E) the United States Employment Service and the sys-
tem of employment offices operated by it in conformity with 
the provisions of sections 49-49c, 49d, 49e-49k of title 29, ^s stat. lu; 
and all State employment systems which receive funds appro- ^^ ^*^*' ^^^' 
priated under authority of those sections; and 
68 Stat. 
13 use 
seq. 
26 Stat. 
1015. 
41 e( 
418; 
69 Stat. 673. 
61 Stat. 657. 
752 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
"(F) any college officer or other person connected with 
the extension department of the college as the Secretary of 
Agriculture may designate to the Postal Service to the extent 
that the official mail consists of correspondence, bulletins, 
and reports for the furtherance of the purpose of sections 
76%tlT74T 
341-343 and 344^348 of title 7; 
"(2) mail relating to naturalization to be sent to the Immigra-
tion and Naturalization Service by clerks of courts addressed to 
the Department of Justice or the Immigration and Naturaliza-
tion Service, or any official thereof; 
"(3) mail relating to a collection of statistics, survey, or census 
authorized by title 13 and addressed to the Department of Com-
merce or a bureau or agency thereof; 
"(4) mail of State agriculture experiment stations pursuant to 
sections 325 and 361 f of title 7; and 
"(5) articles for copyright deposited with postmasters and 
addressed to the Register of Copyrights pursuant to section 15 
of title 17. 
" (b) A department or officer authorized to use penalty covers may 
enclose them with return address to any person from or through 
w'hom official information is desired. The penalty cover may be used 
only to transmit the official information and endorsements relating 
thereto. 
"(c) This section does not apply to officers who receive a fixed 
allowance as compensation for their services including expenses of 
postage. 
"§3203. Endorsements on penalty covers 
"(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, penalty covers 
shall bear, over the w^ords 'Official Business' an endorsement showing 
the name of the department, bureau, or office from which, or officer 
from whom, it is transmitted. The penalty for the unlawful use of 
all penalty covers shall be printed thereon. 
"(b) The Postal Service shall prescribe the endorsement to be 
placed on covers mailed under clauses (1) (E), (2), and (3) of sec-
tion 3202(a) of this title. 
"§ 3204. Restrictions on use of penalty mail 
"(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, an officer, execu-
tive department, or independent establishment of the Government 
of the United States may not mail, as penalty mail, any article or 
document unless— 
"(1) a i-equest therefor has been previously received by the de-
partment or establishment; or 
" (2) its mailings is required by law. 
"(b) Subsection (a) of this section does not prohibit the mailing, 
as penalty mail, by an officer, executive department, or independent 
agency of— 
"(1) enclosures reasonably related to the subject matter of of-
ficial correspondence; 
"(2) informational releases relating to the census of the United 
States and authorized by title 13; 
" (3) matter concerning the sale of Government securities; 
"(4) forms, blanks, and copies of statutes, rules, regulations, 
instructions, administrative orders, and int<irpretations necessary 
in the administration of the department or establishment; 
"(5) a^icultural bulletins; 
"(6) lists of public documents offered for sale by the Superin-
tendent of Documents; 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
753 
"(7) announcements of the publication of maps, atlases, and 
statistical and other reports offered for sale by the Federal Power 
C!ommission as authorized by section 825k of title 16; or 
'^'^ ^'^*- ^^^• 
" (8) articles or documents to educational institutions or public 
libraries, or to Federal, State, or other public authorities. 
"§ 3205. Accounting for penalty covers 
"Executive departments and agencies, independent establishments 
of the Government of the United States, and organizations and persons 
authorized by law to use penalty mail, shall account for all penalty 
covers through the Postal Service. 
"§ 3206. Reimbursement for penalty mail service 
"(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, 
executive departments and agencies, independent establishments of 
the Government of the United States, and Government corporations 
concerned, shall transfer to the Postal Service as postal revenue out 
of any appropriations or funds available to them, as a necessary ex-
pense of the appropriations or funds and of the activities concerned, 
the equivalent amount of postage due, as determined by the Postal 
Service, for matter sent in the mails by or to them as penalty mail 
mider authority of section 3202 of this title. 
"(b) The Department of Agriculture shall transfer to the Postal 
Service as postal revenues out of any appropriations made to it for 
that purpose the equivalent amount of postage, as determined by the 
Postal Service, for penalty mailings under clauses (1)(F) and (4) 
of section 3202(a) of this title. 
"(c) The Library of Congress shall transfer to the Postal Service 
as postal revenues out of any appropriations made to the Library for 
that purpose the equivalent amount of postage, as determined by the 
Postal Service, for penalty mailings under clause (5) of section 
3202(a) of this title. 
"§ 3207. Limit of weight of penalty mail; postage on overweight 
matter 
" (a) Penalty mail is restricted to articles not in excess of the weight 
and size prescribed for that class of mail receiving high priority in 
handling and delivery, except— 
"(1) stamped paper and supplies sold or used by the Postal 
Service; and 
"(2) books and documents published or circulated by order of 
Congress when mailed by the Superintendent of Documents. 
"(b) A penalty mail article which is— 
" (1) over 4 pounds in weight; 
"(2) not in excess of the weight and size prescribed for mail 
matter; and 
"(3) otherwise mailable; 
is mailable at rates for that class of mail entitled to the lowest priority 
in handling and delivery, even though it may include written matter 
and may be sealed. 
"§ 3208. Shipment by most economical means 
"Shipments of official matter other than franked mail shall be sent 
by the most economical means of transportation practicable. The 
Postal Service may refuse to accept official matter for shipment by 
mail when in its judgment it may be shipped by other means at less 
expense, or it may provide for its transportation by freight or express 
whenever a saving to the Government of the United States will result 
therefrom without detriment to the public service. 
754 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
"§ 3209. Executive departments to supply information 
"Persons and governmental organizations authorized to use penalty 
mail shall supply all information requested by the Postal Service nec-
essary to carry out the provisions of this chapter as soon as practi-
cable after request therefor. 
"§3210. Official correspondence of Vice President and Members 
of Congress 
"The Vice President, Members, and Members-elect of Congress, 
Secretary of the Senate, Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, Clerk of 
the House of Representatives, and Sergeant at Arms of the House of 
Representatives, until the thirtieth day of June following the expira-
tion of their respective terms of office, may send as franked mail— 
"(1) matter, not exceeding 4 pounds in weight, upon official 
or departmental business, to a Government official; and 
"(2) correspondence, not exceeding 4 ounces in weight, upon 
official business to any person. 
In the event of a vacancy in the office of the Secretary of the Senate, 
Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, Clerk of the House of Representa-
tives, or Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives, any 
authorized person may exercise this privilege in the officer's name 
during the period of the vacancy. 
"§ 3211. Public documents 
"The Vice President, Members of Congress, the Secretary of the 
Senate, the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, the Clerk of the House 
of Representatives, and the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Rep-
resentatives, until the thirtieth day of June following the expiration 
of their respective terms of office, may send and receive as franked 
mail all public documents printed by order of Congress. 
"§3212. Congressional 
Record under frank of Members of 
Congress 
"Members of Congress may send as franked mail the Congressional 
Record, or any part thereof, or speeches or reports therein contained. 
"§ 3213. Seeds and reports from Department of Agriculture 
"Seeds and agricultural reports emanating from the Department 
of Agriculture may be mailed— 
"(1) as penalty mail by the Secretary of Agriculture; and 
"(2) until the thirtieth day of June following the expiration 
of their terms of office, as franked mail by Members of Congress. 
"§ 3214. Mailing privilege of former Presidents 
"A former President may send all his mail within the United States 
and its territories and possessions as franked mail. 
"§ 3215. Lending or permitting use of frank unlawful 
"A person entitled to use a frank may not lend it or permit its use 
by any committee, organization, or association, or permit its use by 
any person for the benefit or use of any committee, organization, or 
association. This section does not apply to any committee composed of 
Members of Congress. 
"§ 3216. Reimbursement for franked mailings 
"(a) The postage on mail matter sent and received through the 
mails under the franking privilege by the Vice President, Members 
and Members-elect of Congress, the Secretary of the Senate, Sergeant 
at Arms of the Senate, Clerk of the House of Representatives, and 
the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives, including 
registry fees if registration is required, and postage on correspondence 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
755 
sent by the surviving spouse of a Member under section 3218 of this 
title, shall be paid by a lump-sum appropriation to the legislative 
branch for the purpose, and then paid to the Postal Service as postal 
revenue. 
"(b) The postage on mail matter sent through the mails under the 
franking privilege by former Presidents shall be paid by reimburse-
ment of the postal revenues each fiscal year out of the general funds 
of the Treasury in an amount equivalent to the postage which would 
otherwise be payable on the mail matter. 
^§3217. Correspondence of members of diplomatic corps and 
consuls of countries of Postal Union of Americas and 
Spain 
"Correspondence of the members of the diplomatic corps of the 
countries of the Postal Union of the Americas and Spain stationed 
in the United States may be reciprocallv transmitted in the domestic 
mails free of postage, and be entitled to free registration without right 
to indemnity in case of loss. The same privilege is accorded consuls 
and vice consuls when they are discharging the function of consuls 
of countries stationed in the United States, for official correspondence 
among themselves, and with the Government of the United States. 
"§3218. Franked mail for surviving spouses of Members of 
Congress 
"Upon the death of a Member of Congress during his term of office, 
the surviving spouse of such Member may send, for a period not to 
exceed 180 days after his death, as franked mail, correspondence 
relating to the death of the Member. 
"Chapter 34.—ARMED FORCES AND FREE POSTAGE 
"Sec. 
"3401. Mailing privileges of members of Armed Forces of the United States and 
of friendly foreign nations. 
"3402. Mailing privileges of members of Armed Forces of the United States and 
of friendly foreign nations in the Canal Zone. 
"3403. Matter for blind and other handicapped persons. 
"3404. Unsealed letters sent by blind or physically handicapped persons. 
"3405. Markings. 
"§3401. Mailing privileges of members of Armed Forces of the 
United States and of friendly foreign nations 
"(a) Letter mail or sound-recorded communications having the 
character of personal correspondence shall be carried, at no cost to the 
sender, in the manner provided by this section, when mailed by— 
"(1) a member of tha Armed Forces of the United States on 
active duty, as defined in section 101 (4) and (22) of title 10, ^^^ ^*^*- ^' ^^ 
and addressed to a place within the delivery limits of a United 
States post office, if— 
" (A) such letter mail or sound-recorded communication is 
mailed by the member at an Armed Forces post office estab-
lished in an overseas area, as designated by the President, 
where the Armed Forces of the United States are engaged in 
action against an enemy of the United States, engaged in 
military operations involving armed conflict with a hostile 
foreign force, or serving with a friendly foreign force in an 
armed conflict in which the LTnited States is not a belligerent; 
or 
"(B) the member is hospitalized in a facility under the 
jurisdiction of the Armed Forces of the United States as a 
result of disease or injury incurred as a result of service in 
756 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
an overseas area designated by the President under clause 
(A) of this paragraph; or 
"(2) a member of an armed force of a friendly foreign nation 
at an Armed Forces post office and addressed to a place within the 
delivery limits of a United States post office, or a post office of the 
nation in whose armed forces the sender is a member, if— 
"(A) the member is accorded free mailing privileges by 
his own government; 
"(B) the foreign nation extends similar free mailing privi-
leges to a member of the Armed Forces of the LTnited States 
serving with, or in, a unit under the control of a command 
of that foreign nation; 
"(C) the member is serving with, or in, a unit under the 
operational control of a command of the Armed Forces of 
the United States; 
"(D) such letter mail or sound-recorded communication is 
mailed by the member— 
"(i) at an Armed Forces post office established in an 
overseas area, as designated by the President, where the 
Armed Forces of the ITnited States are engaged in action 
against an enemy of the United States, engaged in mili-
tary operations involving armed conflict with a hostile 
foreign force, or serving with a friendly foreign force 
in an armed conflict in which the United States is not 
a belligerent; or 
"(ii) while hospitalized in a facility under the juris-
diction of the Armed Forces of the United States as a 
result of disease or injury incurred as a result of services 
in an overseas area designated by the President under 
clause (D) (i) of this paragraph; and 
"(E) the nation in whose armed forces the sender is a 
member has agreed to assume all international postal trans-
portation charges incurred. 
"(b) There shall be transported by air, between Armed Forces 
post offices which are located outside the 48 contiguous States of the 
ITnited States or between any such Armed Forces post office and the 
point of embarkation or debarkation within the United States, the 
territories and possessions of the United States in the Pacific area, 
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, or the Canal 
Zone, on a space available basis, on scheduled United States air car-
riers at rates fixed and determined by the Civil Aeronautics Board 
80^8131^^942^^' 
in accordance with section 1376 of title 49, the following categories 
of mail matter: 
"(1) (A) letter mail or sound-recorded communications having 
the character of personal correspondence; and 
"(B) parcels not exceeding 5 pounds in weight and 60 inches 
in length and girth combined; 
Avliich are mailed at or addressed to any such Armed Forces post office; 
"(2) publications (entitled to a periodical publication rate, 
published once each week or more frequently, and featuring prin-
cipally current news of interest to members of the Armed Forces 
and the general public) which are mailed at or addressed to any 
such Armed Forces post office (A) in an overseas area designated 
by the President under subsection (a) of this section, or (B) in 
an isolated, hardship, or combat support area overseas, or where 
adequate surface transportation is not available; and 
"(3) parcels exceeding 5 pounds but not exceeding 70 pounds 
in weight and not exceeding 100 inches in length and girth com-
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
757 
bined, including surface-type official mail, which are mailed at or 
addressed to any such Armed Forces post office where adequate sur-
face transportation is not available. 
Whenever adequate service by scheduled United States air carriers 
is not available to provide transportation of mail matter by air in 
accordance with this subsection, the transportation of such mail may 
be authorized by other than scheduled United States air carriers. 
"(c) The Department of Defense shall transfer to the Postal 
Service as postal revenues, out of any appropriations or funds avail-
able to the Department of Defense, as a necessary expense of the 
appropriations or funds and of the activities concerned, the equivalent 
amount of postage due, as determined by the Postal Service, for matter 
sent in the mails under authority of subsection (a) of this section. 
"(d) The Department of Defense shall transfer to the Postal Serv-
ice as postal revenues, out of any appropriations or funds available 
to the Department of Defense, as a necessary expense of the appropri-
ations or funds and of the activities concerned, sums equal to the 
expenses incurred by the Postal Service, as determined by the Postal 
Service, in providing air transportation for mail mailed at or ad-
dressed to Armed Forces post offices established under section 406 of 
this title, but reimbursement under this subsection shaU not include 
the expense of air transportation (1) for which the Postal Service 
collects a special charge to the extent the special charge covers the 
additional expense of air transportation or (2) that is provided by 
the Postal Service at the same postage rate or charge for mail which 
is neither mailed at nor addressed to an Armed Forces post office. 
"(e) This section shall be administered under such conditions, and 
under such regulations, as the Postal Service and the Secretary of 
Defense jointly may prescribe. 
"§ 3402. Mailing privileges of members of Armed Forces of the 
United States and of friendly foreign nations in the 
Canal Zone 
"(a) For the purpose of section 3401 of this title, each post office 
in the Canal Zone postal service, to the extent that it provides mail 
service for members of the Armed Forces of the United States and 
of friendly foreign nations, shall be considered to be an Armed Forces 
post office established in an overseas area. 
"(b) The Department of Defense shall reimburse the postal service 
of the Canal Zone, out of any appropriations or funds available to 
the Department of Defense, as a necessary expense of the appropria-
tions or funds and of the activities concerned, the equivalent amount 
of postage due, and sums equal to the expenses incurred by, the postal 
service of the Canal Zone, as determined by the Governor of the Canal 
Zone, for matter sent in the mails, and in providing air transportation 
of mail, under section 3401 of this title. 
"§ 3403. Matter for blind and other handicapped persons 
"(a) The matter described in subsection (b) of this section (other 
than matter mailed under section 3404 of this title) may be mailed 
free of postage, if— 
''(1) the matter is for the use of the blind or other persons 
who cannot use or read conventionally printed material because 
of a physical impairment and who are certified by competent 
authority as unable to read normal reading material in accord-
ance with the provisions of sections 135a and 135b of title 2; 
^° ^'^*- ^^°" 
"(2) no charge, or rental, subscription, or other fee, is required 
for such matter or a charge, or rental, subscription, or other fee 
is required for such matter not in excess of the cost thereof; 
758 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
" (3) the matter may be opened by the Postal Service for inspec-
tion; and 
" (4) the matter contains no advertising. 
"(b) The free mailing privilege provided by subsection (a) of this 
section is extended to— 
" (1) reading matter and musical scores; 
" (2) sound reproductions; 
"(3) paper, records, tapes, and other material for the produc-
tion of reading matter, musical scores, or sound reproductions; 
"(4) reproducers or parts thereof, for sound reproductions; 
and 
" (5) braille writers, typewriters, educational or other materials 
or devices, or parts thereof, used for writing by, or specifically 
designed or adapted for use of, a blind person or a person having 
a physical impairment as described in subsection (a) (1) of this 
section. 
"§ 3404. Unsealed letters sent by blind or physically handicapped 
persons 
"Unsealed letters sent by a blind i>erson or a person having a physi-
cal impairment, as described in section 3403(a)(1) of this title, in 
raised characters or sightsaving type, or in the form of sound record-
ings, may be mailed free of postage. 
"§3405. Markings 
"All matter relating to blind or other handicapped persons mailed 
under section 3403 or 3404 of this title, shall bear the words 'Free 
Matter for the Blind or Handicapped', or words to that effect specified 
by the Postal Service, in the upper right-hand corner of the address 
area. 
"Chapter 36—POSTAL RATES, CLASSES, AND 
SERVICES 
'SUBCHAPTER I—POSTAL RATE COMMISSION 
"Sec. 
"3601. Establishment. 
"3602. Terms of office. 
"3603. Rules; regulations; procedures. 
".3604. Administration. 
"SUBCHAPTER II—PERMANENT RATES AND CLASSES OF MAIL 
•'3621. Authority to fix rates and classes. 
"3622. Rates and fees. 
•'3623. Mail classification. 
•'3624. Recommended decisions of Commission. 
•'3625. Action of the Governors. 
'•3626. Reduced rates. 
"3627. Adjusting free and reduced rates. 
".3628. Appellate review. 
"SUBCHAPTER III—TEMPORARY RATES AND CLASSES 
"3641. Temporary changes in rates and classes. 
"SUBCHAPTER IV—POSTAL SERVICES AND COMPLAINTS 
"3661. Postal services. 
".3662. Rate and service complaints. 
"SUBCHAPTER V—GENERAL 
"3681. Reimbursement. 
"3682. Size and weight limits. 
"3683. Uniform rates for books; films; other materials. 
"3684. Limitations. 
"3685. Filing of information relating to periodical publications. 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
759 
"SUBCHAPTER I—POSTAL RATE COMMISSION 
"§3601. Establishment 
"There is established, as an independent establishment of the execu-
tive branch of the Government of the United States, the Postal Rate 
Commission composed of 5 Commissioners appointed by the President, 
not more than 3 of whom may be adherents of the same political 
party. One of the Commissioners shall be designated as Chairman by, 
and shall serve in the position of Chairman at the pleasure of, the 
President. The Commissioners shall be chosen on the basis of their 
professional qualifications and may be removed only in accordance with 
section 7521 of title 5. 
so stat. 528. 
"§3602. Terms of office 
"The Commissioners of the Postal Rate Commission shall serve for 
terms of 6 years except that— 
" (1) the terms of the Commissioners first taking office shall ex-
pire as designated by the President at the time of appointment, 1 
at the end of 2 years, 2 at the end of 4 years, and 2 at the end of 
6 years, following the appointment of the first of them; and 
"(2) any Commissioner appointed to fill a vacancy occurring 
before the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was 
appointed shall serve for the remainder of such term. 
"§ 3603. Rules; regulations; procedures 
"The Postal Rate Commission shall promulgate rules and regula-
tions and establish procedures, subject to chapters 5 and 7 of title 5, 
so ^'^V a^*^' 
and take any other action they deem necessary and proper to carry 
5 use soo, 701'. 
out their functions and obligations to the Government of the United 
States and the people as prescribed under this chapter. Such rules, 
regulations, procedures, and actions shall not be subject to any change 
or supervision by the Postal Service. 
"§ 3604. Administration 
"(a) The Chairman of the Postal Rate Commission shall have the 
administrative responsibility for assigning the business of the Com-
mission to the other Commissioners and to the officers and employees 
of the Commission. All final acts of the Commissioners shall be by a 
vote of an absolute majority thereof. 
"(b) The Commission may obtain such facilities and supplies, and 
appoint and fix the compensation of such officers and employees, as 
may be necessary to permit the Commission to carry out its functions. 
The officers and employees so appointed (1) shall be paid at rates 
of compensation, and shall be entitled to programs offering employee 
benefits, established under chapter 10 or 12 of this title, as appropri- 
^"'«' PP- 728, 
ate, and (2) shall be responsible solely to the Commissioners. 
"(c)(1) The Commission shall periodically prepare and submit 
to the Postal Service a budget of the Commission's expenses, including 
but not limited to expenses for facilities, supplies, compensation, and 
employee benefits. The budget shall be considered approved— 
"(A) as submitted if the Governors fail to act in accordance 
with clause (B) of this paragraph; or 
"(B) as adjusted if the Governors holding office, by unanimous 
written decision, adjust the total amount of money requested in 
the budget. 
Clause (B) shall not be construed to authorize the Governors to adjust 
any item included within the budget. 
47-348 O - 72 - 52 (Pt. 1) 
733. 
760 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
Ante, p. 739. 
"(2) Expenses incurred under any budget approved under para-
graph (1) of this subsection shall be paid out of the Postal Service 
Fund established under section 2003 of this title. 
72l"'^'^^" ^^^' 
"(^) The provisions of section 410 and chapter 10 of this title 
shall apply to the Commission, as appropriate. 
''SUBCHAPTER II—PERMANENT RATES AND CLASSES 
OF MAIL 
"§ 3621. Authority to fix rates and classes 
"Except as othervrise provided, the Governors are authorized to 
establish reasonable and equitable classes of mail and reasonable and 
equitable rates of postage and fees for postal services in accordance 
with the provisions of this chapter. Postal rates and fees shall be 
reasonable and equitable and sufficient to enable the Postal Service 
under honest, efficient, and economical management to maintain and 
continue the development of postal services of the kind and quality 
adapted to the needs of the United States. Postal rates and fees shall 
provide sufficient revenues so that the total estimated income and ap-
propriations to the Postal Service will equal as nearly as practicable 
matJd exists"" 
total estimated costs of the Postal Service. For purposes of this sec-
tion, 'total estimated costs' shall include (without limitation) o*perat-
ing expenses, depreciation on capital facilities and equipment, debt 
service (including interest, amortization of debt discount and expense, 
and provision for sinking funds or other retirements of obligations to 
the extent that such provision exceeds applicable 
depreciation 
charges), and a reasonable provision for contingencies. 
"§ 3622. Rates and fees 
"(a) From time to time the Postal Service shall request the Postal 
Rate Commission to submit a recommended decision on changes in a 
rate or rates of postage or in a fee. or fees for postal services if the 
Postal Service determines that such changes would be in the public 
interest and in accordance with the policies of this title. The Postal 
Service may submit such suggestions for rate adjustments as it deems 
suitable. 
"(b) Upon receiving a request, the Commission shall make a recom-
mended decision on the request for changes in rates or fees in each 
class of mail or type of service in accordance with the policies of this 
title and the following factors: 
"(1) the establishment and maintenance of a fair and equitable 
schedule; 
"(2) the value of the mail service actually provided each class 
or type of mail service to both the sender and the recipient, in-
cluding but not limited to the collection, mode of transportation, 
and priority of delivery; 
"(3) the requirement that each class of mail or type of mail 
service bear the direct and indirect postal costs attributable to 
that class or type plus that portion of all other costs of the Postal 
Service reasonably assignable to such class or type; 
"(4) the effect of rate increases upon the general public, busi-
ness mail users, and enterprises in the private sector of the 
economy engaged in the delivery of mail matter other than 
letters; 
"(5) the available alternative means of sending and receiving 
letters and other mail matter at reasonable costs; 
"(6) the degree of preparation of mail for delivery into the 
postal system performed by the mailer and its effect upon reducing 
costs to the Postal Service; 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
761 
"' (7) simplicity of structure for the entire schedule and simple, 
identifiable relationships between the rates or fees charged the 
various classes of mail for postal services; and 
"(8) such other factors as the Commission deems appropriate. 
"§3623. Mail classification 
"(a) Within 2 years after the effective date of this subchapter, the 
Postal Service shall request the Postal Rate Commission to make a 
recommended decision on establishing a mail classification schedule in 
accordance with the provisions of this section. 
" (b) Following the establishment of the mail classification schedule 
requested under subsection (a) of this section, the Postal Service may 
from time to time request that the Commission submit, or the Com-
mission may submit to the Postal Service on its own initiative, a 
recommended decision on changes in the mail classification schedule. 
" (c) The Commission shall make a recommended decision on estab-
lishing or changing the schedule in accordance with the policies of this 
title and the following factors: 
" (1) the establishment and maintenance of a fair and equitable 
classification system for all mail; 
"(2) the relative value to the people of the kinds of mail 
matter entered into the postal system and the desirability and 
justification for special classifications and services of mail; 
"(3) the importance of providing classifications with ex-
tremely high degrees of reliability and speed of delivery; 
"(4) the importance of providing classifications which do not 
require an extremely high degree of reliability and speed of 
delivery; 
"(5) the desirability of special classifications from the point 
of view of both the user and of the Postal Service; and 
"(6) such other factors as the Commission may deem ap-
propriate. 
"(d) The Postal Service shall maintain one or more tlasses of mail 
for the transmission of letters sealed against inspection. The rate for 
each such class shall be uniform throughout the United States, its 
territories, and possessions. One such class shall-prpvide for the most 
expeditious handling and transportation afforded mail matter by the 
Postal Service. No letter of such a class of domestic origin shall be 
opened except under authority of a search warrant authorized by 
law, or by an officer or employee of the Postal Service for the sole pur-
pose of determining an address at which the letter can be delivered, 
or pursuant to the authorization of the addressee. 
"§3624. Recommended decisions of Commission 
"(a) The Postal Rate Commission shall promptly consider a re-
nuest made under section 3622 or 3623 of this title, except that the 
Commission shall not recommend a decision until the opportunity for 
a hearing on the record under sections 556 and 557 of title 5 has been 
accorded to the Postal Service, users of the mails, and an officer of the 
Commission who shall be required to represent the interests of the 
general public. 
"(b) In order to conduct its proceedings with utmost expedition 
consistent with procedural fairness to the par^^ies, the Commission may 
(without limitation) adopt rules which provide for— 
"(1) the advance submission of written direct testimony; 
"(2) the conduct of prehearing conferences to define issues, and 
for other purposes to insure orderly and expeditious proceedings; 
"(3) discovery both from the Postal Service and the parties to 
the proceedings; 
80 Stat. 386. 
762 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
" (4) limitation of testimony; and 
"(5) the conduct of the entire proceedings olf the record witli 
the consent of the parties. 
"(c) The Commission shall transmit its recommended decision in a 
rate, fee, or classification matter to the Governors. The recommended 
decision shall include a statement specifically responsive to the criteria 
established under section 8622 or 3628, as the case may be. 
"§ 3625. Action of the Governors 
"(a) Upon receiving a recommended decision from the Postal Rate 
(Commission, the Governors may approve, allow under protest, reject, 
or modify that decision in accordance with the provisions of this 
section. 
"(b) The Governors may approve the recommended decision and 
order the decision placed in effect. 
"(c) The Governors may, under protest, allow a recommended de-
cision of the Commission to take effect and (1) seek judicial review 
thereof under section 8628 of this title, or (2) return the recommended 
decision to the Commission for reconsideration and a further recom-
mended decision, which shall be acted upon under this section and 
subject to review in accordance with section 8628 of this title. 
"(d) The Governors may reject the recommended decision of the 
(Commission and the Postal Service may resubmit its request to tha 
Commission for reconsideration. Upon resubmission, the request shall 
be reconsidered, and a further recommended decision of the Commis-
sion shall be acted upon under this section and subject to review in ac-
cordance with section 8268 of this title. However, with the unanimous 
written concurrence of all of the Governors then holding office, the 
(xovernors may modify any such further recommended decision of 
the Commission under this subsection if the Governors expressly find 
that (1) such modification is in accord with the record and the policies 
of this chapter, and (2) the rates recommended by the Commission 
are not adequate to provide sufficient total revenues so that total esti-
mated income and appropriations will equal as nearly as practicable 
estimated total costs. 
"(e) The decision of the Governors to approve, allow under protest, 
reject, or modify a recommended decision of the Commission shall be 
in writing and shall include an estimate of anticipated revenue and a 
statement of explanation and justification. The decision, the record 
of the (Commission's hearings, and the Commission's recommended de-
cision shall be made generally available at the time the decision is 
issued and shall be printed and made available for sale by the Public 
Printer within 10 days following the day the decision is issued. 
"(f) The Board shall determine the date on which the new rates, 
fees, the mail classification schedule, and changes in such schedule 
under this subchapter shall become effective. 
"§3626. Reduced rates 
"If the rates of postage for any class of mail or kind of mailer 
under former sections 4858, 4859, 4421, 4422, 4452, or 4554 of this 
620; 74^stat!^672. ^itle, as such ratcs existed on the effective date of this subchapter, are, 
(m the effective date of the first rate decision under this subchapter 
affecting that class or kind, less than the rates established by such 
decision, a separate rate schedule shall be adopted for that class or 
kind effective each time rates are established or changed under this 
subchapter, with annual increases as nearly equal as practicable, so 
that— 
"(1) the revenues received from rates for mail under former 
sections 4358, 4452 (b) and (c), and 4554 (b) and (c) shall not, 
on and after the first day of the tenth year following the effective 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
763 
date of the first rate decision applicable to that class or kind, 
exceed the direct and indirect postal costs attributable to mail of 
such class or kind (excluding all other costs of the Postal Serv-
ice) ; and 
" (2) the rates for mail under sections 4859,4421,4422, 4452(a), 
and 4554(a) shall be equal, on and after the first day of the fifth si^ stau^6i7-620; 
year following the effective date of the first rate decision appli-
cable to that class or kind, to the rates that would have been in 
effect for such mail if this subsection had not been enacted, 
No person who would have been entitled to mail matter under former 
section 4359 of this title shall mail such matter at the rates provided 
under this subsection unless he files annually with the Postal Service 
a written request for permission to mail matter at such rates. 
"§3627. Ad 
justing free and reduced rates 
"If Congress fails to appropriate an amount authorized under sec-
tion 2401 (c) of this title for any class of mail sent at a free or reduced 
Ante, p, 743. 
rate under section 3217, 3403-3405, or 3626 of this title, or under the 
Federal Voting Assistance Act of 1955, the rate for that class may 82^stIt.°'i8^K'^' 
be adjusted in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter so 
souse MSI. 
that the increased revenues received from the users of such class will 
equal the amount for that class that the Congress was to appropriate. 
"§ 3628. Appellate review 
"A decision of the Governors to approve, allow under protest, or 
modify the recommended decision of the Postal Kate Commission 
may be appealed to any court of appeals of the ITnited States, within 
15 days after its publication by the Public Printer, by an aggrieved 
party who appeared in the proceedings under section 3624(a) of this 
title. The court shall review the decision, in accordance with section 
706 of title 5, and chapter 158 and section 2112 of title 28, except 622?^*^** ^^^' 
as otherwise provided in this section, on the basis of the record before 
28 use 2341. 
the Commission and the Governors. The court may affirm the decision 
'^^ ^t^** ^/t^' 
or order that the entire matter be returned for further consideration, 
but the court may not modify the decision. The court shall make the 
matter a preferred cause and shall expedite judgment in every way. 
The court may not suspend the effectiveness of the changes, or other-
wise prevent them from taking effect until final disposition of the 
suit by the court. No court shall have jurisdiction to review a decision 
made by the Commission or Governors under this chapter except as 
provided in this section. 
"SUBCHAPTER III—TEMPORARY RATES AND CLASSES 
"§3641. Temporary changes in rates and classes 
"(a) If the Postal Rate Commission does not transmit to the 
Governors within 90 days after the Postal Service has submitted, or 
within 30 days after the Postal Service has resubmitted, to the Com-
mission a request for a recommended decision on a change in rates 
of postage or in fees for postal services, or on a change in the mail 
classification schedule (after such schedule is established under sec-
tion 3623 of this title), the Postal Service, upon 10 days' notice in the ^^^'*^i','^^"°" j " 
Federal Register, may place into effect temporary changes in rates 
of postage, in fees for postal service, or in the mail classification 
schedule it considers appropriate to carry out the provisions of this 
title. Any ten porary change shall be effective for a period ending 
not later than 30 days after the Commission has transmitted its 
recommended decision to the Governors, 
"(b) If, under section 3628 of this title, a court orders a matter re-
turned to the Commission for further consideration, the Postal Serv-
Federal Register. 
764 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
ice, with the consent of the Commission, may place into effect tempo-
rary changes in rates of postage, in fees for postal services, or in the 
mail classification schedule. 
"(c) A rate of postage for a class of mail or a fee for a postal serv-
ice under a temporary change under this section may not exceed the 
lesser of (1) the rate or fee requested for such class or service, or (2) 
a rate or fee which is more than one-third greater than the permanent 
rate or fee in effect for that class or service at the time a permanent 
change in the rate or fee of such class or service is requested under 
section 3622 of this title. 
"SUBCHAPTER IV—POSTAL SERVICES 
AND COMPLAINTS 
"§ 3661. Postal services 
"(a) The Postal Service shall develop and promote adequate and 
efficient postal services. 
"(b) When the Postal Service determines that there should be a 
change in the nature of postal services which will generally affect serv-
ice on a nationwide or substantially nationwide basis, it shall submit 
a proposal, within a reasonable time prior to the effective date of such 
proposal, to the Postal Rate Commission requesting an advisory 
opinion on the change. 
"(c) The Commission shall not issue its opinion on any proposal 
until an opportunity for hearing on the record under sections 556 
80 Stat. 386. 
g
^
j
^
^
j 55'^ Q
-
f ^^^jg g j^^s bccu accorded to the Postal Service, users of the 
mail, and an officer of the Commission who shall be required to repre-
sent the interests of the general public. The opinion shall be in writing 
and shall include a certification by each Commissioner agreeing with 
the opinion that in his judgment the opinion conforms to the policies 
established under this title. , 
"§ 3662. Rate and service complaints 
"Interested parties who believe the Postal Service is charging rates 
which do not conform to the policies set out in this title or who believe 
that they are not receiving postal service in accordance with the poli-
cies of this title may lodge a complaint with the Postal Rate Commis-
sion in such form and in such manner as it may prescribe. The Com-
mission may in its discretion hold hearings on such complaint. If the 
Commission, in a matter covered by subchapter I I of this chapter, 
determines the complaint to be justined, it shall, after proceedings in 
conformity with section 3624 of this title, issue a recommended deci-
sion which shall be acted upon in accordance with the provisions of 
section 3625 of this title and subject to review in accordance with the 
provisions of section 3628 of this title. If a matter not covered by sub-
chapter I I of this chapter is involved, and the Commission after hear-
ing finds the complaint to be justified, it shall render a public report 
thereon to the Postal Service which shall take such action as it deems 
appropriate. 
"SUBCHAPTER V—GENERAL 
''§3681. Reimbursement 
"No mailer may be reimbursed for any amount paid under any rate 
or fee which, after such payment, is determined to have been unlawful 
after proceedings in accordance with the provisions of section 3628 of 
this title, or is superseded by a lower rate or fee established under sub-
chapter I I of this chapter. 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
765 
"§ 3682. Size and weight limits 
"(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section— 
"(1) the maximum weight of mail other than letter mail is 
40 pounds; and 
"(2) the maximum size is— 
"(A) 78 inches in girth and length combined before July 1, 
1971; and 
"(B) 84 inches in girth and length combined on and after 
July 1,1971. 
"(b) The maximum size on mail, other than letter mail, is 100 
inches in girth and length combined, and the maximum weight is 70 
pounds if the mail— 
"(1) is mailed at, or addressed for delivery at, other than first-
class post offices or on rural or star routes, as such offices and 
routes existed on the day prior to the effective date of this section, 
as determined by the Postal Service; 
"(2) contains baby fowl, live plants, trees, shrubs, or agricul-
tural commodities but not the manufactured products of those 
; 
commodities; 
"(3) would have been entitled to be mailed under former sec-
tion 4554 of this title; 
76 stat. 445; 
"(4) is addressed to or mailed at any Armed Forces post office ^^ ^*^*' ^^^' ^^°* 
outside the 50 States; or 
"(5) is addressed to or mailed in the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, the States of Alaska and Hawaii, or a possession of the 
United States including the Canal Zone and the Trust Territory 
of the Pacific Islands. 
"(c) The Postal Service may establish size and weight limitations 
for letter mail in the same manner as prescribed for changes in classi-
fication under subchapter I I of this chapter. 
^nte. p. 76o. 
"§ 3683. Uniform rates for books; films; other materials 
"Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the rates of post-
age established for mail matter enumerated in former section 4554 
of this title shall be uniform for such mail of the same weight, and 
shall not vary with the distance transported. 
"§3684. Limitations 
"Except as provided in section 3627 of this title, no provision of 
this chapter shall be construed to give authority to the Governors to 
make any change in any provision of section 3682 or 3683 or chapter 
30, 32, or 34 of this title, or of the Federal Voting Assistance Act of 
Ante, p. 745-
iQp;Fi 
755. 
-'-^^^- 
- 
69 Stat. 584; 
"§ 3685. Filing of information relating to periodical publications 
^^so^usJV451. 
"(a) Each owner of a publication having periodical publication 
mail privileges shall furnish to the Postal Service at least once a year, 
and shall publish in such publication once a year, information in such 
form and detail and at such time as the Postal Service may require 
with respect to— 
"(1) the identity of the editor, managing editor, publishers, 
and owners; 
"(2) the identity of the corporation and stockholders thereof, 
if the publication is owned by a corporation; 
" (3) the identity of known bondholders, mortgagees, and other 
security holders; 
" (4) the extent and nature of the circulation of the publication, 
including, but not limited to, the number of copies distributed, the 
766 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
methods of distribution, and the extent to which such circulation 
is paid in whole or in part; and 
"(5) such other information as the Postal Service may deem 
necessary to determine whether the publication meets the stand-
ards for periodical publication mail privileges. 
The Postal Service shall not require the names of persons owning less 
than 1 percent of the total amount of stocks, bonds, mortgages, or 
other securities. 
"(b) Each publication having such mail privileges shall furnish to 
the Postal Service information in such form and detail, and at such 
times, as the Postal Service requires to determine whether the publica-
tion continues to qualify for such privileges. 
"(c) The Postal Service shall make appropriate rules and regula-
tions to carry out the purposes of this section, including provision for 
suspension or revocation of periodical publication mail privileges for 
failure to furnish the required information, 
"PART V—TRANSPORTATION OF MAIL 
"CHAPTER 
Sec. 
"50. 
GENEEAT. 
5001 
"52. 
TRANSPORTATION OF MAIL BY SURFACE CARRIER 
5201 
"54. 
TRANSPORTATION OF MAIL BY AIR 
5401 
"56. 
TRANSPORTATION OF MAIL BY VESSEL 
• 
5601 
"Chapter 50.—GENERAL 
"Sec. 
"5001. Provisions for carrying mail. 
"5002. Transportation of mail of adjoining countries through the United States. 
"5003. Establishment of post roads. 
"5004. Dif:continuance of service on post roads. 
"5005. Mail transportation. 
"5006. Lien on compensation of contractor. 
"5007. Free transportation of postal employees. 
"§5001. Provisions for carrying mail 
"The Postal Service shall provide for the transportation of mail in 
accordance with the policies established under section 101 (e) and (f) 
of this title and the provisions of this chapter. Notwithstanding any 
other provision of this title, the Postal Service may make arrange-
ments on a temporary basis for the transportation of mail when, as 
determined by the Postal Service, an emergency arises. Such arrange-
ments shall terminate when the emergency ceases and the Postal Serv-
ice is promptly able to secure transportation services under other 
provisions of this title. 
"§5002. Transportation of mail of adjoining countries through 
the United States 
"The Postal Service, with the consent of the President, may make 
arrangements to allow the mail of countries adjoining the United 
States to be transported over the territory of the United States 
from one point in that country to any other point therein, at the 
expense of the country to which the mail belongs, upon obtaining a 
like privilege for the transportation of United States mail through 
the country to which the privilege is granted. 
"§ 5003. Establishment of post roads 
"The following are post roads: 
" (1) the waters of the United States, during the time the mail 
is carried thereon; 
"^2) railroads or parts of railroads and air routes in operation; 
"(3) canals, during the time the mail is carried thereon; 
Ante, p, 720. 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
767 
Contracts. 
"(4) public roads, highways, and toll roads during the time 
the mail is carried thereon; and 
"(5) letter-carrier routes established for the collection and 
delivery of mail. 
*
*
§ 5004. Discontinuance of service on post roads 
"The Postal Service may discontinue service on a post road or part 
thereof when, in its opinion, the public interest so requires. 
*"§ 5005. Mail transportation 
"(a) The Postal Service may obtain mail transportation service—^ 
" (1) from common carriers by rail and motor vehicle or persons 
as provided in chapter 52 of this title; 
"(2) from air carriers as provided in chapter 54 of this title; 
"(3) from water carriers as provided in chapter 56 of this title; 
and 
"(4) by contract from any person (as defined in section 5201(7) 
of this title) or carrier for surface and water transportation under 
such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, subject to the 
provisions of this section. 
"(b)(1) Contracts for the transportation of mail procured under 
subsection (a) (4) of this section shall be for periods not in excess of 
4 years (or where the Postal Service determines that special conditions 
or the use of special equipment warrants, not in excess of 6 years) and 
shall be entered into only after advertising a sufficient time previously 
for proposals. The Postal Service, with the consent of the holder of 
any such contract, may adjust the compensation allowed under that 
contract for increased or decreased costs resulting from changed condi-
tions occurring during the term of the contract. 
"(2) A contract under subsection (a)(4) of this section may be 
renewed at the existing rate by mutual agreement between the holder 
and the Postal Service. 
"(3) Any contract between the Postal Service and any carrier or 
inspection. 
person for the transportation of mail shall be available for inspection 
in the office of the Postal Service and either the Interstate Commerce 
Commission or the Civil Aeronautics Board, as appropriate, and in 
post offices on the post roads involved, as determined by the Postal 
Service, at least 15 days prior to the effective date of the contract. 
"(c) The Postal Service, in determining whether to obtain trans-
portation of mail by carrier or person under subsection (a)(1) of 
this section, by contract under subsection (a) (4) of this section, or by 
Government motor vehicle, shall use the mode of transportation which 
best serves the public interest, due consideration being given to the 
cost of the transportation service under each mode. 
'^§ 5006. Lien on compensation of contractor 
"(a) A person who— 
"(1) performs service for a contractor or subcontractor in the 
transportation of mail; 
"(2) files his contract for service with the Postal Service; and 
" (3) files satisfactory evidence of performance with the Postal 
Service; 
shall have a lien on money due the contractor or subcontractor for 
the service. 
"(b) The Postal Service may pay the person establishing a lien 
under subsection (a) of this section the sum due him, when the con-
tractor or subcontractor fails to pay the person the amount of his 
lien within 2 months after the expiration of the month in which the 
Renewal. 
Payment 
provisions* 
768 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
service was performed. It shall charge the amount so paid to the 
contract. The payments may not exceed the annual rate of pay of 
the contractor or subcontractor. 
"§ 5007. Free transportation of postal employees 
"Each person or carrier engaged in the transportation of mail shall 
carry on any vessel, train, motor vehicle, or aircraft he operates, upon 
exhibiting their credentials and without extra charge therefor, per-
sons on duty in charge of the mails or when traveling to and from 
such duty. 
"Chapter 52.—TRANSPORTATION OF MAIL BY SURFACE 
CARRIER 
"Sec. 
".5201. Definitions. 
"5202. Applicability. 
".5203. Authorization of service by carrier. 
"5204. Changes in service; placement of equipment. 
".5205. Evidence of service. 
".5206. Fines and deductions. 
".5207. Interstate Commerce Commission to fix rates. 
"5208. Procedures. 
".5209. Special rates. 
".5210. Intermodal transportation. 
"5211. Statistical studies. 
".5212. Special contracts. 
".5213. Carrier operations; receipts; expenditures. 
"5214. Agreements with passenger common carriers by motor vehicle. 
".5215. Star route certification. 
"§ 5201. Definitions 
"For purposes of this chapter— 
"(1) 'Commission' means the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion ; 
"(2) 'carrier' and 'regulated surface carrier' mean a railroad, 
a freight forwarder, a motor carrier, or an express company; 
"(3) 'railroad' means a railway common carrier, including an 
electric urban and interurban raiWay common carrier; 
"(4) 'freight forwarder' means any regulated freight forwarder 
which holds itself out to the general public as a common carrier 
to transport or provide transportation of property as authorized 
by a permit issued by the Commission; 
"(5) 'motor carrier' means any common carrier by motor ve-
hicle, except a passenger-carrying motor vehicle, within the mean-
54 Stat. 920. 
jj^g ^f scctlou 303(a) (14) of title 49, which holds a certificate of 
public convenience and necessity issued by the Commission; 
"(6) 'express company' means any express company engaged 
in transportation as a common carrier for hire under section 1(3) 
41 Stat. 474; 
j. ,.,, 
^^ . 
54 Stat. 899. 
01 title 4 9 ; 
"(7) 'person' includes any person other than a carrier holding 
a certificate of public convenience and necessity isssued by the 
Commission; and 
"(8) 'mail' includes equipment and supplies of the Pc«tal 
Service. 
«§ 5202. Applicability 
"This chapter applies to mail transportation performed by any per-
son or carrier or carrier combination regardless of the mode of trans-
portation actually used to provide the service. 
"§ 5203. Authorization of service by carrier 
"(a) The Postal Service may establish mail routes and authorize 
mail transportation service thereon. 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
769 
"(b) A carrier shall transport mail offered for transportation by 
the Postal Service in the manner, under the conditions, and with the 
service prescribed by the Postal Service. A carrier is entitled to re- compensation,, 
ceive fair and reasonable compensation for the transportation and 
service connected therewith. 
"(c) The Postal Service shall determine the trains or motor vehicles m^hod^^exce^'tion. 
upon which mail shall be transported, except that no carrier shall be 
compelled to transport mail on any train or vehicle which is operated 
exclusively for the transportation of passengers and their baggage. 
"(d) A carrier shall transport with due speed such mail as the 
Postal Service directs under this section. 
"(e) No carrier shall be required to serve territory it is not other-
wise authorized to serve, to provide service for the Postal Service at 
a rate which is less than compensatory cost, or to provide service at a 
detriment to the carrier or its other customers. 
"(f) Any order or determination of the Postal Service providing 
for the transportation of mail by a motor carrier shall be filed with 
the Commission. If the Commission finds, within 90 days after the fil-
ing, that the order or determination will be detrimental to the motor 
carrier or its other customers, or that such carrier does not operate 
equipment suitable for the transportation of mail, the order or deter-
mination shall be terminated. 
"(g) An order or determination of the Postal Service under this 
section shall be consistent with the orders of the Commission under 
sections 5207 and 5208 of this title. 
*'§ 5204. Changes in service; placement of equipment 
" (a) The Postal Service may authorize, according to the need there-
for, new or additional mail transportation service by carriers at the 
rate or compensa/tion fixed under this chapter. It may reduce or dis-
continue service with pro rata reductions in compensation and in-
demnity for the loss of reasonable investment in equipment used ex-
clusively for mail. 
"(b) A railroad shall place cars used for full or apartment post 
office service in position at such times before departure as the Postal 
Service directs. 
"§ 5205. Evidence of service 
"A carrier shall submit evidence of its performance of mail trans-
portation service, signed by an authorized official, in such form and at 
such times as the Postal Service requires. Mail transportation service 
is considered that of the carrier performing it regardless of the owner-
ship of the property used by the carrier. 
"§5206. Fines and deductions 
" (a) The Postal Service may fine any carrier an amount not to exceed 
$500 for each day the carrier refuses to perform mail transportation 
services required by it at rates or compensation established under this 
chapter. 
"(b) The Postal Service shall fine a carrier an amount it deems 
reasonable for failure or refusal by that carrier to transport mail as 
required by the Postal Service under section 5203 of this title. 
"(c) The Board may make deductions from the compensation of a 
carrier for failure to perform mail transportation service as required 
under section 5203 of this title. If the failure to perform is due to the 
fault of the carrier, it may deduct a sum not exceeding twice the com-
pensation applying to such service. Such deductions shall not be made 
prior to the expiration of 60 days following service upon the carrier 
by the Board of notice of intention to assess a fine or make a deduction 
and of the basis therefor. 
770 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
Comprehensive 
plan. 
Notice. 
Carload or 
truckload rates. 
"§ 5207. Interstate Commerce Commission to fix rates 
"(a) The Commission shall deteraiine and fix the fair and reason-
able rates or compensation for the transportation of mail by .carrier 
and the service connected therewith, and shall prescribe the method 
of computing such rates or compensation. The Commission shall pub-
lish its orders stating its determination under this section which shall 
remain in force until changed by it after notice and hearing. 
"(b) For the purpose of determining and fixing rates or compensa-
tion under this section, the Commission may make just and reasonable 
classifications of carriers and, where just and equitable, fix general 
rates applicable to carriers in the same classification. 
" (c) In determining and fixing fair and reasonable rates or compen-
sation under this section, the Commission shall consider the relation 
between the Government and carriers as public service corporations, 
and the nature of public service as distinguished, if there is a distinc-
tion, from the ordinary transportation business of the carriers. 
"(d) Initial rates or compensation for mail transportation service 
by any carrier or carriers shall be those agreed to by the Postal Service 
and the carrier or carriers, and such rates or compensation shall con-
tinue in effect until such time as the Commission fixes the rates or com-
pensation under subsection (a) of this section. 
"§ 5208. Procedures 
"(a) At any time after 6 months from the entry of an order stating 
the Commission's determination under section 5207 of this title, the 
Postal Service or an interested carrier may apply for a reexamination 
and substantially similar proceedings as have theretofore been had 
shall be followed with respect to the rates of compensation for services 
covered by the application. At the conclusion of the hearing the Com-
mission shall enter an order stating its determination. 
"(b) Except as authorized by sections 5207(d), 5209, 5210, and 5212 
of this title, the Postal Service shall pay a carrier the rates or compen-
sation so determined and fixed for application at such stated times as 
named in the order. 
"(c) The Postal Service may file with the Commission a comprehen-
sive plan stating— 
" (1) its requirements for the transportation of mail by carrier ; 
"(2) the character and speed of the trains or motor vehicles 
which are to carry the various kinds of mail; 
"(3) the service, both terminal and en route, which carriers are 
to render; 
" (4) what it believes to be the fair and reasonable rates or com-
pensation for the services required; and 
"(5) all other information which may be material to the in-
quiry, but such other information may be filed at any time in the 
discretion of the Commission. 
"(d) When a comprehensive plan is filed, the Commission shall give 
notice of not less than 30 days to each carrier required by the Postal 
Service to transport mail pursuant to such plan. A carrier may file 
its answer at the time fixed by the Commission, but not later than 30 
days after the expiration date fixed by the Commission in the notice, 
and the Commission shall proceed with the hearing. 
"§5209. Special rates 
"Upon petition by the Postal Service, the Commission shall deter-
mine and fix carload or truckload, or less than carload or truckload, 
rates for the transportation of mail not entitled to high priority in 
transportation. A carrier shall perform the service at the rates so de-
termined when requested to do so and under the conditions prescribed 
by the Postal Service. 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
771 
"§ 5210. Intermodal transportation 
"The Postal Service may permit a carrier to perform mail trans-
portation by any form of transportation it deems appropriate at rates 
or compensation not exceeding those allowable for similar service by 
the designated form of transportation. 
"§ 5211. Statistical studies 
"The Postal Service may arrange for weighing and measuring mail 
transported on carrier mail routes and make other computations for 
statistical and administrative purposes to carry out the purposes of 
this chapter. 
"§ 5212. Special contracts 
"The Postal Service may enter into special contracts with any carrier 
or person, without advertising, for bids and for periods not in excess 
Limitation, 
of 4 years. It may contract to pay lower rates or compensation or, where 
in its judgment conditions warrant, higher rates or compensation 
than those determined or fixed by the (Commission. The fact that the 
(Commission has not prescribed i-ates or compensation for the carrier 
involved, under section 5207 of this title, shall not preclude execution 
of a contract under this section. Such contracts may be negotiated only 
after reasonable notice has been posted in adv^ance in post offices on 
the post roads to be served, and other carriers or persons have been 
given an opportunity to offer to negotiate for the transportation of 
mail. 
"§5213. Carrier operations; receipts; expenditures 
"The Postal Service shall request any carrier transporting the mails 
to furnish, under seal, such data relating to the operations, receipts, 
and expenditures of such carrier as may, in its judgment, be deemed 
necessary to enable it to asceitain the cost of mail transportation and 
the proper compensation to be paid for such service. 
"§5214. Agreements with passenger common carriers by motor 
vehicle 
"The Postal Service may enter into contracts under such terms 
and conditions as it shall prescribe and without advertising for bids 
for the transportation of mail, in passenger-carrying motor vehicles, 
by passenger common carriers, or by motor vehicles over the regular 
routes on which the carrier is permitted by law to transport pas-
sengers. 
"§ 5215. Star route certification 
"(a) Any person who was a contractor under a star route, mail 
messenger, or contract motor vehicle service contract on the effective 
date of this section (or successor in interest to any such person), 
shall, upon application to the Commission for the territory within 
which such contractor operated on or before the effective date of 
this section be issued a certificate of public convenience and necessity 
as a motor carrier for the transportation of mail by the Commission 
without the Commission's requiring further proof that the public 
convenience and necessity will be served by such operation and with-
out further proceedings. 
"(b) Applications of persons who were not contractors on the 
effective date of this section shall be decided in accordance with 
applicable Commission procedure. 
"(c) For purposes of this section, the teiTn 'person' has the same 
"Person." 
meaning given that term under section 1 of title 1. 
^2 stat. 8 59. 
772 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
7 2 Stat. 737. 
72 Stat. 756. 
771. 
Contract re-
newal, adjust-
ment. 
Cancellation. 
"Chapter 54.—TRANSPORTATION OF MAIL BY AIR 
"Sec. 
"5401. Authorization. 
•'5402. Contracts for transportation of mail by air. 
"5403. Fines. 
"§ 5401. Authorization 
"(a) The Postal Service is authorized to provide for the safe and 
expeditious transportation of mail by aircraft. 
"(b) Except as otherwise provided in section 5402 of this title, the 
Postal Service may make such rules, regulations, and orders consistent 
with sections 1301-1542 of title 49, or any order, rule, or regulation 
made by the Civil Aeronautics Board thereunder, as may be necessary 
for such transportation. 
"§ 5402. Contracts for transportation of mail by air 
"(^a) The Postal Service may contract with any certificated air 
carrier, without advertising for bids, in such manner and under such 
terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, for the transportation 
of mail by aircraft between any of the points between which the carrier 
is authorized by the Civil Aeronautics Board to engage in the trans-
portation of mail. Such contracts shall be for the transportation of at 
least 750 pounds of mail per flight, and no more than 10 percent of 
the domestic mail transported under any such contract or 5 percent, 
based on weight, of the international mail transported under any such 
contract shall consist of letter mail. Any such contract shall be filed 
with the Civil Aeronautics Board not later than 90 days before its 
effective date. Unless the Civil Aeronautics Board shall determine 
otherwise (under criteria prescribed by section 1302 of title 49) not 
later than 10 days prior to the effective date of the contract, such 
contract shall become effective. 
" (b) When the Postal Service deems that the transportation of mail 
by aircraft is required between points between which the Civil Aero-
nautics Board has not authorized an air carrier or combination of 
air carriers to engage in the transportation of mail, it may contract 
with any air carrier in such manner and under such terms and condi-
tions as it may deem appropriate for the transportation of any class 
or classes of mail. The transportation of mail under contracts entered 
into under this subsection is not, except for sections 1371 (k) and 1386 
(b) of title 49, air transportation within the provisions of sections 
1301-1542 of title 49. The Postal Service shall cancel such contract, 
in whole or in respect to certain points as the certificate shall require, 
upon the issuance by the Civil Aeronautics Board of an authorization 
under sections 1371-1386 of title 49 to any air carrier to engage in the 
transportation of mail by aircraft between any of the points named in 
the contract, and the inauguration of scheduled service by such 
carrier. 
"(c) If the Postal Service determines that service by certificated 
air carriers or combination of air carriers between any pair or pairs 
of points is not adequate for its purposes, it may contract for a period 
of not more than 4 years, without advertising for bids, in such manner 
and under such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate, with 
any air taxi operator or combination thereof for such air transporta-
tion service. Contracts made under this subsection may be renewed at 
the existing rate by mutual agreement between the holder and the 
Postal Service. The Postal Service, with the consent of the air taxi 
operator, may adjust the compensation under such contracts for in-
creased or decreased costs occasioned by changed conditions occurring 
during the contract term. The Postal Service shall cancel such a con-
tract when the Civil Aeronautics Board authorizes an additional cer-
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
773 
tificated carrier or carriers to provide service between any pair or pairs 
of points covered by the contract, and such carrier or carriers inaugu-
rate schedules adequate for its purposes. 
"§5403. Fines 
"The Postal Service may impose or remit fines on carriers trans-
porting mail by air on routes extending beyond the borders of the 
ITnited States for— 
" (1) unreasonable or unnecessary delay to mail; and 
" (2) other delinquencies in the transportation of the mail. 
"Chapter 56.—TRANSPORTATION OF MAIL BY VESSEL 
"Sec. 
"5601. Sea post service. 
"5602. Termination of contracts for foreign transportation. 
"5603. Transportation of mail by vessel as freight or express. 
"5604. Fines on ocean carriers. 
"5605. Contracts for transportation of mail by vessel. 
"§ 5601. Sea post service 
"The Postal Service may maintain sea post service on ocean vessels 
conveying mail to and from the United States. 
"§ 5602. Termination of contracts for foreign transportation 
"Contracts for the transportation of mail by vessel between the 
United States and a foreign port shall be made subject to cancellation 
by the Postal Service or the Congress. 
"§ 5603. Transportation of mail by vessel as freight or express 
"The Postal Service may require that mail be transported by freight 
or express when— 
"(1) there is no competition on a water route and the rate or 
compensation asked is excessive; or 
" (2) no proposal is received. 
A common carrier by water that fails or refuses to transport the mail 
when required to do so under this section shall be fined not more than 
$500 for each day of refusal. 
"§ 5604. Fines on ocean carriers 
"The Postal Service may impose or remit fines on carriers transport-
ing mail by vessel on routes extending beyond the borders of the 
ITnited States for— 
" (1) unreasonable or unnecessary delay to the mails; and 
"(2) other delinquencies in the transportation of mail. 
"§ 5605. Contracts for transportation of mail by vessel 
"The Postal Service may contract for the transportation of mail 
by vessel without advertising for bids for periods of not in excess 
of 4 years." 
CONTINUATION OF EXISTING RATES AND TEES 
SEC. 3. The classes of mail, the rates of postage, and fees for postal 
services prescribed by law or regulation made or adopted prior to the 
effective date of subchapter II of chapter 36 of title 39, United States 
Code, as enacted by section 2 of this Act, shall be in effect according 
to the terms of such law or regulation until changed in accordance 
with such subchapter. 
TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS 
SEC. 4. (a) There are hereby transferred to the United States 
Postal Service all the functions, powers, and duties of the Post Office 
Department and the Postmaster General of the Post Office Depart-
Ante, p, 760. 
774 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
ment, and the Post Office Department and the office of Postmaster 
General of the Post Office Department are abolished. 
(b) Postal revenues and fees collected on and after the effective date 
of this section shall be considered assets of the Postal Service. 
SAVING PROVISIONS 
SEC. 5. (a) All orders, determinations, rules, regulations, permits, 
contracts, certificates, licenses, and privileges— 
(1) which have been issued, made, granted, or allowed to be-
come effective— 
(A) under any provision of law amended by this Act; or 
(B) in the exercise of duties, powers, or functions which 
are transferred under this Act; 
by (i) any department or agency, any functions of which are 
transferred by this Act, or (ii) any court of competent jurisdic-
tion ; and 
(2) which are in effect at the time the United States Postal Serv-
ice commences operations, shall continue in effect according to 
their terms until modified, terminated, superseded, set aside, or 
repealed by the Postal Service (in the exercise of any authority 
vested in it by this Act), by any court of competent jurisdiction, 
or by operation of law. 
(b) The provisions of this Act shall not affect any proceedings 
pending at the time this section takes effect before any department 
or agency (or component thereof), the functions of which are trans-
ferred by this Act; but such proceedings shall be continued before 
the Postal Service. Orders shall be issued in such proceedings, appeals 
shall be taken therefrom, and payments shall be made pursuant to 
such orders, as if this Act had not been enacted; and orders issued 
in any such proceedings shall continue in effect until modified, termi-
nated, superseded, or repealed by the Postal Service (in the exercise 
of any authority vested in it by this Act), by a court of competent 
jurisdiction, or by operation of law. 
(c)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection— 
(A) the provisions of this Act shall not affect suits commenced 
prior to the date this section takes effect; and 
(B) in all such suits proceedings shall be had, appeals taken, 
and judgments rendered, in the same manner and effect as if this 
Act had not been enacted. 
No suit, action, or other proceeding commenced by or against any 
officer in his official capacity as an officer of any department or agency, 
functions of which are transferred by this Act, shall abate by reason 
of the enactment of this Act. No cause of action by or against any 
department or agency, functions of which are transferred by this Act, 
or by or against any officer thereof in his official capacity shall abate 
by reason of the enactment of this Act. Causes of actions, suits, actions, 
or other proceedings may be asserted by or against the Postal Service 
or, such official of that Service as may be appropriate and, in any 
litigation pending when this section takes effect, the court may at 
any time, on its own motion or that of any party, enter an order which 
will give effect to the provisions of this subsection. 
(2) If before the date on which any provision of this Act takes effect, 
any department or agency, or officer thereof in liis official capacity, is a 
party to a suit, and under this Act— 
(A) such department or agency is transferred to the Postal 
Service; or 
(B) any function of such department, agency, or officer is 
transferred to the Postal Service; 
such suit shall be continued by the Postal Service. 
Ante, p. 720, 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
775 
(d) The amendment of any statute by this Act shall not release or 
extinguish any criminal prosecution, penalty, forfeiture, or liability 
incurred under such statute, unless the amending Act ^hall so expressly 
provide, and such statute shall be treated as still remaining in force 
for the purpose of sustaining any proper action or prosecution for the 
enforcement of such prosecution, penalty, forfeiture, or liability. 
(e) With respect to any function, power, or duty transferred by this 
Act and exercised after the effective date of this Act, reference in any 
other Federal law to any department or agency, officer, or office so 
transferred, or functions of which are so transferred, shall be deemed 
to mean the officer or agency of the Postal Service in which this Act 
vests such function after such transfer. 
(f) Provisions of title 39, United States Code, in effect immediately 
prior to the effective date of this section, but not reenact^d by this 
Act, shall remain in force as rules or regulations of the Postal Service 
established by this Act, to the extent the Postal Service is authorized 
to adopt such provisions as rules or regulations, until they are revoked, 
amended, or revised by the Postal Service. 
(g) Notwithstanding section 202 of title 39, United States Code, 
as enacted by section 2 of this Act, Governors of the Board of Gover-
nors of the Postal Service may be paid $300 a day for not more than 
f
j
O days of meetings in each of the first 2 years following the effective 
date of such section 202. 
TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS 
SEC. 6. (a) Section 225(f) of the Act of December 16, 1967 (81 
Stat. 643; 2 U.S.C. 356), is amended— 
(1) by striking out the word "and" at the end of paragraph 
(C); 
(2) by striking out the period at the end of paragraph (D) 
and inserting in lieu thereof "; and"; and 
(3) by adding after paragraph (D) a new paragraph (E) 
as follows: 
"(E) the Governors of the Board of Governors of the United 
States Postal Service appointed under section 202 of title 39, 
United States Code.". 
(b) Subsection (d) (1) of section 19 of title 3, United States Code, 
is amended by striking out "Postmaster General,". 
(c) Title 5, United States Code, is amended as follows: 
(1) Section 101 is amended by striking out— 
"The Post Office Department.". 
(2) Section 104(1) is amended by inserting after "executive branch" 
the following: "(other than the United States Postal Service or the 
Postal Rai^e Commission)". 
(3) Section 2104 is amended— 
(A) by inserting the subsection designation " ( a ) " before the 
word "For" ; 
(B) by inserting after "except" the following: "as otherwise 
provided by this section or"; and 
(C) by inserting at the end thereof the following new subsec-
tion: 
" (b) Except as otherwise provided by law, an officer of the United 
States Postal Service or of the Postal Rate Commission is deemed not 
an officer for purposes of this title.". 
(4) Section 2105 is amended by adding at the end thereof the 
following new subsection: 
" (e) Except as otherwise provided by law, an eniployee of the 
United States Postal Service or of the Postal Rate Commission is 
deemed not an employee for purposes of this title.". 
47-348 O - 72 - 53 (Pt. 1) 
6 2 Stat. 6 7 7 . 
8 0 Stat. 378. 
776 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
80^sta['4i5 
(5) Section 3104(a) (5) is repealed. 
81 Stat.' 273! 
(6) Section 3804a(a) is amended by striking out ", in the postal 
field service,". 
8oTtal:424. 
(7) (A) Section 3327 is repealed. 
(B) The analysis of subchapter I of chapter 33 is amended by strik-
ing out item 3327. 
fo^''stai."440. 
(8) Section 4301 (1) (ii) is repealed. 
(9) Section 5102(c) (1) is repealed. 
(10) Section5303(a) (2) is repealed. 
(11) The first sentence of section 5304 is amended by striking out 
"the provisions of part I I I of title 39 relating to employees in the 
postal field service,"'. 
(12) Clause (5) of section 5312 is repealed. 
(13) Section 5314 is amended— 
(A) by striking out clause (3); and 
(B) by inserting at the end thereof the following: " (55) Chair-
man, Postal Rate Commission.". 
(14) Section 5315 is amended— 
(A) by striking out clauses (21) and (45); and 
(B) by inserting at the end thereof the following: "(93) Mem-
bers, Postal Rate Commission (4).". 
Repeals, 
(^5) ciauses (37), (60), and (123) of section 5316 are repealed. 
(16) Section 5541 (2) (vi) is repealed. 
(17) Section 6301 (2) (ii) is amended by striking out the first comma 
thereof and the phrase "except an hourly employee in the postal field 
service,". 
82lt^au\is"' 
(1 ^) Section 6323 is amended— 
1313. ' 
' 
(A) by striking out of subsections (a) and (c) the phrase "(a 
substitute employee in the postal field service)" wherever it 
appears; and 
(B) by striking out subsections (b) and (d). 
(19) Section 7101 is amended by striking out "postal service" and 
inserting in lieu thereof "United States Postal Service". 
(20) Section 8344 is amended by adding at the end thereof the 
following new subsection: 
" (c) This section does not apply to an individual appointed to serve 
as a Governor of the Board of Governors of the United States Postal 
Service.". 
(d) Paragraph seventh of section 5136 of the Revised Statutes, as 
amended (12 U.S.C. 24 seventh), is amended by inserting after "nor 
to bonds, notes, and other obligations issued by the Tennessee Valley 
Authority" the words "or by the United States Postal Service". 
(e) Section 602(c) of the Act of August 7, 1956 (70 Stat. 1113), 
as amended (12 U.S.C. I701d-3(c)), is further amended by striking 
out "section 306 of the Penalty Mail Act of 1948 (39 U.S.C. 321n)" 
and inserting in lieu thereof "section 3204 of title 39, United States 
Code". 
(f) Section 301(a) of the Housing Act of 1948 (63 Stat. 431), as 
amended (12 U.S.C. I701e(a)), is further amended by striking out 
"39 United States Code 321n" and inserting in lieu thereof "39 United 
States Code 3204". 
(g) Section 8(b) of the Small Business Act, as amended by section 
107 of the Act of October 11, 1967 (81 Stat. 269; 15 U.S.C. 637(b) 
(15)), is further amended by striking out "section 4154 of title 39, 
United Stiates Code" which appears in paragraph 15 and inserting 
in lieu thereof "section 3204 of title 39, United States Code". 
(h) Section 2(f) of the Act of May 28, 1963 (77 Stat. 50; 16 U.S.C. 
4601-1 (f)), is amended by striking out "section 4154, title 39, United 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
777 
States Code", and inserting in lieu thereof "section 3204 of title 39, 
United States Code". 
(i) Section 8 of title IT, United States Code, is amended— 
'^ ^'^'- '^'^^' 
(1) by striking out "Postmaster General" and inserting in 
lieu thereof "United States Postal Service"; and 
(2) by striking out "section 2506 of title 39" and inserting in 
lieu thereof "section 405 of title 39". 
(j) Title 18, United States Code, is amended as follows: 
(1) The analysis of chapter 1 is amended by inserting in item 12, 
before "Postal" the words "United States". 
(2) Section 12 is amended to read as follows: 
^2 stat. ese. 
"§ 12. United States Postal Service defined 
"As used in this title, the term 'Postal Service' means the United 
States Postal Service established under title 39, and every officer and 
employee of that Service, whether he has taken the oath of office.". 
(3) Section 440 is amended by striking out "Post Office Depart-
ment" and inserting in lieu thereof "Postal Service". 
(4) Section 441 is amended by striking out "Post Office Department 
or the". 
(5) The first 2 paragraphs of section 500 are amended to read as 
follows: 
"Whoever, with intent to defraud, falsely makes, forges, counter-
feits, engraves, or prints any order in imitation of or purporting to be 
a money order issued by the Post Office Department or Postal Service, 
or by any officer or employee thereof; or 
"Whoever forges or counterfeits the signature of any officer or 
employee of the Postal Service, upon or to any money order, postal 
note, or blank therefor provided or issued by or under the direction 
of the Post Office Department or the Postal Service, or post office 
department or corporation of any foreign country, and payable in 
the United States, or any material signature or indorsement thereon, 
or any material signature to any receipt of certificate of identifica-
tion thereof; or". 
(6) The last 3 paragraphs of section 501 thereof are amended to ^°®'' ^' ^^°" 
read as follows: 
"Whoever makes or prints, or authorizes to be made or printed, any 
postage stamp, stamped envelope, or postal card, of the kind author-
ized and provided by the Post Office Department, or by the Postal 
Service, without the special authority and direction of the Depart-
ment or Postal Service; or 
"Whoever after such postage stamp, stamped envelope or postal 
card has been printed, with intent to defraud delivers the same to 
any person not authorized by an instrument in writing, duly executed 
under the hand of the Postmaster General and the seal of the Post 
Office Department or the Postal Service, to receive it— 
"Shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 
five years, or both.". 
(7) Sections 612 and 876 are amended by striking out the phrase ^4 stat. 475. 
"Post Office Department" wherever it appears and inserting m lieu 
^^ ^'^*' ^'*^' 
thereof "Postal Service". 
(8) Section 877 is amended by striking out the phrase "Post Office 
Department of the LTnited States" wherever it appears and inserting 
in lieu thereof "Postal Service". 
(9) Section 1114 is amended by striking out "postal inspector, any 8/Utat^/j2i; 
postmaster, officer, or employee in the field service of the Post Office 
Department" and inserting in lieu thereof "officer or employee of the 
Postal Service". 
778 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
1
8 u*sc* l^o' 
^^^^ Section 1303 is amended by striking out "a postmaster or other 
person employed in" and inserting in lieu thereof "an officer or em-
ployee of". 
(11) Section 1341 is amended by striking out "Post Office Depart-
ment" and inserting in lieu thereof "Postal Service". 
(12) Section 1342 is amended by striking out "Post Office Depart-
ment of the United States" and inserting in lieu thereof "Postal 
Service". 
(13) Section 1463 is amended by striking out "Postmaster General" 
in section 1463 and inserting in lieu thereof "Postal Service". 
(14) Section 1696(c) is amended by striking out "section 500 of title 
39" and inserting in lieu thereof "section 601 of title 39". 
66 Stat. 325. 
(15) Sectiou 1699 is amended by striking out "Postmaster General" 
wherever appearing therein and inserting in lieu thereof "Postal 
Service". 
62 Stat. 778. 
(^g) (^) Subsectlon (a) of section 1703 is amended to read as 
follows: 
"(a) Whoever, being a Postal Service officer or employee, unlaw-
fully secretes, destroys, detains, delays, or opens any letter, postal card, 
package, bag, or mail entrusted to him or which shall come into his 
possession, and which was intended to be conveyed by mail, or carried 
or delivered by any carrier or other employee of the Postal Service, or 
forwarded through or delivered from any post office or station thereof 
established by authority of the Postmaster General or the Pdstal Serv-
ice, shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than five 
years, or both.". 
(B) Subsection (b) of section 1703 is amended by striking out the 
phrase "postmaster or Postal Service employee" wherever it appears 
and inserting in lieu thereof "Postal Service officer or employee". 
(17) Section 1704 is amended by inserting "or the Postal Service" 
after the words "Post Office Department" wherever they appear. 
(18) Section 1707 is amended by striking out "Post Office Depart-
ment" and inserting in lieu thereof "Postal Service". 
(19) (A) Section 1709 is amended to read as follows: 
"§ 1709. Theft of mail matter by officer or employee 
"Whoever, being a Postal Service officer or employee, embezzles any 
letter, postal card, package, bag, or mail, or any article or thing con-
tained therein entrusted to him or which comes into his possession 
intended to be conveyed by mail, or carried or delivered by any car-
rier, messenger, agent, or other person employed in any department 
of the Postal Service, or forwarded through or delivered from any post 
office or station thereof established by authority of the Postmaster 
General or of the Postal Service; or steals, abstracts, or removes from 
any such letter, package, bag, or mail, any article or thing contained 
therein, shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more 
than five years, or both.". 
(B) The analysis of chapter 83 is amended by striking out— 
"1709. Theft of mail matter by postmaster or employee." 
and inserting in lieu thereof— 
"1709. Theft of mail matter by officer or employee.". 
(20) Section 1710 is amended by striking out "postmaster or Postal 
Service employee" and inserting in lieu thereof "Postal Service officer 
or employee". 
(21) Section 1711 is amended— 
(A) by striking out the phrase "postmaster or Postal Service 
employee" and inserting in lieu thereof "Postal Service officer or 
employee"; 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
779 
(B) by striking out "Post Office Department" and inserting in 
lieu thereof "Postal Service"; 
(C) by striking out "postmaster" wherever it appears in the 
second piaragraph and inserting in lieu thereof "Postal Service 
officer or emplovee"; and 
(D) by striking out "Postmaster General" wherever appearing 
in section 1711, and inserting in lieu thereof "Postal Service", 
^
g y*|^* ^^°[^ 
(22) Section 1712 is amended— 
(A) by striking out the phrase "postmaster or Postal Service 
employee" and inserting in lieu thereof "Postal Service officer or 
employee"; 
(B) by striking out "Post Office Department" and inserting in 
lieu thereof "Postal Service"; 
(C) by striking out "postmaster or employee" in the second 
paragraph and inserting in lieu thereof "Postal Service officer 
or employee"; and 
(D) by striking out "postmaster or other person" in the second 
paragraph and inserting in lieu thereof "officer or employee". 
(23) Section 1713 is amended by striking out "a postmaster or other 
person employed in any branch of the Postal Service" and inserting in 
lieu thereof "an officer or employee of the Postal Service". 
(24) Section 1715 is amended— 
(A) by striking out "Postmaster General" wherever appear-
ing therein and inserting in lieu thereof "Postal Service"; and 
(B) by striking out "postmaster, letter carrier, or other person 
in" and inserting in lieu thereof "officer or employee of". 
(25) (A) The second, third, and fourth paragraphs of section 1716 ^^ ^t^** ^^• 
are amended to read as follows: 
"The Postal Service may permit the transmission in the mails, under 
such rules and regulations as it shall prescribe as to preparation and 
packing, of any such articles which are not outwardly or of their own 
force dangerous or injurious to life, health, or property. 
"The Postal Service is authorized and directed to permit the trans- ^^.\Y^ scorpions, 
mission in the mails, under regulations to be prescribed by it, of live ""^^ *"^* 
scorpions which are to be used for purposes of medical research or for 
the manufacture of antivenom. Such regulations shall include such 
provisions with respect to the packaging of such live scorpions for 
transmission in the mails as the Postal Service deems necessary or 
desirable for the protection of Postal Service personnel and of the 
public generally and for ease of handling by such personnel and by 
any individual connected with such research or manufacture. Nothing 
contained in this paragraph shall be construed to authorize the trans-
mission in the mails of live scorpions by means of aircraft engaged 
in the carriage of passengers for compensation or hire. 
"The transmission in the mails of poisonous drugs and medicines 
may be limited by the Postal Service to shipments of such articles from 
the manufacturer thereof or dealer therein to licensed physicians, sur-
geons, dentists, pharmacists, druggists, cosmetologists, barbers, and 
veterinarians under such rules and regulations as it shall prescribe.". 
(B) Section 1716 is amended— 
(i) by striking out "Postmaster General" wherever else appear-
ing therein and inserting in lieu thereof "Postal Service"; 
(ii) by striking out "letter carrier" in the first paragraph and 
inserting in lieu thereof "officer or employee of the Postal Serv-
ice"; and 
(iii) by striking out "postmaster, letter carrier, or other person in 
the postal service" in the seventh paragraph and inserting in lieu 
^^ ^*^'' ^^^* 
thereof "officer or employee of the Postal Service". 
62 Stat. 783. 
780 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
18 ijsc ?n6A 
(^^) ^^ction 1716A is amended by striking out "section 4010'* and 
inserting in lieu thereof "section 3002". 
62 Stat. 782. 
^£7) Sectiou 1717(b) is amended by striking out "of the United 
States". 
(28) Section 1718 is amended by striking out "Postmaster General" 
and inserting in lieu thereof "Postal Service". 
70 Stat. 784. 
(gQ) Sectiou 1721 is amended— 
(A) by striking out "postmaster or postal service employee" and 
inserting in lieu thereof "Postal Service officer or employee"; 
(B) by striking out the phrase "Post Office Department" wher-
ever it appears and inserting in lieu thereof "Postal Service"; 
(C) by striking out "postmaster or other person" and inserting 
in lieu thereof "officer or employee"; and 
(D) by striking out "the postmaster or any employee of a post 
office or station or branch thereof" and inserting in lieu thereof 
"any such officer or employee". 
(30) Section 1722 is amended by striking out "any postmaster or 
to the Post Office Department or any officer of the Postal Service" 
and inserting in lieu thereof "the Postal Service or to any officer or 
employee of the Postal Service". 
(31) Section 1723 is amended by striking out "the Postmaster Gen-
eral" and inserting in lieu thereof "a duly authorized officer of the 
Postal Service". 
(32) Section 1724 is amended to read as follows: 
"§ 1724. Postage on mail delivered by foreign vessels 
"Except as otherwise provided by treaty or convention the Postal 
Service may require the transportation by any steamship of mail 
between the United States and any foreign port at the compensation 
fixed under authority of law. Upon refusal by the master or the com-
mander of such steamship or vessel to accept the mail, when tendered 
by the Postal Service or its representative, the collector or other officer 
of the port empowered to grant clearance, on notice of the refusal afore-
said, shall withhold clearance, until the collector or other officer of the 
port is informed by the Postal Service or its representative that the 
master or commander of the steamship or vessel has accepted the mail 
or that conveyance by his steamship or vessel is no longer required by 
the Postal Service". 
(33) Section 1725 is amended by striking out "Postmaster General" 
and inserting in lieu thereof "Postal Service.". 
(34) Section 1729 is amended by striking out "Postmaster General" 
and inserting in lieu thereof "Po=tal Service". 
(35) Section 1730 is amended by striking out "Postmaster General" 
and inserting in lieu thereof "Postal Service". 
(36) (A) Section 1733 is amended to read as follows: 
'^§1733. Mailing periodical publications without prepayment of 
postage 
"Whoever, except as permitted by law, knowingly mails any peri-
odical publication without the prepayment of postage, or, being an 
officer or employee of the Postal Service, knowingly permits any peri-
odical publication to be mailed without prepayment of postage, shall 
be fined not more than $1,000, or imprisoned not more than one year, 
or both.". 
(B) The analysis of chapter 83 is amended by striking out— 
"1733. AfiBdavits relating to second-class mail." 
and inserting in lieu thereof— 
"1733. Mailing periodical publications without prepayment of postage.". 
8 2 Stat. 396. 
74 Stat. 705. 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
781 
(87) (A) Chapter 83 is further amended by adding at the end thereof 7/813*^707,^' 
the following: new sections: 
706. 
* 
18 u s e 1691. 
"§ 1735. Sexually oriented advertisements 
1734. 
"(a) Whoever— 
"(1) willfully uses the mails for the mailing, carriage in the 
mails, or delivery of any sexually oriented advertisement in vio-
lation of section 3010 of title 39, or willfully violates any regula- 
^"'e, p. 749. 
tions of the Board of Governors issued under such section; or 
"(2) sells, leases, rents, lends, exchanges, or licenses the use of, 
or, except for the purpose expressly authorized by section 3010 of 
title 39, uses a mailing list maintained by the Board of Gover-
nors under such section; 
shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than five 
years, or both, for the first offense, and shall be fined not more than 
$10,000 or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both, for any second 
or subsequent offense. 
"(b) For the purposes of this section, the term 'sexually oriented 
advertisement' shall have the same meaning as given it in section: 
3010(d) of title 39. 
"§ 1736. Restrictive use of information 
"(a) No information or evidence obtained by reason of compliance 
by a natural person with any provision of section 3010 of title 39, or 
regulations issued thereunder, shall, except as provided in subsection 
(c) of this section, be used, directly or indirectly, as evidence against 
that person in a criminal proceeding. 
"(b) The fact of the performance of any act by an individual in 
compliance with any provision of section 3010 of title 39, or regula-
tions issued thereunder, shall not be deemed the admission of any fact, 
or otherwise be used, directly or indirectly, as evidence against that 
person in a criminal proceeding, except as provided in subsection (c) 
of this section. 
"(c) Subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall not preclude the 
use or any such information or evidence in a prosecution or other 
action under any applicable provision of law with respect to the fur-
nishing of false information. 
"§ 1737. Manufacturer of sexually related mail matter 
"(a) Whoever shall print, reproduce, or manufacture any sexually 
related mail matter, intending or knowing that such matter will be 
deposited for mailing or delivery by mail in violation of section 3008 
or 3010 of title 39, or in violation of any regulation of the Postal 
Service issued under such section, shall be fined not more than $5,000 
or imprisoned not more than five years, or both, for the first offense, 
and shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than 
ten years, or both, for any second or subsequent offense. 
"(b) As used in this section, the term 'sexually related mail matter' 
means any matter which is within the scope of section 3008(a) or 
3010(d) of title 39.". 
(B) The table of contents of such chapter is amended by adding at 
the end thereof the following new items: 
"1735. Sexually oriented advertisements. 
"1736. Restrictive use of information. 
"1737. Manufacturer of sexually related mail matter.". 
(38) (A) Section 3061 is amended— 
82 stat. 998. 
(i) by striking out the section heading and inserting in lieu 
thereof the following: 
782 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
"§ 3061. Powers of postal personnel"; 
(ii) by striking out of subsection (a) the words "postal in-
spectors may, to the extent authorized by the Postmaster Gen-
eral—" and inserting in lieu thereof "officers and employees of the 
Postal Service performing duties related to the inspection of 
postal matters may, to the extent authorized by the Board of 
Governors—"; and 
(iii) by striking out of subsection (b) the words "postal serv-
ice" and inserting m lieu thereof "Postal Service, including prop-
erty of the Postal Service,". 
(B) The analysis of chapter 203 is amended by striking out— 
"3061. Powers of postal inspectors." 
and inserting in lieu thereof— 
"3061. Powers of postal personnel.". 
(k) Section 1(d) of the Act of June 8, 1938 (52 Stat. 631), as 
amended (66 Stat. 250; 22 U.S.C. 611(d)), is further amended by 
striking out "file with the Postmaster General a sworn statement in 
compliance with section 2 of the Act of August 24, 1912 (37 Stat. 
553), as amended", and inserting in lieu thereof, "file with the United 
States Postal Service information in compliance with section 3611 of 
title 39, United States Code". 
Repeals. 
(1) (1) The sixth subdivision of section 7 of the Act of July 31,1894 
(28 Stat. 206; 31 U.S.C. 72 Fifth), and the second proviso of section 
10 of the Act of August 24, 1912 (37 Stat. 559; 31 U.S.C. 72 Fifth) 
are repealed. 
(2) Section 1 of the Act of March 6,1946 (60 Stat. 31), as amended 
(31 U.S.C. 129), is further amended by inserting after "Postmaster-
General," the following: "the United States Postal Service,". 
(3) Section 1302 of the Act of July 27,1956, as amended (31 U.S.C. 
75 s° ^^^I'le^^' 
724a), is further amended by adding the following sentence thereto: 
"Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, judgments 
against the United States arising out of activities of the United States 
Postal Service shall be paid by the Postal Service out of any funds 
available to it.". 
Repeal. 
(4) Sectloii 1 of the Act of September 30, 1890 (26 Stat. 511; 31 
U.S.C. 1028) is hereby repealed. 
(m)(l) Section 411(f) of the Public Buildings Act of 1949, as 
amended (68 Stat. 520; 40 U.S.C. 356(f)), is further amended by 
striking: out in the third proviso "section 205 of the Post Office Depart-
ment Property Act of 1954" and inserting in lieu thereof "section 
2003 of title 39, United States Code". 
(2) Item (15) of section 602(d) of the Act of June 30, 1949 (63 
79 Stat. 1303. 
g^^t. 401), as amended (40 U.S.C. 474(15)) is further amended to 
read as follows: 
"(15) The TTnited States Postal Service;". 
(3) Section 16 of the Act of September 9, 1959 (73 Stat. 483; 40 
U.S.C. 615) is amended to i-ead as follows: 
"SEC. 16. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit or repeal— 
" (1) existing authorizations for the leasing of buildings by and 
for the General Services Administration; or 
"(2) the authority conferred by law on the United States 
Postal Service.". 
(4) The third proviso of section 3 of the Act of August 10,1939 (50 
Stat. 479), as amended (40 TT.S.C. 723), is further amended by striking 
out "insofar as such loss, destruction, or damage may be adjusted by 
the Postmaster General under the provisions of the Act of March 17, 
1882, as amended (I^.S.C. 1934 edition, title 39, sec. 49)", and inserting 
in lieu thereof the following: "insofar as such loss, destruction, or 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
783 
damage relates to property of the United States Postal Service charge-
able to its officers or employees". 
(5) Section 3a of the Government Tosses in Shipment Act as added 
by section 2 of the Act of August 10, 1939 (53 Stat. 1358; 40 U.S.C. 
724), is amended (A) by striking out the colon immediately preceding 
the proviso and inserting a period in lieu thereof; and (B) by striking 
out the proviso. 
(n) Section 602(i) of the Act of August 20, 1964 (78 Stat. 529; 42 
U.S.C. 2942(i)), is amended by striking out "section 4154 of title 39, 
United States Code" and inserting in lieu thereof "section 3204 of title 
39, United States Code". 
(o) Whenever any reference is made in any provision of law (other 
than this Act or a provision of law amended by this Act), regulation, 
rule, record, or document to the Post Office Department, the Postal 
Service, the postal field service, the field postal service, or the depart-
mental service or departmental headquarters of the Post Office De-
partment, such reference shall be considered a reference to the United 
States Postal Service. Any reference to any officer or employee of the 
Post Office Department, the Postal Service, the postal field service, 
the field postal service, or the departmental service or departmental 
headquarters of the Post Office Department shall be deemed a reference 
to the appropriate officer or employee of the United States Postal 
Service. 
(p) Whenever reference is made in any provision of law (other 
than this Act or provision of law amended by this Act), regulation, 
rule, record, or document to a postal inspector or chief postal inspector 
of the Post Office Department, such reference shall be deemed to be a 
i*eference to the appropriate officer or employee of the United States 
Postal Service who performs duties related to the inspection of postal 
matters. 
(q) Whenever reference is made in any law to title 39, United 
States Code, or provision of that title, as such title or provision existed 
prior to the effective date of this section, that reference shall be con-
sidered a reference to the appropriate provision of title 39, as amended 
by section 2 of this Act, unless no such provision is included therein. 
STUDY o r PRIVATE CARRIAGE OF MAIL 
SEC. 7. The Congress finds that advances in communications tech-
nology, data processing, and the needs of mail users require a com-
plete study and thorough reevaluation of the restrictions on the pri-
vate carriage of letters and packets contained in chapter 6 of title 39, 
United States Code (as enacted by section 2 of this Act), and sections 
^"'«' P* ^27. 
1694-1696 of title 18, United States Code, and the regulations estab- 
^2 stat. 776. 
lished and administered under these laws. The Board of Governors of 
Reports to 
the TTnited States Postal Service shall submit to the President and congU^s". ^" 
the Congress within 2 years after the effective date of this section a -
renort and recommendation for the modernization of these provisions 
of law, and such regulations and administrative practices. 
TRANSFER OF POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT 
PERSONNEL 
SEC. 8. Officers and employees of the Post Office Department shall 
become officers and employees of the I^'^nited States Postal Service on 
the effective date of this section. The provisions of this section shall 
not applv to persons occupying the positions of Postmaster General, 
Deputy Postmaster General, Assistant Postmasters General, General 
Counsel, or Judicial Officer. This section shall not be construed, how-
ever, to prohibit the appointment of such persons to positions in the 
Postal Service. 
Retroactive 
compensation. 
784 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
COMPENSATION 
OF EMPLOYEES 
SEC. 9. (a) The Postmaster General, under regulations made by 
him, shall increase the rates of basic pay or compensation of employees 
in the Post Office Department so that such rates will equal, as nearly 
as practicable, 108 percent of the rates of basic pay or compensation 
in effect immediately prior to the date of enactment of this Act. Such 
increases shall take effect on the first day of the first pay period which 
begins on or after April 16,1970. 
(b) Retroactive pay, compensation, or salary shall be paid by rea-
son of this Act only in the case of an individual in the service of the 
United States (including service in the Armed Forces of the United 
States) on the date of enactment of this Act, except that such retro-
active pay, compensation, or salary shall be paid— 
(1) to an officer or employee who retired, during the period 
beginning on the first day of the first pay period which began on 
or after April 16, 1970, and ending on the date of enactment of 
this Act, for services rendered during such period; and 
(2) in accordance with subchapter VIII of chapter 55 of title 
80 Stat. 495; 
5^ United States Code, relating to settlement of accounts, for 
^^^us^c 5
5
8
^
1
*
. 
services rendered, during the period beginning on the first day of 
the first pay period which began on or after April 16, 1970, and 
ending on the date of enactment of this Act, by an officer or em-
ployee who died during such period. 
Such retroactive pay, compensation, or salary shall not be considered 
as basic pay for the purposes of subchapter III of chapter 83 of title 
sa^statfVae!^' 
^' United States Code, relating to civil service retirement, or any 
5 use 833*1. 
other retirement law or retirement system, in the case of any such 
retired or deceased officer or employee. 
(c) For the purposes of this section, service in the Armed Forces 
of the United States, in the case of an individual relieved from train-
ing and service in the Armed Forces of the United States or dis-
charged from hospitalization following such training and service, shall 
include the period provided by law for the mandatory restoration of 
such individual to a position in or under the Government of the United 
States. 
(d) For purposes of determining the amount of insurance for which 
an individual is eligible under chapter 87 of title 5, United States 
81 stat.^*2i9, ' 
Code, relating to group life insurance for Government employees, all 
646. 
changes in rates of pay, compensation, and salary which result from 
5 use 8701. 
^j^^ enactment of this section shall be held and considered to become 
effective as of the date of such enactment. 
(e) No rate of basic pay or compensation, in excess of the rate of 
basic pay for GS-18 of the General Schedule in section 5332 of title 5, 
Ante, p. 198-1. "[jnited States Code, shall be paid by reason of the enactment of this 
section. 
LABOR AGREEMENTS 
SEC. 10. (a) As soon as practicable after the enactment of this Act, 
the Postmaster General and the labor organizations which as of the 
effective date of this section hold national exclusive recognition rights 
granted by the Post Office Department, shall negotiate an agreement 
or agreements covering wages, hours, and working conditions of the 
employees represented by such labor organizations. The parties shall 
commence bargaining for such agreement or agreements not later 
than 30 days following delivery of a written request therefor by a 
labor organization to the Postmaster General or by the Postmaster 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
785 
General to a labor organization. Any agreement made pursuant to 
this section shall continue in force after the commencement of opera-
tions of the United States Postal Service in the same manner and to 
the same extent as if entered into between the Postal Service and rec-
ognized collective-bargaining representatives under chapter 12 of title 
39, United States Code. 
An^e, p. 733. 
(b) Any agreement negotiated under this section shall establish a 
new wage schedule whereunder postal employees will reach the maxi-
mum pay step for their respective labor grades after not more than 8 
years of satisfactory service in such grades. The agreements shall 
provide that where an employee had sufficient satisfactory service in 
the pay step he occupied on the effective date of this section to have 
qualified for advancement to the next highest pay step under the new 
wage schedule, had such schedule been in effect throughout the period 
of such service, the employee shall be advanced to such next highest 
pay step in the new schedule on the effective date of the new schedule. 
(c) An agreement made under this section shall become effective at 
any time after the commencement of bargaining, in accordance with 
the terms thereof. The Postmaster General shall establish wages, hours, 
and working conditions in accordance with the terms of any agreement 
or agreements made under this section notwithstanding the provisions 
of any law other than title 39. 
(d) If the parties fail to reach agreement wdthin 90 days of the com-
mencement of collective bargaining, a fact-finding panel will be estab-
lished in accordance with the terms of section 1207(b) of title 39, 
LTnited States Code, unless the parties have previously agreed to 
Ante, p. 73s, 
another procedure for a binding resolution of their differences. If 
the parties fail to reach agreement within 180 days of the commence-
ment of collective bargainmg, and if they have not agreed to another 
procedure for binding resolution, an arbitration board shall be estab-
lished to provide conclusive and binding arbitration in accordance 
with the terms of section 1207 (c) of such title. 
(e) Agreements made pursuant to this section and expenditures 
made under such agreements shall not be subject to the provisions of 
section 3679 of the Revised Statutes, as amended (31 U.S.C. 665). 
(f) For the purposes of this section, references to title 39 and sec-
tions of title 39 are references to title 39, United States Code, as 
enacted by section 2 of this Act. 
SEPARABILITY AND LEGISLATIVE 
CONSTRUCTION 
SEC. 11. (a) If a part of title 39, United States Code, as enacted 
by section 2 of this Act, is held invalid, the remainder of such title 
shall not be affected thereby; and if any other part of this Act is 
held to be invalid, the remainder of the Act shall not be affected 
thereby. 
(b) An inference of a legislative construction is not to be drawn by 
reason of a chapter in title 39, United States Code, as enacted by sec-
tion 2 of this Act, in which a section is placed nor by reason of the 
caption or catchline. 
TRANSITIONAL EXPENSES 
SEC. 12. Expenses of the United States Postal Service and the 
Postal Rate Commission, established under section 2 of this Act, 
from the date of enactment of this Act until the date of commence-
ment of operations of the Postal Service and the Commission, shall 
be deemed to be necessary expenses of the administration of the Post 
Office Department as now constituted. 
786 
PUBLIC LAW 91-375-AUG. 12, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
Ante, 
p. 728. 
80 Stat. 417. 
5 u s e 3301 
et 
seq. 
Political test, 
prohibition. 
74 Stat. 610. 
Exception. 
APPOINTMENT OF POSTMASTERS AND OTHER EMPLOYEES ON MERIT BASIS 
SEC. 13. (a) Between the date of enactment of this Act and the 
date on which the Board of Governors of the United States Postal 
Service determines that section 1001 of title 39, United States Code 
(as enacted by section 2 of this Act), is effective, the Postmaster 
General shall appoint postmasters at offices of all classes in the com-
petitive civil service by one of the three following methods which 
shall be applied in the following order of precedence: 
(1) by selection of a qualified employee serving at the post 
office where the vacancy occurs, including an acting postmaster 
who was serving on January 1,1969, who shall acquire a compet-
itive status upon being appointed postmaster; 
(2) if no qualified employee serving at the post office where the 
vacancy occurs is available for, and willing to accept, appointment 
by the method described in subparagraph (1), by selection of a 
qualified employee serving in the postal field service; or 
(3) if no qualified employee is available for, and willing to ac-
cept, appointment by the methods described in subparagraph (1) 
or (2), by competitive examination in accordance with the provi-
sions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments m the 
competitive service. 
Enactment of this subsection shall not affect the status or tenure 
of postmasters in office on the date of enactment of this Act. 
(b) (1) In the selection, appointment, and promotion of employees 
of the Post Office Department between the date of enactment of this 
Act and the date on which the Board of Governors of the Postal 
Service determines that former section 3311 of title 39, United States 
Code, is no longer effective, no political test or qualification shall be 
permitted or given consideration, and all such personnel actions shall 
be taken on the basis of merit and fitness. Any officer or employee of 
the Post Office Department who violates this subsection shall be 
removed from office or otherwise disciplined in accordance with proce-
dures for disciplinary action established pursuant to law. 
(2) This subsection does not apply to the selection and appointment 
of officers whose appointment is vested in the President, by and with 
the advice and consent of the Senate, or to the selection, appointment, 
or promotion to a position designated by the Civil Service Commis-
sion as a position of a confidential or policy-determining character 
or as a position to be filled by a noncareer executive assignment. 
INVASION o r PRIVACY BY MAILING OF SEXUALLY ORIENTED 
ADVERTISEMENTS 
SEC. 14. (a) The Congress finds— 
(1) that the United States mails are being used for the in-
discriminate dissemination of advertising matter so designed and 
so presented as to exploit sexual sensationalism for commercial 
gain; 
(2) that such matter is profoundly shocking and offensive to 
many persons who receive it, unsolicited, through the mails; 
(3) that such use of the mails constitutes a serious threat to 
the dignity and sanctity of the American home and subjects 
many persons to an unconscionable and unwarranted intrusion 
upon their fundamental personal right to privacy; 
(4) that such use of the mail reduces tne ability of responsible 
parents to protect their minor children from exposure to material 
which they as parents believe to be harmful to the normal and 
healthy ethical, mental, and social development of their children; 
and 
84 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-376-AUG. 12, 1970 
787 
(5) that the traffic in such offensive advertisements is so large 
that individual citizens will be helpless to protect their privacy 
or their families without stronger and more effective Federal con-
trols over the mailing of such matter, 
(b) On the basis of such findings, the Congress determines that it is 
contrary to the public policy of the United States for the facilities and 
services of the United States Postal Service to be used for the distribu-
tion of such materials to persons who do not want their privacy in-
vaded in this manner or to persons who wish to protect their minor 
children from exposure to such material. 
EFFECTIVE DATES 
SEC. 15. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, 
this section and sections 9 through 13 of this Act, and sections 202, 
203, 205 (b) and (c), 206, and 401(2), and subchapter I of chapter 
36 of title 39, United States Code, as enacted by section 2 of this Act, 
shall become effective on the date of enactment of this Act. Except 
as otherwise provided in this Act, the other provisions of this Act 
shall become effective within 1 year after the enactment of this Act on 
the date or dates established therefor by the Board of Governors 
and published by it in the Federal Eegister. References to the Postal 
Service in any provision of this Act (other than a provision referred 
to in the first sentence of this subsection) which becomes effective 
before the Postal Service commences operations shall be held and 
considered to refer to the Post Office Department until the Postal 
Service commences operations. 
(b) Sections 3010 and 3011 of title 39, United States Code, as 
enacted by section 2 of this Act, and sections 1735, 1736, and 1737 of 
title 18, United States Code, as enacted by section 6(j) of this Act, 
shall become effective on the first day of the sixth month which begins 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
Approved August 12, 1970. 
Ante, PP- 784, 
720, 722, 758. 
Publication in 
Federal Register. 
Ante, p . 749, 
Ante, p . 781. 
Public Law 91-376 
AN A C T 
August 12, 1970 
To amend title 38. I'nited States Code, to increase the rates of compensation 
[s. 3348] 
for disabled veterans, and for other purposes. 
increase. 
82 Stat. 808. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United /States of America in Congress assembled, That (a) section ofsabuity 
cl4 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— 
compensation, 
(1) by striking out "$23" in subsection (a) and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$25''; 
(2) by striking out "$43'' in subsection (b) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$46"; 
(3) by striking out "$65" in subsection (c) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$70"; 
(4) by striking out "$89" in subsection (d) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$96'^; 
(5) by striking out "$122" in subsection (e) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$135"; 
(6) by striking out "$147" in subsection (f) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$163";