117 HR 3076 IH: Postal Service Reform Act of 2021
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-05-11
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents(a)This Act may be cited as the Postal Service Reform Act of 2021
. (b)The table of contents of this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.Title I—Postal Service Financial ReformsSec. 101. Postal Service Health Benefits Program.Sec. 102. USPS Fairness Act.Sec. 103. Nonpostal services.Title II—Postal Service Operational ReformsSec. 201. Performance Targets and Transparency.Sec. 202. Integrated delivery network.Sec. 203. Review of postal service cost attribution guidelines.Sec. 204. Rural newspaper sustainability.Sec. 205. Funding of postal regulatory commission.Sec. 206. Flats operations study and reform.Sec. 207. Reporting requirements.Sec. 208. Postal service transportation selection policy revisions.Sec. 209. USPS Inspector General oversight of Postal Regulatory Commission.<enum>I</enum><header>Postal Service Financial Reforms</header><section id="HEEEB29106BDE49D19F80B9D324A5CEE3"><enum>101.</enum><header>Postal Service Health Benefits Program</header><subsection id="H0A84D7EDA62E47AB8ACF40A7B5BECE5D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><paragraph id="HFA1A8D4C4C434F9D92710FD01AF02404"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/89">Chapter 89</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/8903b">section 8903b</external-xref> the following:</text><quoted-block id="H0BA3DA9A1F52489291AF5149F60D5201" style="USC"><section id="H4833A7279808421BBE3AA945C9B01B97"><enum>8903c.</enum><header>Postal service health benefits program</header><subsection id="H2F525CB5E5A84211B6A95EAF9F4D154E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section—</text><paragraph id="H6F65379D180543599B1E2C26FA0FF0FB"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the term <term>covered Medicare individual</term> means an individual who is entitled to benefits under Medicare part A, but excluding an individual who is eligible to enroll under such part under section 1818 or 1818A of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395i-2">42 U.S.C. 1395i–2</external-xref>, 1395i–2a);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H37EED489D45D49D8BDEAF44220D31005"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the term <term>initial contract year</term> means the contract year beginning in January of 2023;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H7F361480BC6C4AE59CD4C7F4BCB48674"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the term <term>initial participating carrier</term> means a carrier that enters into a contract with the Office to participate in the Postal Service Health Benefits Program during the initial contract year;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H99006B9038F24E6D91E3E19874109256"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the term <term>Medicare part A</term> means part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395c">42 U.S.C. 1395c</external-xref> et seq.);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H1B33C8DB98AB4566A43B97607D54A864"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the term <term>Medicare part B</term> means part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395j">42 U.S.C. 1395j</external-xref> et seq.); </text></paragraph><paragraph id="H6453C134ED7A40A9867881B2C8524815"><enum>(6)</enum><text>the term <term>Office</term> means the Office of Personnel Management;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H24E4FE5133C74747A3931076F4E9770B"><enum>(7)</enum><text>the term <term>Postal Service</term> means the United States Postal Service;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HBC04E0EDF025464B914EDD58D3B3C63C"><enum>(8)</enum><text>the term <term>Postal Service annuitant</term> means an annuitant enrolled in a health benefits plan under this chapter whose Government contribution is paid pursuant to the requirements of section 8906(g)(2);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H199D3815AF0143468D8B1154A53881CC"><enum>(9)</enum><text>the term <term>Postal Service employee</term> means an employee of the Postal Service enrolled in a health benefits plan under this chapter whose Government contribution is paid by the Postal Service;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H377EBE5F3F804CD78FC26960589505B1"><enum>(10)</enum><text>the term <term>Postal Service Medicare covered annuitant</term> means an individual who—</text><subparagraph id="H6FB0E028875943FA901F82DF4499569B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is a Postal Service annuitant; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC15D324C03AA47E283CB6289B07223AE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is a covered Medicare individual;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H6CB6078934FE4266A4971EFD5156B39D"><enum>(11)</enum><text>the term <term>Program</term> means the Postal Service Health Benefits Program established under subsection (c) within the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HA895A2DF0D1D433FBC30376EF6026F4F"><enum>(12)</enum><text>the term <term>Program plan</term> means a health benefits plan offered under the Program; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HC741E56EBAC5495DA8541E8BDC398C0E"><enum>(13)</enum><text>the terms set forth in section 8901 shall apply.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1007F4D873BA42A38AC17BD4828CC237"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Application</header><text>The requirements under this section shall—</text><paragraph id="HFAD40DC74D5543EE8F4D71A4FF95B30A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>apply to the initial contract year and each contract year thereafter; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB2D9DFAA0EAB4EFA848669E1B5497D55"><enum>(2)</enum><text>supersede any other provision of this chapter inconsistent with such requirements, as determined by the Office of Personnel Management.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H9C5044C5C9544CE8AD25977B7C36FC93"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Establishment of the Postal Service Health Benefits Program</header><paragraph id="H68B7E93D5CBE460B8D60D3D3FCB83227"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Office shall establish the Postal Service Health Benefits Program under which the Office contracts with carriers to offer health benefits plans as described under this section. Except as otherwise provided in this section, any such contract shall be consistent with the requirements of this chapter for contracts under section 8902 with carriers to offer health benefits plans other than under this section. The Program shall—</text><subparagraph id="HCBED1543D0594B53B41E74BC91B3A54D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to the greatest extent practicable, include plans offered by—</text><clause id="HD0FDB12A956545CDB78D21FF08DC45C2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>each carrier for which the total enrollment in the plans provided under this chapter includes, in the contract year beginning in January 2022, 1,500 or more enrollees who are Postal Service employees or Postal Service annuitants; and</text></clause><clause id="H24DF1738914F46D5ACE41090B755B23D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any other carrier determined appropriate by the Office;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H29742A770B9E4172B44A15C0DAE94638"><enum>(B)</enum><text>be available for participation by Postal Service employees and Postal Service annuitants, in accordance with subsection (d);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H348B5C394AD842BFAFACE8E35A4C92B4"><enum>(C)</enum><text>provide for enrollment in a plan as an individual, for self plus one, or for self and family; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H51DAA2B52B814A4A89A278C6A822050C"><enum>(D)</enum><text>not be available for participation by an individual who is not a Postal Service employee or Postal Service annuitant (except as a member of family of such an employee or annuitant or as provided under paragraph (5)).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HDB4554ECD7FC488FBDBF0503C8F36024"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Separate Postal Service risk pool</header><text>The Office shall ensure that each Program plan includes rates that reasonably and equitably reflect the cost of benefits provided to a risk pool consisting solely of Postal Service employees, Postal Service annuitants, and covered members of family of such employees and annuitants (regardless of the health plan, coverage, or benefit program in which such an employee, annuitant, or member of family is enrolled), taking into specific account the change in benefits cost for the Program plan due to the Medicare enrollment requirements under subsection (e) and any savings or subsidies resulting from subsection (f).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H97EECB7312074001803826E3CA7FD171"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Actuarially equivalent coverage</header><text>The Office shall ensure that each carrier participating in the Postal Service Health Benefits Program provides coverage under the Program plans offered by the carrier that is actuarially equivalent, as determined by the Office, to the coverage that the carrier provides under the health benefits plans offered by the carrier under this chapter that are not Program plans.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H69793A3E392A469BA973EBFD98642FBB"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Applicability of federal employees health benefits program requirements</header><text>Except as otherwise set forth in this section, all provisions of this chapter applicable to health benefits plans offered by carriers under section 8903 or 8903a shall apply to plans offered under the Program.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H697E464558724C37ACFDD4D04E3EDD25"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Application of continuation coverage</header><text>In accordance with rules established by the Office, section 8905a shall apply to health benefits plans offered under this section in the same manner as such section applies to other health benefits plans offered under this chapter.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H4B1F290682274545A60D91A3560F1E6C"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Election of coverage</header><paragraph id="H8DE52B1E5BBA478E822869CB482E6951"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), each Postal Service employee and Postal Service annuitant who elects to receive health benefits coverage under this chapter—</text><subparagraph id="HCAF9C952ED984B47A89F9B0DED55F3F6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall be subject to the requirements of this section; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7542142AAA9F4C199715B05FD38A3619"><enum>(B)</enum><text>may not enroll in any other health benefits plan offered under any other section of this chapter.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H9677B061055748FB99561F4857BF5A97"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exceptions</header><subparagraph id="H1690F8462E494FA0AB7CE8CF3604B640"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Lack of geographic coverage</header><text>An individual who is a Postal Service employee or Postal Service annuitant may enroll in a health benefits plan offered under any other section of this chapter if the individual resides in a geographic area for which there is not a Program plan in which the individual may enroll. </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H65B012F3E13F4F49A0AEA0F91C116555"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Annuitants as of program inception</header><clause id="H8B0AD0481F7B487FA010314C0BBF3EE4"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Current medicare covered annuitants</header><subclause id="HD01F6330B97248299874FDF08B3084A1"><enum>(I)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to subclause (II), in the case of an individual who, as of January 1, 2023, is a Postal Service Medicare covered annuitant who has not enrolled in both Medicare part A and Medicare part B, such individual may enroll in a health benefits plan offered under any other section of this chapter, and may not enroll in a Program plan.</text></subclause><subclause id="H8FE1F4C5AD3A4E89AA09E43D2CB9E4C3"><enum>(II)</enum><header>Program plan enrollment following Medicare parts A and B enrollment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of an individual described in subclause (I) who subsequent to January 1, 2023, is enrolled in both Medicare part A and Medicare part B, beginning with the first contract year beginning after the date such individual is enrolled in both Medicare part A and Medicare part B, subclause (I) shall no longer apply to such individual and such individual may receive health benefits under this chapter only through a Program plan.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H975E2545765F45F1A135C676D514A31F"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Pre-medicare annuitants</header><subclause id="H2BCE92CA77BD480F934178EA85ADABA9"><enum>(I)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to subclause (II), an individual who, as of January 1, 2023, is a Postal Service annuitant and is not a Postal Service Medicare annuitant (for a reason other than eligibility to enroll in Medicare part A under section 1818 or 1818A of the Social Security Act) may enroll in either a Program plan or in a health benefits plan offered under any other section of this chapter.</text></subclause><subclause id="H4CCDF1C7EE7C4C9CB35F8167FF96F50F"><enum>(II)</enum><header>Exception</header><text>In the case of an individual described in subclause (I) who enrolls in a Program plan for any contract year beginning on or after the date on which the individual becomes a Postal Service Medicare covered annuitant, beginning with such contract year, subclause (I) shall no longer apply to the individual and the individual may receive health benefits under this chapter only through enrollment in a Program plan.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H145DB4F803DE4140BB3264A3F56FC71B"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Certain employees as of program inception</header><clause id="H9F128B69FEB04AFABAE4B8A2774B2B8F"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Legacy coverage</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A Postal Service employee who is enrolled in a health benefits plan under this chapter for the contract year immediately preceding the initial contract year that is not a health benefits plan offered by an initial participating carrier may enroll in either a Program plan or in a health benefits plan offered under any other section of this chapter, except that—</text><subclause id="H88688579510A41978CFEC6209A14119B"><enum>(I)</enum><text>if the Postal Service employee changes enrollment to a different health benefits plan under this chapter during the open season for the initial contract year, or after the start of the initial contract year, the Postal Service employee may only enroll in a Program plan;</text></subclause><subclause id="H4E72A4EB233546AABCF72E70A16E655F"><enum>(II)</enum><text>if the health benefits plan in which such employee is enrolled for such contract year becomes available as a Program plan, the Postal Service employee may only enroll in a Program plan; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H009B1229594B40FFB6AA35ED1A58EA34"><enum>(III)</enum><text>upon becoming a Postal Service annuitant, if the Postal Service employee elects to continue coverage under this chapter, the Postal Service employee shall enroll in a Program plan during the open season that is—</text><item id="HCB6C10E3520041DE82C1728F13F51C45"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>being held when the Postal Service employee becomes a Postal Service annuitant; or</text></item><item id="H26C0FCB2FAF448A58E46F8EADFB6678F"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>if the date on which the Postal Service employee becomes a Postal Service annuitant falls outside of an open season, the first open season following that date.</text></item></subclause></clause><clause id="H7FF7FA182F054465A5223766BA48C48A"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Current employees aged 64 and over</header><subclause id="HD42F326C16DC40E396A2C335C221A551"><enum>(I)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to subclause (II), an individual who, as of January 1, 2023, is a Postal Service employee and is at least 64 years of age may enroll in either a Program plan or in a health benefits plan offered under any other section of this chapter.</text></subclause><subclause id="H9948EAEC6BC848778492A04994787DFA"><enum>(II)</enum><header>Exception</header><text>In the case of an individual described in subclause (I) who enrolls in a Program plan for any contract year beginning on or after the date on which the individual becomes a Postal Service Medicare covered annuitant, beginning with such contract year, subclause (I) shall no longer apply to the individual and the individual may receive health benefits under this chapter only through enrollment in a Program plan.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H05DC961FD3194A50962F98CF5A02422B"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Certain other annuitants</header><clause id="HB3FC92A699F541AD99F375114A4471B0"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Annuitants and family members excluded from premium-free Medicare part A</header><subclause id="H3E636BB970414A05BF53BC6C4593B28D"><enum>(I)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to subclause (II), a Postal Service annuitant who is eligible to enroll in Medicare Part A under section 1818 or 1818A of the Social Security Act may enroll in either a Program plan or in a health benefits plan offered under any other section of this chapter if the annuitant—</text><item id="HE3BB64E512B24A798244E6B216FD8358"><enum>(aa)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is eligible to enroll in Medicare part A under section 1818 or 1818A of the Social Security Act; or</text></item><item id="H40C2F3D1108A49768E5E2025AA0AA157"><enum>(bb)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">includes in the annuitant’s plan enrollment one or more family members who are eligible to enroll in Medicare part A under section 1818 or 1818A of such Act.</text></item></subclause><subclause id="H7181D2FF26A74F7D9E37560CD8B36AF2"><enum>(II)</enum><header>Exception</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of an annuitant described in subclause (I) who enrolls in a Program plan for any contract year beginning on or after the date on which the annuitant or any member of family covered by the enrollment becomes eligible to enroll in Medicare part A, beginning with such contract year, subclause (I) shall no longer apply to the annuitant and the annuitant may receive health benefits under this chapter only through enrollment in a Program plan.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H860E7F06745943C9B09479B379C97089" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Limited or redundant coverage</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An individual who is a Postal Service annuitant may enroll either in a Program plan (subject to subsection (e) of this section and to sections 226(j) and 1837(o)(2) of the Social Security Act) or in a health benefits plan offered under any other section of this chapter for any contract year in which the annuitant or member of family covered by the enrollment, respectively, is a covered Medicare individual and—</text><subclause id="HFC1A2C06B49244729790F1CBF69AB72B"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the annuitant or family member, respectively, resides in an area where the Office has determined that no Medicare providers are available;</text></subclause><subclause id="H54A6369062304DCA89905DFDA0893B65"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the annuitant receives comprehensive medical coverage provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs under subchapter II of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/17">chapter 17</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code; or</text></subclause><subclause id="H2CCBCEE641064493BE9A83E4B4726DE4"><enum>(III)</enum><text>the annuitant receives comprehensive medical coverage provided by the Indian Health Service under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/1601">25 U.S.C. 1601</external-xref> et seq.).</text></subclause></clause><clause id="HF1AC220388C848D198FDEE8448B805EA"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Office shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Postmaster General, promulgate any regulations necessary to implement this subparagraph.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HC6B2BB7CDC76486CBFA4F2CF3C87F9EA"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Requirement of medicare enrollment for certain annuitants and their family members</header><paragraph id="HBDD7E5DEB251439AA9FEBC0969270077"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Annuitants</header><text>Except as provided under subsection (d)(2), a Postal Service Medicare covered annuitant may not enroll under a Program plan unless the annuitant is enrolled in both Medicare part A and Medicare part B.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HE4E88A202BBD46A39D72EA59B3E092C3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Medicare covered family members</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of a Postal Service annuitant who is required under this subsection to enroll in Medicare part A and Medicare part B to enroll under the Program, if a member of family of such Postal Service annuitant is a covered Medicare individual or is eligible to enroll in Medicare Part A under section 1818 or 1818A of the Social Security Act, that member of family may not enroll under the Program as a member of family of the Postal Service annuitant unless that member of family is enrolled in both Medicare part A and Medicare part B. </text></paragraph><paragraph id="H8A2BA2FE308841D7914C54E488AEED94"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Process for coordinated election of Medicare enrollment</header><text>The Office shall establish a process under which—</text><subparagraph id="HB834F0946B1548CE936F325084EA4127"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Postal Service annuitants and members of family who are subject to the requirements of paragraph (1) or (2)—</text><clause id="H7A7C2CFE2CCB4F039F3090C6F942E6AE"><enum>(i)</enum><text>are informed, prior to enrollment under this section, of such requirement; and</text></clause><clause id="HA6C7AD9470994FA5AA5E601E963CA11A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>receive requests for any additional information necessary for enrollment in writing; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H08BB27F6DB454B13A215FB11F3C4EB33"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Office provides the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Commissioner of Social Security in a timely manner with such information with respect to such annuitants and members of family and such election as may be required to effect their enrollment and coverage under Medicare part A and Medicare part B and this section in a timely manner, including to effect deemed enrollments, if applicable under sections 226(j) and 1837(o) of the Social Security Act, for such continuous period as such annuitant or member of family involved otherwise maintains eligibility for enrollment under Medicare part A and Medicare part B, to have elected to be enrolled under such part (in accordance with such sections) in connection with the enrollment in a Program plan under this section.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H2CFBA97C1F89403C9C7A148478A76416"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Medicare coordination</header><paragraph id="HB294032D4BBC41CCB6381C5C1A2FDF86"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Office shall require each Program plan to provide benefits for covered Medicare individuals (and individuals eligible to enroll in Medicare part A pursuant to section 1818 or 1818A of the Social Security Act) pursuant to the same coordination of benefits method used in connection with plans offered under any other section of this chapter.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H591952DFEAB64F91A287B6CF33ED7A98"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Medicare part d prescription drug benefits</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Office shall require each Program plan to provide prescription drug benefits to any Postal Service annuitant and member of family of such annuitant who is a part D eligible individual (as defined in section 1860D–1(a)(3)(A) of the Social Security Act) through employment-based retiree health coverage (as defined in section 1860D–22(c)(1) of such Act) through a prescription drug plan (as defined in section 1860D–41(a)(14) of such Act).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HCDBE685A166948DD8FDF1DD8C51F8C63"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Postal service contribution</header><paragraph id="H632FDF81F5D64BA68B96FF703C82B6C5"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to subsection (i), for purposes of applying section 8906(b) to the Postal Service, the weighted average shall be calculated in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H05EC544EB2C0420FBA3144465CFFC494"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Weighted average calculation</header><text>Not later than October 1 of each year (beginning with 2022), the Office shall determine the weighted average of the rates established pursuant to subsection (c)(2) for Program plans that will be in effect during the following contract year with respect to—</text><subparagraph id="H84B29EA64BD343829975E8F12B4DA342"><enum>(A)</enum><text>enrollments for self only;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFBA2EFC10E7048B3B9228B26537E6271"><enum>(B)</enum><text>enrollments for self plus one; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H67530A25875343C88945392C42581F51"><enum>(C)</enum><text>enrollments for self and family.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HED3DB92EF9BE4A1C9DB597BADE2A7B1C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Weighting in computing rates for initial contract year</header><text>In determining such weighted average of the rates for the initial contract year, the Office shall take into account (for purposes of section 8906(a)(2)) the enrollment of Postal Service employees and annuitants in the health benefits plans offered by the initial participating carriers as of March 31, 2022.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5A64594A4D3D4495BE189D2E4CA7605B"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Reserves</header><paragraph id="H992005A3AF0A430E8156786668083A45"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Separate reserves</header><subparagraph id="H23BEE55261644B28A2F8E43BA0BC2304"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Office shall ensure that each Program plan maintains separate reserves (including a separate contingency reserve) with respect to the enrollees in the Program plan in accordance with section 8909. All provisions of section 8909 relating to contingency reserves shall apply to contingency reserves of Program plans in the same manner as to those of other plans under this chapter, except to the extent that such provisions are inconsistent with the requirements of this subsection.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBE9AF8226A95457A8399BDD5A90FA779"><enum>(B)</enum><header>References</header><text>For purposes of the Program, each reference to <quote>the Government</quote> in section 8909 shall be deemed to be a reference to the Postal Service.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H05CA958952284F94A7105E78113EF084"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Amounts to be credited</header><text>The reserves (including the separate contingency reserve) maintained by each Program plan shall be credited with a proportionate amount of the funds in the reserves for health benefits plans offered by the carrier.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H16C441467B3445C9B042D53D31EAB539"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Discontinuation of program plan</header><text>In applying section 8909(e) relating to a Program plan that is discontinued, the Office shall credit the separate Postal Service contingency reserve maintained under paragraph (1) for that plan only to the separate Postal Service contingency reserves of the Program plans continuing under this chapter.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE3102C15FDA14F9BADE48329D3E2CBA0"><enum>(i)</enum><header>No effect on existing law</header><text>Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting section 1005(f) of title 39 regarding variations, additions, or substitutions to the provisions of this chapter.</text></subsection><subsection id="HAE395F14A6B145C784DD902E1243EF40"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Health benefits education program</header><paragraph id="HFE9F6BCB39794F238C7DD2023CD17E52"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Postal Service shall establish a Health Benefits Education Program. Under the Program, the Postal Service shall—</text><subparagraph id="H3B1D0E3A007A44CABC60A2AC0C5023D1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>notify annuitants and employees of the Postal Service about the Postal Service Health Benefits Program established under subsection (c)(1);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H95C2F8038C404A9D80B4AB79B5763BE5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provide information regarding the Postal Service Health Benefits Program to such annuitants and employees, including a description of the health care options available under such Program, the enrollment provisions of subsection (d), and the requirement that annuitants and their family members be enrolled in Medicare under subsection (e); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2F402A2A194A4E58AFFDB5501CEAC503"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in coordination with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Commissioner of Social Security, respond and provide answers to any inquiry from such employees and annuitants about the Postal Service Health Benefits Program or Medicare enrollment.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H0A0C057EB9E142D6AB12B944118D7FB9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The Office shall timely provide the Postal Service with such information as the Postal Service determines to be necessary to conduct the Medicare Education Program.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="HDFB23CA4EA0F44C38255A878B9DA35AF"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Technical and conforming amendments</header><subparagraph id="H710820DF75F14FE79101E0719B35D8FE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Section 8903(1) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>two levels of benefits</quote> and inserting <quote>2 levels of benefits for enrollees under this chapter generally and 2 levels of benefits for enrollees under the Postal Service Health Benefits Program established under section 8903c</quote>.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0386F34B95824A0E8F1ADABEECA4997E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The table of sections for <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/89">chapter 89</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/8903b">section 8903b</external-xref> the following:</text><quoted-block id="H6B5354E7BD574FE4B35156A600C1F7E1" style="USC"><toc regeneration="no-regeneration"><toc-entry level="section">8903c. Postal Service Health Benefits Program.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE3DD8E6B3D324967AB62F9FD283F1937"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Coordination with Medicare</header><paragraph id="HE1A9283A08D24FD3B815941ADD9D80F3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Medicare part A</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 226 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/426">42 U.S.C. 426</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: </text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H4D2209B198CE4C1B84475EFBB932F821" display-inline="no-display-inline"><subsection id="H2EC729AB52274517AD4C4C44C78D66A3"><enum>(j)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H3D7310A8CF444665839E7E5428C0DCEE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>In the case of an individual who—</text><subparagraph id="HCBE9678D95A5453FA2ABFCD54EDD079C" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">on or after January 1, 2023, is—</text><clause id="H35E59F447FAC4C10826EF6E408594FAB"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a Postal Service employee;</text></clause><clause id="HB42A83DBB5864735BD9BF989EF04F518"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a Postal Service annuitant who is not a Postal Service Medicare covered annuitant; or</text></clause><clause id="H4D5E09AC075342C9A4D4E6EA22777670"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a member of family of a Postal Service employee or of a Postal Service annuitant and who is not described in section 1837(o)(1) of this Act; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H883242DCD8F1432D9816AF73F779CDB4"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">enrolls in a Program plan under section 8903c of title 5, United States Code, </text></subparagraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="paragraph">such individual is deemed to be enrolled under this part, regardless of whether such individual has filed an application under subparagraph (A) or (C) of subsection (a)(2). </continuation-text></paragraph><paragraph id="H25EF5C6D390A4A2495F500DE568F44A1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Entitlement to hospital benefits under part A by reason of paragraph (1) begins as of—</text><subparagraph id="H6CA18642A6374717B5D3B1FFE6DE1CFC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the case of an individual who is a Postal Service employee or a Postal Service annuitant who is eligible to become a Postal Service Medicare covered annuitant, the date on which the individual becomes a Postal Service Medicare covered annuitant or the date of enrollment in a Program plan, whichever is later; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8DB7B859A96D435D8F829782153B5D19"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the case of an individual who is eligible to enroll under section 1818 or 1818A, the date on which the individual attains such eligibility or the date of enrollment in a Program plan whichever is later; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H922BBB60D1A7483E9FAB2BE3B6009213"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the case of an individual who is described in paragraph (1)(A)(iii) and is eligible to become a covered Medicare individual, as of the first date the individual becomes a covered Medicare individual or the date of enrollment in a Program plan, whichever is later.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HE7AD999FDF97462CBCCC84E63ED64DD5"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The definitions in section 8903c(a) of title 5, United States Code, shall apply for purposes of this subsection.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF51D1A94B78F42CD97460FC1602BE2DB"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to deprive any individual of any other method or period of enrollment to which such individual is entitled under this section.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="H0B1672E58CF74A6BA2001CB9311B8D18"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Medicare part B</header><subparagraph id="H054DF45882DB4980BD421C165C57A840"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Enrollment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1837 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395p">42 U.S.C. 1395p</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text><quoted-block id="H4D72747BC6814DC19B98C95B17B91411" style="OLC"><subsection id="H89E791EEDCE04CEEA6A1C51512014543"><enum>(o)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H7280CFA24E58443798F3F7F3FBFC9891"><enum>(1)</enum><text>In the case of an individual who—</text><subparagraph id="HB08916E2F457492C9DA8DA0250416753"><enum>(A)</enum><text>as of January 1, 2023, is—</text><clause id="HF8F78EBDFE71428BB6B1C32DF4CBDCB1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a Postal Service Medicare covered annuitant; or</text></clause><clause id="HBFBD97D3BA164E358483C9C985BE9D54"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a member of family of a Postal Service employee or of a Postal Service annuitant and is a covered Medicare individual;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1407B6AA1CD7418096C479EA93380262"><enum>(B)</enum><text>intends to enroll in a Program plan under section 8903c of title 5, United States Code, for the initial contract year; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H667D960590F04C2E8BD02D42C99CCECB"><enum>(C)</enum><text>is not enrolled under this part, </text></subparagraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="paragraph">the individual may elect to be enrolled under this part during a special enrollment period during the 3-month period beginning on January 1, 2023. </continuation-text></paragraph><paragraph id="H7FA8F133CFBE4FBC89EFB4FBD3808723"><enum>(2)</enum><text>In the case of an individual who—</text><subparagraph id="H810769EEA3AA4CFE98A1717D29C30356"><enum>(A)</enum><text>on or after January 1, 2023, is—</text><clause id="H898E70C705A44060AE7EDD850CCACF71"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a Postal Service employee;</text></clause><clause id="H429ACA56DC4E488B813901D391941072"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a Postal Service annuitant who is not a Postal Service Medicare covered annuitant; or</text></clause><clause id="HE336566FD53A4E4FA5DF7FFB7E76E0F8"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>a member of family of a Postal Service employee or of a Postal Service annuitant and who is not described in paragraph (1); and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6B2CC5BB40454658811403A155F5BB96" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text>enrolls in a Program plan under section 8903c of title 5, United States Code;</text></subparagraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="paragraph">the individual shall be deemed to have enrolled in the medical insurance program established by this part. </continuation-text></paragraph><paragraph id="H4848B091EA6946D89640D77F048EF37A"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The definitions in section 8903c(a) of title 5, United States Code, shall apply for purposes of this subsection.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H407A3F46B174480EB14B25DA2F01BA96"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to deprive any individual of any other method or period of enrollment to which such individual is entitled under this section.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H83482DB7FF4D4EADA0E572CD225E7924" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Coverage periods</header><text>Section 1838 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395q">42 U.S.C. 1395q</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="HCECB74BA227549A0AC6BA6E864EAD0CD" display-inline="no-display-inline"><subsection id="H6CE03D5FFFCF44719EFAF7B893C48727" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding subsection (a)—</text><paragraph id="H643BE645B4E544A4ACD2D29AC4759ADB" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the case of an individual who enrolls under this part pursuant to a special enrollment period under paragraph (1) of section 1837(o), the coverage period under this part shall begin on the date that the individual first has coverage under the Program plan pursuant to the enrollment described in paragraph (1)(B) of such section; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H2E34B93FA4914404872FD4759A92ACDF" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the case of an individual who is deemed enrolled under paragraph (2) of section 1837(o), the coverage period under this part shall begin as of—</text><subparagraph id="HBD4780AC37A34705BB500CB220B72D21" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the case of such an individual who is a Postal Service employee or a Postal Service annuitant who is eligible to become a Postal Service Medicare covered annuitant, the date on which the individual becomes a Postal Service Medicare covered annuitant or the date of enrollment in a Program plan, whichever is later;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H44D354C979CD4D2FAA531DF9595A34CD" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the case of such an individual who is eligible to enroll under section 1818 or 1818A of this Social Security Act, the date on which the individual attains such eligibility or the date of enrollment in a Program plan, whichever is later; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFEB71E8313DD472D88E26DEF2488A966" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the case of an individual described in paragraph (2)(A)(i)(III) of such section who is eligible to become a covered Medicare individual, as of the first date the individual becomes a covered Medicare individual or the date of enrollment in a Program plan, whichever is later.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H881267086AD244E697AE46813F9E773A"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Part D EGWP contracting conforming amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1860D–22(b) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-132">42 U.S.C. 1395w–132(b)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting before the period at the end the following: <quote>, and shall be applied in a manner to facilitate the offering of prescription drug benefits under a Program plan under section 8903c of title 5, United States Code, through employment-based retiree health coverage through a prescription drug plan, as required under subsection (f) of such section, through contracts between such a Program plan and such a prescription drug plan</quote>. </text></paragraph><paragraph id="H0EAD0BA271A2461CA8BE275BD40733CD"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Waiver of increase of Medicare part B premium</header><text>Section 1839(b) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395r">42 U.S.C. 1395r(b)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after <quote>subsection (i)(4) or (l) of section 1837</quote> the following: <quote>or pursuant to the special enrollment period under subsection (o)(1) of such section</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H6065552FAE5F4B92B0015C5895DEE879"><enum>102.</enum><header>USPS Fairness Act</header><subsection id="H722829B09B0642A8A11E8A5A7EAD5302"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Short title</header><text>This section may be cited as the <quote><short-title>USPS Fairness Act</short-title></quote>.</text></subsection><subsection id="H092CF0B2629D4859AEFF719AA43A23D6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Rational benefits funding and accounting</header><paragraph id="H849C82D27C0C4F888B95DAFA1A4A66D2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 8909a of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block id="HB870174258DD4CF6B561DFA6BEAED5DB" style="OLC"><subsection id="H4A67F26B57C4422F8173386A4EBDD7B9"><enum>(d)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H3E89338302C24907934548BD892ACEAE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Not later than June 30, 2024, and by June 30 of each succeeding year, the Office shall compute, for the most recently concluded fiscal year, the difference between—</text><subparagraph id="H1D843437A1254B38A5C9779B11B48DD1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any Government contributions required to be paid from the Fund under section 8906(g)(2)(A); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE2294BBB72B140C78499D53C6B5B2D69"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the net claims costs under the enrollment of the individuals described in section 8906(g)(2)(A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H8F4EC434AC974455B994A1988D16CDC1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Not later than September 30 of each year in which the Office makes a computation under paragraph (1), the United States Postal Service shall pay into the Fund the difference computed in such paragraph.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HF8201905C9BC42AA81CCDF12A94227BF"><enum>(e)</enum><text>Any computation of the liability of the Fund required by law shall be based on—</text><paragraph id="HFA2D66F05667488CA971E1B179E84EAF"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the net present value of the future net claims costs with respect to—</text><subparagraph id="H8B1846FA8EA64CFBB3CA95F2F837EDE1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>current annuitants of the United States Postal Service as of the end of the fiscal year ending on September 30 of the relevant reporting year; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H73B3E6E42EE844F3B27537E24D8320F6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>current employees of the United States Postal Service who would, as of September 30 of that year,—</text><clause id="H71AB338291614916BD2C348BE0AF96D3"><enum>(i)</enum><text>be eligible to become annuitants pursuant to section 8901(3)(A); and</text></clause><clause id="H97DDAF6456F54C7386B2D312C470C0BD"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>if they were retired as of that date, meet the criteria for coverage of annuitants under section 8905(b);</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HCC8BF9CAFFAB40619D408E4F5BD586E5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>economic and actuarial methods and assumptions consistent with the methods and assumptions used in determining the Postal surplus or supplemental liability under section 8348(h); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H4F126230F2964E39B3809169FF100DF4"><enum>(3)</enum><text>any other methods and assumptions, including a health care cost trend rate, that the Director of the Office determines to be appropriate.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H50EF3D5094534EA090B994539DD100D0"><enum>(f)</enum><text>After consultation with the United States Postal Service, the Office shall promulgate any regulations the Office determines necessary under this subsection.</text></subsection><subsection id="H8E3F9CDA1F974744AC1D7C889D53063A"><enum>(g)</enum><text>For purposes of this section, the term <term>net claims costs</term> shall mean the difference between—</text><paragraph id="H864E0481C3C2466C88A0706FC88E1C29"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the sum of—</text><subparagraph id="H7FD32DE581304C09B3EA81DADADC26DE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the costs incurred by a carrier in providing health services to, paying for health services provided to, or reimbursing expenses for health services provided to, annuitants of the United States Postal Service and any other persons covered under the enrollment of such annuitants; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3F1F7C9764B24871AF35ADB948DBAA9E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an amount of indirect expenses reasonably allocable to the provision, payment, or reimbursement described in subparagraph (A), as determined by the Office; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H6B4EB2AE62D54300B7627A5472146846"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the amount withheld from the annuity of or paid by annuitants of the United States Postal Service under section 8906.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="H73A7CDC5AE4E4635A882854707CC5762"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The heading of section 8909a of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote><header-in-text level="section" style="USC">Benefit</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="section" style="USC">Benefits</header-in-text></quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HA89D456B9A5D418689D74A978151B457"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Application</header><paragraph id="H356710C8ABCF4050A04B09208C7FF5B4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Cancellation of payments</header><text>Any payment required from the Postal Service under section 8909a of title 5, United States Code, as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act that remains unpaid as of such date of enactment is canceled.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H6E30512784274661A954BD5F38916BDB"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Effect of this Act</header><text>In any determination relating to the future liability for retiree health benefits of the United States Postal Service or the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund, the Office of Personnel Management shall take into account the actual and reasonably expected effects of this Act.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H85CF86129C71498489C332D1519DD025"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Use of funds from sale of real property for certain payments</header><paragraph id="H4812DD59394A46978A4D2A8FED8877A6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/39/29">Chapter 29</external-xref> of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block id="H1B90204A1A024D41BB244F935AD1B556" style="USC"><section id="HC396B6A6D8EE429B95E0453D90DC6A29"><enum>2903.</enum><header>Use of funds from sale of property</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In the event that the Postal Service permanently ceases operations, any funds derived from the sale of any real property owned by the Postal Service shall be used to pay any outstanding liability with respect to the salaries and expenses of any Postal Service employee. The balance of any remaining funds shall be deposited into the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund established under section 8909a of title 5.</text></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="HC751331316724B89A5747A842748B1D9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text>The table of sections of such chapter is amended by adding after the item relating to section 2902 the following new item:</text><quoted-block id="H50CB23B9D32E48688A61ADD631EF10F7" style="USC"><toc regeneration="no-regeneration"><toc-entry level="section">2903. Use of funds from sale of property.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H94B22855E0BC43E390C95A2EFF688444"><enum>103.</enum><header>Nonpostal services</header><subsection id="H33966AC7173E4866AB9DB1E9F4275851"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Nonpostal services</header><paragraph id="H05ADD5C7D041453A9675D4EC72612CC2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Part IV of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding after chapter 36 the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA22C07FC1C104120BA63E716BD5D4CB5" style="USC"><chapter id="H1819005B04574F56AE6B0E520510C137"><enum>37</enum><header>Nonpostal Services</header><toc container-level="chapter-container" idref="H1819005B04574F56AE6B0E520510C137" lowest-bolded-level="division-lowest-bolded" lowest-level="section" quoted-block="no-quoted-block" regeneration="yes-regeneration"><toc-entry idref="H7CADABEAD4774E00BA44D8C625D9BDB3" level="section">Sec. </toc-entry><toc-entry idref="H7CADABEAD4774E00BA44D8C625D9BDB3" level="section">3701. Purpose. </toc-entry><toc-entry idref="HDF099E00576D4311AC5E58355065AD75" level="section">3702. Definitions. </toc-entry><toc-entry idref="HA5D6FF46290041B0A4F6F6DBB1229140" level="section">3703. Postal Service program for State governments. </toc-entry><toc-entry idref="HB1F4B18DA91045B0B6AF699CAC80C3E9" level="section">3704. Postal Service program for other Government agencies. </toc-entry><toc-entry idref="H8F5CC4AE64E343D7B894A9DB50F75411" level="section">3705. Transparency and accountability for nonpostal services.</toc-entry></toc><section id="H7CADABEAD4774E00BA44D8C625D9BDB3"><enum>3701.</enum><header>Purpose</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The purpose of this chapter is to enable the Postal Service to increase its net revenues through specific nonpostal products and services that are expressly authorized by this chapter. Postal Service revenues and expenses under this chapter shall be funded through the Postal Service Fund.</text></section><section id="HDF099E00576D4311AC5E58355065AD75"><enum>3702.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this chapter—</text><paragraph id="H2338BDF57FD743CBB2DC181C6F2B8CA7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the term <term>nonpostal services</term> is limited to services offered by the Postal Service that are expressly authorized by this chapter and are not postal products or services;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HFC2659B21D0540958E4EC876939CAA5A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the term <term>attributable costs</term> has the meaning given such term in section 3631; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HA75F624968AD43FC807301D46E98490E"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the term <term>year</term> means a fiscal year.</text></paragraph></section><section id="HA5D6FF46290041B0A4F6F6DBB1229140"><enum>3703.</enum><header>Postal Service program for State governments</header><subsection commented="no" id="H2924ADD85F1A41F7B0ACDF5A72BC1578"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the Postal Service may establish a program to enter into agreements with an agency of any State government, local government, or tribal government to provide property and services on behalf of such agencies for non-commercial products and services, but only if such property and services—</text><paragraph commented="no" id="HC49D8006B3134C79BB7FD4EBE5C9DF37"><enum>(1)</enum><text>provide enhanced value to the public, such as by lowering the cost or raising the quality of such services or by making such services more accessible;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H9BAFAD59118D4E39ACECD3B2FECD6A13"><enum>(2)</enum><text>do not interfere with or detract from the value of postal services, including—</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="HD989DABE91D64D7B94F4701A928B1298"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the cost and efficiency of postal services; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H925AFB3381BB4D2F99CE6949493C4701"><enum>(B)</enum><text>unreasonably restricting access to postal retail service, such as customer waiting time and access to parking; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HCE79B4157FAC43A7A04E4BF4CBE2F9CB"><enum>(3)</enum><text>provide a reasonable contribution to the institutional costs of the Postal Service, defined as reimbursement that covers at least 100 percent of attributable costs of all property and services provided under each relevant agreement in each year.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H22F5EF18AB75487498B13CCCA72D23A4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Public notice</header><text>At least 90 days before offering a service under the program, the Postal Service shall make available to the public on its website—</text><paragraph id="H8A7E99641E494DE5931E414FFCC5133F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the agreement with the agency regarding such service; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H8B8BBDCDA9764C31B4F8809BDE5905BF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a business plan that describes the specific service to be provided, the enhanced value to the public, terms of reimbursement, the estimated annual reimbursement to the Postal Service, and the estimated percentage of attributable Postal Service costs that will be covered by reimbursement (with documentation to support the estimates).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1BE46B58354F4F80AB25EBFA1AC743BB"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Public comment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Before offering a service under the program, the Postal Service shall provide for a public comment period of at least 30 days that allows the public to post comments relating to the provision of such services on the Postal Service website. The Postal Service shall make reasonable efforts to provide written responses to the comments on such website at least 30 days before offering such services.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H32A4F4113EF84905806CB80AFB73B4D3"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Approval required</header><text>The Postal Service may not establish the program under subsection (a) unless the Governors of the Postal Service approve such program by a recorded vote that is publicly disclosed on the Postal Service website with a majority of the total Governors voting for approval.</text></subsection><subsection id="H11DEBC77C4C74777810047AA6B60E97C"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Application of reporting requirements</header><text>For purposes of the reporting requirements under section 3705, the Postal Service shall submit a separate report for each agreement with an agency entered into under subsection (a) analyzing the costs, revenues, rates, and quality of service for the provision of all services under such agreement, including information demonstrating that the agreement satisfies the requirements of paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a).</text></subsection><subsection id="HC1354F81E5C844C68F5FC1FC0068BFD2"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Regulations required</header><text>The Postal Regulatory Commission shall issue such regulations as are necessary to carry out this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="HB48B88D7E19F4A468F06C6BC83136D9D"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>For the purpose of this section—</text><paragraph id="H8B4E42C6E0314D8891C194E016EEFC7E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the term <term>local government</term> means a county, municipality, city, town, township, local public authority, school district, special district, intrastate district, council of governments, or regional or interstate government entity;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H6B918DEB673548DCAEA8E75152FDE6BB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the term <term>State government</term> includes the government of the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H8B4D5D7687584BF6AE920354374AD20B"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the term <term>tribal government</term> means the government of an Indian tribe, as that term is defined in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/450b">25 U.S.C. 450b(e)</external-xref>); and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HB895849B8FB04FEBB5AD903924AA7640"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the term <term>United States</term>, when used in a geographical sense, means the States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HC64BEF85CB164F08BE5F6989D88498ED"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Confidential information</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsection (b) or (c) shall not be construed as requiring the Postal Service to disclose to the public any information—</text><paragraph id="HC8EA977175CD46FEBE8B5123AD2BE82A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>described in section 410(c); or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H95DB5F14CF3C4376A553321FF7173F3C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>exempt from public disclosure under section 552(b) of title 5.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HB1F4B18DA91045B0B6AF699CAC80C3E9"><enum>3704.</enum><header>Postal Service program for other Government agencies</header><subsection id="H0BB474C6FFE743DB83ABA950C1B5A774"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Postal Service may establish a program to provide property and services to other Government agencies within the meaning of section 411, but only if such program provides a reasonable contribution to the institutional costs of the Postal Service, defined as reimbursement by each agency that covers at least 100 percent of the attributable costs of all property and service provided by the Postal Service in each year to such agency.</text></subsection><subsection id="H9AC60E1BC9774953BEE3C448F572553B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Application of reporting requirements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of the reporting requirements under section 3705, the Postal Service shall submit a separate report for each agreement with an agency entered into under subsection (a) analyzing the costs, revenues, rates, and quality of service for the provision of all services under such agreement, including information demonstrating that the agreement satisfies the requirements of subsection (a).</text></subsection></section><section id="H8F5CC4AE64E343D7B894A9DB50F75411"><enum>3705.</enum><header>Transparency and accountability for nonpostal services</header><subsection id="H86EFE41E4D574154B8A259BC79889B57"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Annual report to the Commission</header><paragraph commented="no" id="H7C56FBBE644E4E0B8D6E98A66D9D5A4C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the last day of each year, the Postal Service shall submit to the Postal Regulatory Commission a report that analyzes costs, revenues, rates, and quality of service for each agreement for the provision of property and services under this chapter, using such methodologies as the Commission may prescribe, and in sufficient detail to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of this chapter.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HFF2AE509BFA149F89D718E4D7B1E39A1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Supporting matter</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include any nonpublic annex, the working papers, and any other supporting matter of the Postal Service and the Inspector General related to the information submitted in such report.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HD938882AD445410CA0BE47290B84935B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Content and form of report</header><paragraph id="HA5233E1B619548118CB1183104B7717E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Postal Regulatory Commission shall, by regulation, prescribe the content and form of the report required under subsection (a). In prescribing such regulations, the Commission shall give due consideration to—</text><subparagraph id="H55E270D4E20D44B4B10AE74A0AD0D5A1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>providing the public with timely, adequate information to assess compliance;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB42C781F15904CB9B271AD8E2A7CBE9C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>avoiding unnecessary or unwarranted administrative effort and expense on the part of the Postal Service; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAD6DC5D6ABE64F7AB8114CD2816AC0C4"><enum>(C)</enum><text>protecting the confidentiality of information that is commercially sensitive or is exempt from public disclosure under section 552(b) of title 5.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H9673AF1CFF8D4A289808D66447BE157F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Revised requirements</header><text>The Commission may, on its own motion or on request of any interested party, initiate proceedings to improve the quality, accuracy, or completeness of Postal Service data required by the Commission if—</text><subparagraph id="HD8BFC40E40D6433A852E84EB5A76FCAA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the attribution of costs or revenues to property or services under this chapter has become significantly inaccurate or can be significantly improved;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9B589E75E9184B08A301E858F7072ABC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the quality of service data provided to the Commission for a report under this chapter has become significantly inaccurate or can be significantly improved; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF9DEF8F5CE844DD99E2032E181410146"><enum>(C)</enum><text>such revisions are, in the judgment of the Commission, otherwise necessitated by the public interest.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H9A9EA431FC9344F99E10E6CB2AFA463E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Audits</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Inspector General shall regularly audit the data collection systems and procedures used in collecting information and preparing the report required under subsection (a). The results of any such audit shall be submitted to the Postal Service and the Postal Regulatory Commission.</text></subsection><subsection id="H95818E4907954992A24ACD2FDF929203"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Confidential information</header><paragraph id="H6830405B3DC34088B48F3BDF92458BED"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>If the Postal Service determines that any document or portion of a document, or other matter, which it provides to the Postal Regulatory Commission in a nonpublic annex under this section contains information described in section 410(c), or exempt from public disclosure under section 552(b) of title 5, the Postal Service shall, at the time of providing such matter to the Commission, notify the Commission of its determination, in writing, and describe with particularity the documents (or portions of documents) or other matter for which confidentiality is sought and the reasons therefor.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H97BF85024AC646B98EEADE272C9966DD"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Treatment</header><text>Any information or other matter described in paragraph (1) to which the Commission gains access under this section shall be subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 504(g) in the same way as if the Commission had received notification with respect to such matter under section 504(g)(1).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB515A4F8B5B143FB9719DD0E24BB5FE8"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Annual compliance determination</header><paragraph id="H82D8ECF0CF0847A3AA3E18A37BD633EE"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Opportunity for public comment</header><text>Upon receiving a report required under subsection (a), the Postal Regulatory Commission shall promptly—</text><subparagraph id="H71BF200FBAC24D52B69227651F31E4A8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>provide an opportunity for comment on such report by any interested party; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD7E9DFB3CC994257B964BBC9D8F5E00C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>appoint an officer of the Commission to represent the interests of the general public.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H91A1F168E6EB47EFBA31CE7D5E430CA8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Determination of compliance or noncompliance</header><text>Not later than 90 days after receiving a report required under subsection (a), the Postal Regulatory Commission shall make a written determination as to whether the nonpostal activities carried out during the applicable year were or were not in compliance with the provisions of this chapter. For purposes of this paragraph, any case in which the requirements for coverage of attributable costs have not been met shall be considered to be a case of noncompliance. If, with respect to a year, no instance of noncompliance is found to have occurred, the determination shall be to that effect. Such determination of noncompliance shall be included with the annual compliance determination required under section 3653.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H648341FDC85B4155BFF8BFAFB3390049"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Noncompliance</header><text>If a timely written determination of noncompliance is made under paragraph (2), the Postal Regulatory Commission shall take appropriate action. If the requirements for coverage of attributable costs specified by this chapter are not met, the Commission shall, within 60 days after the determination, prescribe remedial action to restore compliance as soon as practicable, including the full restoration of revenue shortfalls during the following year. The Commission may order the Postal Service to discontinue a nonpostal service under section 3703 that persistently fails to meet cost coverage requirements.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB486EB595B1F4FC8BB85F6A9138B50BC"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Deliberate noncompliance</header><text>In the case of deliberate noncompliance by the Postal Service with the requirements of this chapter, the Postal Regulatory Commission may order, based on the nature, circumstances, extent, and seriousness of the noncompliance, a fine (in the amount specified by the Commission in its order) for each incidence of such noncompliance. All receipts from fines imposed under this subsection shall be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H52F46AF8E8984CC8B190B2FCC54EC3F2"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Regulations required</header><text>The Postal Regulatory Commission shall issue such regulations as are necessary to carry out this section.</text></subsection></section></chapter><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="HB5D7FA3B4D494095AB3555C289B38EF3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of chapters for part IV of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding after the item relating to chapter 36 the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H09E93692834844D3800889F96A094D21" style="USC"><toc regeneration="no-regeneration"><multi-column-toc-entry bold="on" level="section"><toc-enum>37.</toc-enum><level-header bold="on" level="section">Nonpostal services</level-header><target>3701</target></multi-column-toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H323FD340C4954242B85163E3BA49048F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendments</header><paragraph id="HA84E745691534CEAB02DB9E793A02659"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Section 404</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 404(e) of title 39, United States Code, is amended—</text><subparagraph id="H6BC96F0F0DE34A5DA5FAAFDDDDCDE003"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by inserting after <quote>subsection</quote> the following: <quote>, or any nonpostal products or services authorized by chapter 37</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFD5A4DE9ED83436D8891F1104CA9FA2A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block id="H42B56A4C746C490B9550023630F0DF7B" style="OLC"><paragraph id="HC53709D8662949D2B75DF080E14FB108" indent="up1"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Licensing which, before the date of enactment of this paragraph, has been authorized by the Postal Regulatory Commission for continuation as a nonpostal service may not be used for any purpose other than—</text><subparagraph id="H4FBF8E1202AF4B32A94BF0BF678D69F3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to continue to provide licensed mailing, shipping, or stationery supplies offered as of June 23, 2011; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H10CF2A3759BF4981922AEC6F4BB0BD09"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to license other goods, products, or services, the primary purpose of which is to promote and enhance the image or brand of the Postal Service.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H851F0D06242843D1B0B01B7A36060A8E" indent="up1"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the Postal Service from establishing nonpostal products and services that are expressly authorized by chapter 37.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H6D650548F52B4270BD480C0FA40C80EC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Section 411</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The last sentence of section 411 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>including reimbursability</quote> and inserting <quote>including reimbursability within the limitations of chapter 37</quote>.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HCCC9C11AD3BD4A049CE37CD345E73964"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Treatment of existing nonpostal services</header><text>All individual nonpostal services, provided directly or through licensing, that are continued pursuant to section 404(e) of title 39, United States Code, shall be considered to be expressly authorized by chapter 37 of such title (as added by subsection (a)(1)) and shall be subject to the requirements of such chapter.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HE911AAF015294DFFAE48BE258228C406" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Repeal of certain limitations on experimental products</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3641 of title 39, United States Code, is amended—</text><subparagraph id="HC1C65095A38A4E2C8B41F326001C7B3E" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking subsections (b), (d), and (e); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4D53819443CD4C82A1ED553EDE6BFA22" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by redesignating—</text><clause id="H9495FDC95A3049A7BCF0022DFB476230" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>subsection (c) as subsection (b); and</text></clause><clause id="H6268CE32161240BF94901056764C3D08" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>subsections (f), (g), (h), and (i) as subsections (c), (d), (e), and (f), respectively.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Postal Service Operational Reforms</header><section id="HFFAFAB1872564DDC8C73EEDAF8AA3402"><enum>201.</enum><header>Performance Targets and Transparency</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Subchapter VII of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/39/36">chapter 36</external-xref> of title 39, United States Code, is amended by inserting after <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/39/3691">section 3691</external-xref> the following:</text><quoted-block id="H4FEDD433CBA84F03BD30AC2A3574ADA8" style="USC"><section id="H4B29FEC0F3334743AA85378BB4ACD6BB"><enum>3692.</enum><header>Performance Targets and Transparency</header><subsection id="HA3F4E4ADFAC740B59CBA1C0DBEA43E24" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Performance targets</header><text>Each year, to ensure that mail service for postal customers meets the service standards for market-dominant products, established under section 3691, the Postal Service shall—</text><paragraph id="H367342ACCD4845869F87C155186912C6" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>at least 60 days before the beginning of the fiscal year in which they will apply, establish and provide to the Postal Regulatory Commission reasonable targets for performance; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H80837DE9CA584E0C8E3EB467F9ED90DF" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>provide the previous fiscal years’ performance targets in its Annual Compliance Report to the Postal Regulatory Commission for evaluation of compliance.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H8DD12DD7B3A7450C9483A4D3A95D7F40"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Public performance dashboard</header><paragraph id="H102E13C9303D4508B07EBEDA3C79AFA8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Postal Service shall develop and maintain a publicly available Website with an interactive web-tool that provides performance information of market-dominant products that is updated on a weekly basis.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HD69D78F3E5CA40FB879E85DD671FC51A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Performance information</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The performance information provided on the Website shall include—</text><subparagraph id="HBEF6DEF469A6498985412E7C0CF1262F"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the type of market-dominant product; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H60270BA9996044EAA6A4D87FEF56AE7F"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">geographic area at the nationwide, Area, and District level;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H71A73269005C4C73953A36D457764814"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">time periods showing performance information in annual, quarterly, monthly, and weekly segments; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H199494D9303A4BFEA2C9E59DA7F09D8B"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">comparisons of performance of market-dominant product results for previous time periods to facilitate identification of performance trends; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9C5E7AF5AF674394A4093EAC82B8D324"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the current performance targets and previous fiscal year performance targets, established under subsection (a)(1).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HCB31A80ABEBA488CBF281B447143F68C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Comprehensibility</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Website shall include plain language descriptions of the elements required under paragraph (2) and information on the collection process, measurement methodology, completeness, accuracy, and validity of the performance information provided on the Website.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H3D92FB464F444A5FA55B41A47DB1EE42"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Address search functionality</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Website shall include functionality to enable a user to search for performance information by street address, ZIP Code, or post office box.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HD91E869E899D48AD84D0B3D908289208"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Format</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The performance information provided on the Website shall be made available—</text><subparagraph id="HEA6CC6B5CDE14B379E61B40C5EDD6BE9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in a manner that—</text><clause id="HD0AA8A59C6644DE98F427E54C9022274"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">presents the information referenced under paragraph (2) on an interactive dashboard;</text></clause><clause id="HFB107FD197A8418198603C0E6B8AF8C2"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is searchable and may be sorted and filtered by the elements described in paragraph (2); and</text></clause><clause id="HAA1BA6A5ECDA4CD0B86D4938D48A0C4D"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to the extent practicable, enables any person or entity to download in bulk—</text><subclause id="HEBE9F5131E554B509EF69165591B854D"><enum>(I)</enum><text>such performance information; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H467672B721F24010B65A127753B24C5E"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the results of a search by the elements described in paragraph (2);</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3D75B986CF5748D8BDC559471B937C86"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in an open format that permits any individual or entity to reuse and analyze the performance information; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6EF4A4AD532E4915A549D5B52B7FB425"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in a structured data format, to the extent practicable.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H3C83E731CFAB42E9BA37EFD7FE8A191D"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Postal Service shall regularly consult with the Postal Regulatory Commission on appropriate features and information to be included on the Website.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HDEA682F3E17B403BA0B08C83300CFAB1"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Public input</header><text>The Postal Service shall—</text><subparagraph id="HBA783E223CD24562A717FC16CE613D2D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>solicit public input on the design and implementation of the Website; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7BF9F85F67B04A5BA7C7EE80FD946F55"><enum>(B)</enum><text>maintain a public feedback tool, to ensure features of, and information on, the Website is usable and understandable.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H02161F71C0D74946AD5809ECA1FB0504"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Deadline</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Website shall be implemented and made available to the public not later than the date on which the performance targets are provided to the Postal Regulatory Commission under subsection (a)(1).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HA55B0D9B788342B385A3C384A5357872"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Availability</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A link and plain language description of the Website shall be made available on the website where the performance targets and measurements established under subsection (a)(1) are made available.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HDD8A21B03313421991BC00B6E9C799AB"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Reporting</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The dashboard referred to in paragraph (5)(A)(i) shall be referenced in the Annual Performance Plan under section 2803, the Annual Performance Report under section 2804, and the Annual Report under section 2402.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H8C77E7F4856B492C889F783D1907AD0A"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this subsection—</text><subparagraph id="HBD804BF0E7374D5CABE2109923C85C61"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Performance information</header><text>The term <term>performance information</term> means the objective external performance measurements established under section 3691(b)(1)(D).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8017DFB8DC784C7885F68698DB08DC49"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Website</header><text>The term <term>Website</term> means the website described in paragraph (1).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="H58342F1CAC154E77A586B53DA0CA6328" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>202.</enum><header>Integrated delivery network</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 101(b) of title 39, United States Code, is amended by inserting before <quote>The Postal Service</quote> the following: <quote>The Postal Service shall maintain an integrated network for the delivery of market-dominant and competitive products (as defined in chapter 36 of this title). Delivery shall occur, to the maximum extent practicable, at least six days a week, except during weeks that include a Federal holiday.</quote>.</text></section><section id="H21D7C1DFF9D74BADB36CAB07C934682C"><enum>203.</enum><header>Review of postal service cost attribution guidelines</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Postal Regulatory Commission shall initiate a review of the regulations issued pursuant to sections 3633(a) and 3652(a)(1) of title 39, United States Code, to determine whether revisions are appropriate to ensure that all direct and indirect costs attributable to competitive and market-dominant products are properly attributed to those products, including by considering the underlying methodologies in determining cost attribution and considering options to revise such methodologies. If the Commission determines, after notice and opportunity for public comment, that revisions are appropriate, the Commission shall make modifications or adopt alternative methodologies as necessary.</text></section><section id="H44F3099FD4BE44CDA24D7AEA28432849"><enum>204.</enum><header>Rural newspaper sustainability</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 3626(h) of title 39, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>10 percent</quote> and inserting <quote>50 percent</quote>.</text></section><section id="H7DC6BC3FB0AE4AB982231B7D89406B36"><enum>205.</enum><header>Funding of postal regulatory commission</header><subsection id="HBF21F458937D452CA5373404D4621E05"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subsection (d) of section 504 of title 39, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:</text><quoted-block id="H1C7F1EEC0B2D4D86AFFF86E83F65AF19" style="OLC"><subsection id="H0C5258D476D54BD390D9D43E9580FDE4"><enum>(d)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H607F1BB6D67E4CFDAAB5FD261DE9F82B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Not later than September 1 of each fiscal year (beginning with fiscal year 2022), the Postal Regulatory Commission shall submit to the Postal Service a budget of the Commission’s expenses, including expenses for facilities, supplies, compensation, and employee benefits, for the following fiscal year. Any such budget shall be deemed approved as submitted if the Governors fail to adjust the budget in accordance with paragraph (2).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF81A3046373C4B398F183D25709624B5" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HD5A7279B754F4882B132EF853C94860E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Not later than 30 days after receiving a budget under paragraph (1), the Governors holding office, by unanimous written decision, may adjust the total amount of funding requested in such budget. Nothing in this subparagraph may be construed to authorize the Governors to adjust any activity proposed to be funded by the budget.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1002930729B549A783975F8A06BCAAF0" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>If the Governors adjust the budget under subparagraph (A), the Postal Regulatory Commission shall adjust the suballocations within such budget to reflect the total adjustment made by the Governors. The budget shall be deemed approved on the date the Commission makes any such adjustments. The Commission may make further adjustments to the suballocations within such budget as necessary.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HBD824437E97E4F5B9FB85EE3ACD526E9" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Expenses incurred under any budget approved under this subsection shall be paid out of the Postal Service Fund established under section 2003.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="HA7DF26A1E0454199A6132A4FEECF5265"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendments</header><text>Title 39, United States Code, is amended—</text><paragraph id="HDC566C210D984974ABCEAC8F40987402"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in section 2003(e), by striking <quote>(B) all expenses of the Postal Regulatory Commission, subject to the availability of amounts appropriated under section 504(d);</quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="subparagraph" style="USC"></header-in-text>(B) all expenses of the Postal Regulatory Commission, pursuant to section 504(d);</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H906FC4C334674EB29B9161B8BDEF588B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 2009—</text><subparagraph id="HEF973461A1B04CB89051CAD738EA514D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>, (2)</quote> and inserting <quote>, and (2)</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCBC532E51E3344AA9AEA86774BA8E2C4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>, and (3) the Postal Regulatory Commission requests to be appropriated, out of the Postal Service Fund, under section 504(d) of this title</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HB9C8C936F1B14CFE830725F38D0AEC14" section-type="subsequent-section" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>206.</enum><header>Flats operations study and reform</header><subsection id="HABBEAC5072DC4DD3A926EE7F4665E48E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Flats operations study</header><paragraph id="HE1A183A6705E4F53B292452D0A8DDA54"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Postal Regulatory Commission, in consultation with the Inspector General of the United States Postal Service, shall conduct a study to—</text><subparagraph id="H32AE5811702A4AD2AE4D16CE805E2514"><enum>(A)</enum><text>comprehensively identify the causes of inefficiencies in the collection, sorting, transportation, and delivery of Flats; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3F316DF7E83B475EAE7BF37206CBE6CB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>quantify the effects of the volume trends, investments decisions, excess capacity, and operational inefficiencies of the Postal Service on the direct and indirect costs of the Postal Service that are attributable to Flats.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H2D2D5B310CC3417E88B49F5A07F54A9F" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Postal service assistance</header><text>For the purposes of carrying out the study under paragraph (1), the Postal Service shall, upon request by the Postal Regulatory Commission, consult with the Postal Regulatory Commission and provide—</text><subparagraph id="HD4CA0685AFBF4416B143FD95C2C95E5B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>access to Postal Service facilities to personnel of the Postal Regulatory Commission; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB0BDF0B4EF68464BB0837FFF9823EBCE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>information and records necessary to conduct such study.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC998B4F04231405F9C2C1AFEBDF660F7"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Postal Regulatory Commission shall submit to Congress and the Postmaster General a report on the findings of the study conducted under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H3559182846FD496BAC97F72503EDA023"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Flats defined</header><text>In this subsection, the term <term>Flats</term> means products that meet the physical standards described in the Domestic Mail Manual (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act) for Flats mail for any class of mail.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H9C76E110B0CC4276A2A6C843BE319AEA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Flats operations reform</header><paragraph id="H8A6F53323C8E43CE8784BF68EBF2E509"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than six months after the date on which the Postal Regulatory Commission submits the report described in subsection (a)(2), the Postal Service shall—</text><subparagraph id="H28A5D27524764EA19872DFE18235B226"><enum>(A)</enum><text>develop and implement a plan to remedy each inefficiency identified in the study conducted under subsection (a)(1) to the extent practicable; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9DFFEED4259E47799F47B642DA820B83"><enum>(B)</enum><text>if the Postal Service determines that remedying any such inefficiency is not practicable, provide to Congress and the Postal Regulatory Commission an explanation why remedying such inefficiency is not practicable, including whether it may become practicable to remedy such inefficiency at a later time.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1424157D2299476A939B30AE9DDBD1E0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Implementation requirements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Prior to implementing the plan described in paragraph (1)—</text><subparagraph id="H733D4D555FF140D387834280D9903979"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Postal Regulatory Commission must approve the plan; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE240BA8A5FF6488BA19BD2F00D039D82"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Postal Service shall provide an adequate opportunity for public comment on the plan.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H27CDF5F48A7747308ABCE8E3910D0877"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Completion notice</header><text>On the date on which the plan described in paragraph (1) is fully implemented, as determined by the Postmaster General, the Postmaster General shall submit to Congress and the Postal Regulatory Commission a written notice of such implementation.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H821CF462612A46FEAB8544B032D0F3D7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Subsequent rate adjustments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">During the five-year period beginning on the date on which the Postmaster General submits the notice under subsection (b)(3), the Postal Service shall consider the findings of the report described in subsection (a)(2) and the efficacy of the plan described in subsection (b)(1) in remedying the inefficiencies identified in the study conducted under subsection (a)(1) when making any adjustment to the rate of a market-dominant product (as defined in section 102 of title 39, United States Code).</text></subsection></section><section id="H20B1E865E32944939C67271AF3824FAC" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>207.</enum><header>Reporting requirements</header><subsection id="H10281A6EC218472AA4B60F25066F2E62"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every six months thereafter, the Postmaster General shall submit to the President, the Postal Regulatory Commission, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives a report on the operations and financial condition of the Postal Service during the six-month period ending on the date on which the Postmaster General submits such report.</text></subsection><subsection id="H07F9E528356540B0BBA6DAF1BF5DFD98"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contents</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each report submitted under this section shall include updates, details of changes from previous standards and requirements, and assessments of progress being made on the operations and financial condition of the Postal Service, including—</text><paragraph id="H1C2215DAE5B646FDB0418335C432D686"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the actual mail and package volume growth relative to any mail or package volume growth projections previously made or relied upon by the Postal Service, including a discussion of the reasons for the differences in projections and the associated adjustments being made in order to accommodate any such differences;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HAF32BCE1064E44E39D4A61939D43AACB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the effect of pricing changes on product volume for market-dominant and competitive products, and associated revenue effects on financial projections, including a discussion of the reasons behind the differences in projections and associated adjustments being made;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H88574EE453344E129B46B174B3ECE501"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">customer use of network distribution centers and processing and distribution centers, and associated costs and revenue effects;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H3DAE8EE278EE437EA9D37326392C7058"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the status of, and any substantial programmatic changes to, the USPS Connect program relative to previous plans by the Postal Service, including online sales and customer expectations regarding shipping speeds and shopping preferences relative to projections, as well as associated implementation costs and revenue effects on the financial projects;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H29C96313BFA84EE09984781EA542FBC6"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the use of Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, First-Class Package Service, and Parcel Select services (as such terms are defined in the Domestic Mail Classification Schedule as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act) among businesses of various sizes, and associated revenue effects; </text></paragraph><paragraph id="H93CBB006025A4556A06F4E43390AC1A5"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the use of USPS Connect Returns service among customers, and associated implementation costs and revenue effects;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H93D46AABBE1F4A75BFA1D86967B8BF1E"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the use of USPS E-Commerce Marketplace among customers, and associated implementation costs and revenue effects;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HC0ECBEE362774E1081DFDC5FD99186C6"><enum>(8)</enum><text>updates on the reliability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of the transportation network, including the manner in which ground transportation is utilized over air transportation for types of products;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H2E47E7DA724F4844A91777C813BFD0AD"><enum>(9)</enum><text>a review of efforts to enhance employee training, safety, and wellbeing, including associated effects on employee recruitment, satisfaction, and retention;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H0C9676235C1147E981279E09A27A209A"><enum>(10)</enum><text>a review of efforts being made to improve employee allocation, including changes of non-career employees to career status, and any associated impacts to operational expenses and processing, transportation, and delivery efficiency;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HA3CE9EE2BF874DC3B355DD1545696955"><enum>(11)</enum><text>the rate of planned investment into Postal Service processing, transportation, and delivery equipment and infrastructure for market-dominant and competitive products, and a review of any associated effects on operational expenses and efficiency;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H694613308BF54CEAAA73230D0AC757DD"><enum>(12)</enum><text>changes to network distribution centers and the expansion of regional distribution centers, including costs associated with the changes and any realized reduction in operational expenses or improved resource efficiencies;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HEF9EAAE8925E44AEB17B6ECDF9FACC38"><enum>(13)</enum><text>a review of the ability of the Postal Service to meet performance targets established under section 3692(a)(1)(A) of title 39, United States Code;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HEC1F7505CF0A4891A28250F2AA20F237"><enum>(14)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a discussion of the progress of the Postal Service in achieving any new, self-funded investments, including the amounts realized and expended to date, and a discussion of the reasons behind any disparities in the assumptions regarding the expected progress of the Postal Service getting new, self-funded investments to accommodate changes; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF4C618B000824019A0D2B6F0FED323D0"><enum>(15)</enum><text>any other information the Postal Service determines relevant, such as barriers or unanticipated events, in order to help the Postal Regulatory Commission, Congress, the President, and the American public evaluate the success or difficulties faced by the Postal Service in implementing the reform plan.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H173ABFEC3B6B43AD9E519AE28D660544"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Confidential information</header><paragraph id="H324246DDA6B049289C2FDAD48AEA8F1D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The report required under this subsection shall be submitted in a form that excludes any proprietary or confidential information and trade secrets. </text></paragraph><paragraph id="HC6404A2006334E8DBFBA048397AB35CF"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Notification</header><text>If the Postal Service determines that any information must be excluded under paragraph (1), the Postal Service shall, at the time of submitting the report, notify the President, the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the Postal Regulatory Commission in writing of its determination and describe in detail the information for which confidentiality is sought and the reasons therefor.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H02AC3596B7754D84A5F81FA0EAC96995"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Annexes</header><text>The Postal Service shall submit to the persons and entities notified under paragraph (2) any information excluded under paragraph (1) in an annex that shall be treated as confidential in accordance with paragraph (4).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H171F4BBADAB840878C62517935434051"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Treatment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No person may, with respect to any information which such person receives under paragraph (4)—</text><subparagraph id="H80A6973CE9594E479F54E7078A429D97"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">use such information for purposes other than the purposes for which it is supplied; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7B61AEC24267477DA5B84EAE08E21DB4"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">permit any person or entity other than a person or entity notified under paragraph (2), or the staff thereof, to have access to any such information.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HA6095602A84B4907BF9CD2F02B9D2888" commented="no"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Termination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">This subsection shall terminate on the date that is five years after the date on which the first report required by this section is submitted.</text></subsection></section><section id="H235EACF8150E4D34A4B49A50DFDE8DCB" section-type="subsequent-section" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>208.</enum><header>Postal service transportation selection policy revisions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 101(f) of title 39, United States Code, is amended—</text><paragraph id="H0C16BAB6F4614CF4A45551AA919F2246"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>prompt and economical</quote> and inserting <quote>prompt, economical, consistent, and reliable</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HD8B287FD1CEE483A80FEBA8A310B11D7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after <quote>all mail</quote> the following: <quote>in a manner that increases operational efficiency and reduces complexity</quote>; </text></paragraph><paragraph id="HE9EFC6D713494F7B8F2831E362AFBC72"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>cost-effective</quote> after <quote>to achieve</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H1B0B54BC791E4A0DA25B65C405267A7E"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>also</quote> after <quote>Nation shall</quote>.</text></paragraph></section><section id="HD6F9B3A85F1B4680B9BBDC8433D84A48"><enum>209.</enum><header>USPS Inspector General oversight of Postal Regulatory Commission</header><subsection id="H7300CE97EC9D40EABE3FD9EF78DB6B0E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 8G of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended—</text><paragraph id="H73C44DDDC174414C9A28312387A0D804"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a)(2), by striking <quote>the Postal Regulatory Commission,</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H175E1A05080D44BE8A785F378844EC1E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (f)(2)—</text><subparagraph id="H5EB579D334374750AAF59CB471F4C2BE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>(2) In carrying</quote> and inserting <quote>(2)(A) In carrying</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1D026FF5A86446EAA4BF0094790F8666"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="HD9571AA34A084B64B5E7774C004B8D9A" display-inline="no-display-inline"><subparagraph id="HB8CD62664F874784B1CC9A1170075349" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out the duties and responsibilities specified in this Act, the Inspector General of the United States Postal Service shall function as the Inspector General for the Postal Regulatory Commission, and shall have oversight authority over the Commission as if the Commission were part of the United States Postal Service. The Commission shall comply with the Inspector General’s oversight as if the Commission were a designated Federal entity under paragraph (a)(2) of this section.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H21E5219046314C5AB6B7CD2FB942D683"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Savings provision</header><paragraph id="H80E4FEC874D94E4AAEE506935BD7773F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Legal documents</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any order, determination, rule, regulation, permit, grant, loan, contract, agreement, certificate, license, or privilege that has been issued, made, granted, or allowed to become effective that is in effect on the effective date of this section shall continue in effect according to their terms until modified, terminated, superseded, set aside, or revoked in accordance with law.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF06F3D6A77F8498DA0BB9E23E9214807"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Proceedings</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">This section and the amendments made by this section shall not affect any proceeding pending on the effective date of this section before an office transferred by either such subsection, but such proceeding shall be continued. Nothing in this paragraph shall be considered to prohibit the discontinuance or modification of any such proceeding under the same terms and conditions and to the same extent that such proceeding could have been discontinued or modified if this section or such amendments had not been enacted.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HC66E40CC9EBC4A08BCB36A7F6FECC615"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Suits</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">This section and the amendments made by this section shall not affect any suit commenced before the effective date of this section, and in any such suit, proceeding shall be had, appeals taken, and judgments rendered in the same manner and with the same effect as if this section or such amendments had not been enacted.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HDED83D1E573D4C64B41DDE42E52C6AA1"><enum>(4)</enum><header>References</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any reference in any other Federal law, Executive order, rule, regulation, or delegation of authority, or any document relating to the Inspector General of the Postal Regulatory Commission shall be deemed to refer to the Inspector General of the United States Postal Service.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H83903DF04E7C450A956A1D29E7911B84"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Technical and conforming amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 504 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (h).</text></subsection><subsection id="HDD832D32A4FF4BD2A733701DAE9CFEAF"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">This section and the amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section>