[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2686 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
106th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2686
To amend chapter 36 of title 39, United States Code, to modify rates
relating to reduced rate mail matter, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 7 (legislative day, June 6), 2000
Mr. Cochran (for himself and Mr. Akaka) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental
Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend chapter 36 of title 39, United States Code, to modify rates
relating to reduced rate mail matter, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SPECIAL RATEMAKING PROVISIONS.
(a) Establishment of Regular Rates for Mail Classes With Certain
Preferred Subclasses.--Section 3622 of title 39, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
``(c) Regular rates for each class or subclass of mail that
includes 1 or more special rate categories for mail under former
section 4358 (d) or (e), 4452 (b) or (c), or 4554 (b) or (c) of this
title shall be established by applying the policies of this title,
including the factors of section 3622(b) of this title, to the costs
attributable to the regular rate mail in each class or subclass
combined with the mail in the corresponding special rate categories
authorized by former section 4358 (d) or (e), 4452 (b) or (c), or 4554
(b) or (c) of this title.''.
(b) Residual Rule for Preferred Periodical Mail.--Section
3626(a)(3)(A) of title 39, United States Code, is amended to read as
follows:
``(3)(A) Except as provided in paragraph (4) or (5), rates
of postage for a class of mail or kind of mailer under former
section 4358 of this title shall be established in a manner
such that the estimated revenues to be received by the Postal
Service from such class of mail or kind of mailer shall be
equal to the sum of--
``(i) the estimated costs attributable to such
class of mail or kind of mailer; and
``(ii) the product derived by multiplying the
estimated costs referred to in clause (i) by the
applicable percentage under subparagraph (B).''.
(c) Special Rule for Nonprofit and Classroom Periodicals.--Section
3626(a)(4) of title 39, United States Code, is amended to read as
follows:
``(4)(A) Except as specified in subparagraph (B), rates of
postage for a class of mail or kind of mailer under former
section 4358 (d) or (e) of this title shall be established so
that postage on each mailing of such mail shall be as nearly as
practicable 5 percent lower than the postage for a
corresponding regular-rate category mailing.
``(B) With respect to the postage for the advertising pound
portion of any mail matter under former section 4358 (d) or (e)
of this title, the 5-percent discount specified in subparagraph
(A) shall not apply if the advertising portion exceeds 10
percent of the publication involved.''.
(d) Special Rule for Nonprofit Standard (A) Mail.--Section 3626(a)
of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(6) The rates for mail matter under former sections 4452
(b) and (c) of this title shall be established as follows:
``(A) The estimated average revenue per piece to be
received by the Postal Service from each subclass of
mail under former sections 4452 (b) and (c) of this
title shall be equal, as nearly as practicable, to 60
percent of the estimated average revenue per piece to
be received from the most closely corresponding
regular-rate subclass of mail.
``(B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the
estimated average revenue per piece of each regular-
rate subclass shall be calculated on the basis of
expected volumes and mix of mail for such subclass at
current rates in the test year of the proceeding.
``(C) Rate differentials within each subclass of
mail matter under former sections 4452 (b) and (c)
shall reflect the policies of this title, including the
factors set forth in section 3622(b) of this title.''.
(e) Special Rule for Library and Educational Matter.--Section
3626(a) of title 39, United States Code, as amended by subsection (d)
of this section, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(7) The rates for mail matter under former sections 4554
(b) and (c) of this title shall be established so that postage
on each mailing of such mail shall be as nearly as practicable
5 percent lower than the postage for a corresponding regular-
rate mailing.''.
SEC. 2. TRANSITIONAL AND TECHNICAL PROVISIONS.
(a) Transitional Provision for Nonprofit Standard (A) Mail.--In any
proceeding in which rates are to be established under chapter 36 of
title 39, United States Code, for mail matter under former sections
4452 (b) and (c) of that title, pending as of the date of enactment of
section 1 of this Act, the estimated reduction in postal revenue from
such mail matter caused by the enactment of section 3626(a)(6)(A) of
that title, if any, shall be treated as a reasonably assignable cost of
the Postal Service under section 3622(b)(3) of that title.
(b) Technical Amendment.--Section 3626(a)(1) of title 39, United
States Code, is amended by striking ``4454(b), or 4454(c)'' and
inserting ``4554(b), or 4554(c)''.
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