[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 22 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 22

   Reaffirming the constitutional and statutory protections accorded 
             sealed domestic mail, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 10, 2007

 Ms. Collins (for herself, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Carper, Mr. Coleman, and 
 Mr. Akaka) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
      the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Reaffirming the constitutional and statutory protections accorded 
             sealed domestic mail, and for other purposes.

Whereas all Americans depend on the United States Postal Service to transact 
        business and communicate with friends and family;
Whereas postal customers have a constitutional right to expect that their sealed 
        domestic mail will be protected against unreasonable searches;
Whereas the circumstances and procedures under which the Government may search 
        sealed mail are well defined, including provisions under the Foreign 
        Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and 
        generally require prior judicial approval;
Whereas the United States Postal Inspection Service has the authority to open 
        and search a sealed envelope or package when there is immediate threat 
        to life or limb or an immediate and substantial danger to property;
Whereas the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (Public Law 109-435) 
        expressly reaffirmed the right of postal customers to have access to a 
        class of mail sealed against inspection;
Whereas the United States Postal Service affirmed January 4, 2007, that the 
        enactment of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (Public Law 
        109-435) does not grant Federal law enforcement officials any new 
        authority to open domestic mail;
Whereas the signing statement on the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act 
        (Public Law 109-435) issued by President Bush on December 20, 2006, 
        raises questions about the President's commitment to abide by these 
        basic privacy protections; and
Whereas the Senate rejects any interpretation of the President's signing 
        statement on the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (Public Law 
        109-435) that in any way diminishes the privacy protections accorded 
        sealed domestic mail under the Constitution and Federal laws and 
        regulations:
Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate reaffirms the constitutional and 
statutory protections accorded sealed domestic mail.
                                 <all>