I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 707 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 27, 2009 Ms. Castor of Florida (for herself, Mr. Abercrombie, Mr. Barrow, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mrs. Bono Mack, Mr. Boozman, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Boswell, Ms. Corrine Brown of Florida, Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite of Florida, Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Burton of Indiana, Mr. Butterfield, Mr. Carter, Mr. Chandler, Mr. Childers, Ms. Clarke, Mr. Clay, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Cummings, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Delahunt, Mr. Edwards of Texas, Mr. Ellison, Mr. Farr, Mr. Filner, Mr. Foster, Mr. Frank of Massachusetts, Mr. Franks of Arizona, Mr. Gonzalez, Mr. Gordon of Tennessee, Mr. Grayson, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Holden, Mr. Holt, Mr. Honda, Mr. Israel, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Kagen, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kildee, Mr. Kind, Ms. Kirkpatrick of Arizona, Mr. Kissell, Mr. Klein of Florida, Ms. Kosmas, Mr. Langevin, Mr. LaTourette, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Massa, Ms. Matsui, Mr. McDermott, Mr. McMahon, Mr. Meek of Florida, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mr. Moore of Kansas, Mr. Moran of Virginia, Mr. Patrick J. Murphy of Pennsylvania, Mr. Petri, Mr. Pierluisi, Mr. Putnam, Mr. Rodriguez, Mr. Rogers of Alabama, Mr. Ross, Mr. Rothman of New Jersey, Mr. Ruppersberger, Mr. Ryan of Ohio, Mr. Sablan, Mr. Schiff, Mrs. Schmidt, Mr. Sestak, Mr. Shuster, Mr. Tanner, Mrs. Tauscher, Mr. Terry, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Tierney, Mr. Tonko, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. Schrader, Mr. Doyle, Ms. Kaptur, Ms. Schwartz, Ms. Sutton, Mr. Platts, Mr. Minnick, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Boccieri, Ms. Pingree of Maine, Mr. Schauer, Mr. Hall of New York, Mr. Berry, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Hinojosa, Mr. Bishop of New York, Mr. Carnahan, and Mr. Arcuri) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To provide monthly vouchers to members of the Armed Forces serving in overseas operations, or hospitalized due to a disease or injury incurred as a result of service in such operations, that a member may transfer to another person to permit the person to mail, without charge, correspondence and small parcels to members of the Armed Forces.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Home Front to Heroes Postal Benefits Act.

2.

Postal benefits program for sending free mail to members of the Armed Forces serving in certain overseas operations and hospitalized members

(a)

Availability of postal benefits

The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the United States Postal Service, shall provide for a program under which postal benefits are provided during fiscal year 2010 to qualified individuals in accordance with this section. (b)

Qualified individual

In this section, the term qualified individual means a member of the Armed Forces described in subsection (a)(1) of section 3401 of title 39, United States Code, who is entitled to free mailing privileges under such section. (c)

Postal benefits described

(1)

Vouchers

The postal benefits provided under the program shall consist of such coupons or other similar evidence of credit (in this section referred to as a voucher) to permit a person possessing the voucher to make a qualified mailing to any qualified individual without charge using the Postal Service. The vouchers may be in printed, electronic, or such other format as the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Postal Service, shall determine to be appropriate. (2)

Qualified mailing

In this section, the term qualified mailing means the mailing of a single mail piece which— (A)is first-class mail (including any sound- or video-recorded communication) not exceeding 13 ounces in weight and having the character of personal correspondence or parcel post not exceeding 15 pounds in weight; (B)is sent from within an area served by a United States post office; and (C)is addressed to any qualified individual. (3)

Coordination rule

Postal benefits under the program are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any reduced rates of postage or other similar benefits which might otherwise be available by or under law, including any rates of postage resulting from the application of section 3401(b) of title 39, United States Code. (d)

Number of vouchers

A member of the Armed Forces shall be eligible for one voucher for every month (or part of a month) during fiscal year 2010 in which the member is a qualified individual. Subject to subsection (f)(2), a voucher earned during fiscal year 2010 may be used after the end of such fiscal year. (e)

Transfer of vouchers

A qualified individual may transfer a voucher to a member of the family of the qualified individual, a nonprofit organization, or any other person selected by the qualified individual for use to send qualified mailings to the qualified individual or other qualified individuals. (f)

Limitations on use; duration

A voucher may not be used— (1)for more than one qualified mailing, whether that mailing is a first-class letter or a parcel; or (2)after the expiration date of the voucher, as designated by the Secretary of Defense. (g)

Regulations

Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense (in consultation with the Postal Service) shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the program, including— (1)procedures by which vouchers will be provided or made available in timely manner to qualified individuals; and (2)procedures to ensure that the number of vouchers provided or made available with respect to any qualified individual complies with subsection (d). (h)

Transfers of funds to Postal Service

(1)

Based on estimates

The Secretary of Defense shall transfer to the Postal Service, out of amounts available to carry out the program and in advance of each calendar quarter during which postal benefits may be used under the program, an amount equal to the amount of postal benefits that the Secretary estimates will be used during such quarter, reduced or increased (as the case may be) by any amounts by which the Secretary finds that a determination under this subsection for a prior quarter was greater than or less than the amount finally determined for such quarter. (2)

Based on final determination

A final determination of the amount necessary to correct any previous determination under this section, and any transfer of amounts between the Postal Service and the Department of Defense based on that final determination, shall be made not later than six months after the expiration date of the final vouchers issued under the program. (3)

Consultation required

All estimates and determinations under this subsection of the amount of postal benefits under the program used in any period shall be made by the Secretary of Defense in consultation with the Postal Service.