I 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 3916 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 7, 2012 Ms. Waters introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform A BILL To reduce the operating costs of the United States Postal Service, to provide for continued postal services for certain areas, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Protecting Post Offices Act.

2.

Calculation of Postal Service retiree health benefit payments

Section 8909a(d)(3) of title 5, United States Code, is amended as follows: (1)Subparagraph (A) is repealed. (2)In subparagraph (B), by striking 2017 and inserting 2012.

3.

Nonpostal services; post office closures

(a)

Nonpostal services

Subsection (a) of section 404 of title 39, United States Code, is amended— (1)in paragraph (7), by striking and at the end; (2)in paragraph (8), by striking the period and inserting ; and; and (3)by adding at the end the following: (9)to provide nonpostal services. . (b)

Post office closures

Subsection (e) of such section is amended to read as follows: (e)(1)Notwithstanding subsections (a)(3) or (d), the Postal Service may not close or consolidate any post office or other postal facility that is located in a ZIP Code that has a high rate of poverty and a high rate of unemployment. To determine whether a ZIP Code has a high rate of poverty or unemployment, the Postmaster General shall consult with the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Labor. (2)Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Postmaster General shall submit a report to Congress on alternative uses with respect to under-used postal facilities, including whether such facilities could offer nonpostal services and products. .

4.

Rate regulation for market-dominant products

(a)

In general

Notwithstanding section 3622 of title 39, United States Code, the Postmaster General shall have the authority to regulate rates for market-dominant products. Such authority shall not apply to the rate discounts established under subsection (e) of such section. (b)

Notification

If the Postmaster General determines under subsection (a) that an adjustment in a rate for a market-dominant product is necessary, the Postmaster General shall provide public notice of such adjustment not later than 45 days before the implementation of such adjustment. (c)

Consumer Price Index

In determining whether an adjustment in a rate for a market-dominant product is reasonable, the Postmaster General may compare the percentage change of such adjustment with the percentage change of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers unadjusted for seasonal variation during the 12-month period preceding the date the Postmaster General files notice of such adjustment pursuant to subsection (b).