1.Short title; table of
contents; references
(a)This Act may be cited
as the Postal Reform Act of
2011
.
(b)The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents; references.
TITLE I—Postal Service Modernization
Subtitle A—Commission on Postal Reorganization
Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Definitions.
Sec. 103. Commission on Postal Reorganization.
Sec. 104. Recommendations for closures and
consolidations.
Sec. 105. Implementation of closures and
consolidations.
Sec. 106. Congressional consideration of final CPR
reports.
Sec. 107. Nonappealability of decisions.
Sec. 108. Rules of construction.
Subtitle B—Other provisions
Sec. 111. Frequency of mail delivery.
Sec. 112. Efficient and flexible universal postal
service.
Sec. 113. More cost-efficient Postal Service
contracting.
Sec. 114. Enhanced reporting on Postal Service
efficiency.
TITLE II—Postal Service Financial Responsibility and Management
Assistance Authority
Subtitle A—Establishment and Organization
Sec. 201. Purposes.
Sec. 202. Establishment of the Authority.
Sec. 203. Membership and qualification
requirements.
Sec. 204. Organization.
Sec. 205. Executive Director and staff.
Sec. 206. Funding.
Subtitle B—Powers of the Authority
Sec. 211. Powers.
Sec. 212. Exemption from liability for claims.
Sec. 213. Treatment of actions arising under this
title.
Subtitle C—Establishment and Enforcement of Financial Plan and
Budget for the Postal Service
Sec. 221. Development of financial plan and budget for the
Postal Service.
Sec. 222. Process for submission and approval of financial plan
and budget.
Sec. 223. Responsibilities of the Authority.
Sec. 224. Effect of finding noncompliance with financial plan
and budget.
Sec. 225. Recommendations regarding financial stability,
etc.
Sec. 226. Special rules for fiscal year in which control period
commences.
Sec. 227. Assistance in achieving financial stability,
etc.
Sec. 228. Obtaining reports.
Sec. 229. Reports and comments.
Subtitle D—Termination of a Control Period
Sec. 231. Termination of control period, etc.
Sec. 232. Congressional consideration of
recommendation.
TITLE III—Postal Service Workforce
Subtitle A—General Provisions
Sec. 301. Modifications relating to determination of pay
comparability.
Sec. 302. Limitation on postal contributions under FEGLI and
FEHBP.
Sec. 303. Repeal of provision relating to overall value of
fringe benefits.
Sec. 304. Modifications relating to collective
bargaining.
Subtitle B—Postal Service Workers’ Compensation
Reform
Sec. 311. Sense of Congress.
TITLE IV—Postal Service Revenue
Sec. 401. Adequacy, efficiency, and fairness of postal
rates.
Sec. 402. Repeal of rate preferences for qualified political
committees.
Sec. 403. Rate preferences for nonprofit
advertising.
Sec. 404. Streamlined review of qualifying service agreements
for competitive products.
Sec. 405. Submission of service agreements for streamlined
review.
Sec. 406. Transparency and accountability for service
agreements.
Sec. 407. Nonpostal services.
TITLE V—Postal Contracting Reform
Sec. 501. Contracting provisions.
Sec. 502. Technical amendment to definition.
<enum>I</enum><header>Postal Service
Modernization</header>
<subtitle id="HD808AAA343BF4DE6A8D4833A8171C923"><enum>A</enum><header>Commission on
Postal Reorganization</header>
<section id="HBD36AEA2318E4F1E8E1D02AC9F47B792"><enum>101.</enum><header>Short
title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This subtitle may be
cited as the <quote><short-title>Commission on Postal
Reorganization Act</short-title></quote> or the <quote><short-title>CPR Act</short-title></quote>.</text>
</section><section id="HEB31FCD27C744DC3B8F3EB0BE385B13B"><enum>102.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">For purposes of this title—</text>
<paragraph id="H184A46122A78470DACE5819F02EDF852"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the term
<term>Postal Service</term> means the United States Postal Service;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA889CAA337A64E23950309267C63C539"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the term
<term>postal retail facility</term> means a post office, post office branch,
post office classified station, or other facility which is operated by the
Postal Service, and the primary function of which is to provide retail postal
services;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF77C1C6361D24DB9BFEDC7247CE6EBAE"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the term
<term>mail processing facility</term> means a processing and distribution
center, processing and distribution facility, network distribution center, or
other facility which is operated by the Postal Service, and the primary
function of which is to sort and process mail;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H017679AC8EF246969ACD4BA1B9C1FFE1"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the term <term>district office</term> means
the central office of an administrative field unit with responsibility for
postal operations in a designated geographic area (as defined under
regulations, directives, or other guidance of the Postal Service, as in effect
on June 23, 2011);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB01C60E7ABE44F66803D23761F9353D8"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the term <term>area office</term> means the
central office of an administrative field unit with responsibility for postal
operations in a designated geographic area which is comprised of designated
geographic areas as referred to in paragraph (4); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H70C4A98B1FA148149EB20B6793DA9CEE"><enum>(6)</enum><text>the term
<term>baseline year</term> means the fiscal year last ending before the date of
the enactment of this Act.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="H8D489DF4E8A9401E8E440AE8540C0963"><enum>103.</enum><header>Commission on
Postal Reorganization</header>
<subsection id="H26D22597D21A4495AABF1EAC85D7DB66"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There shall be established, not later than
90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, an independent commission
to be known as the <term>Commission on Postal Reorganization</term>
(hereinafter in this section referred to as the
<term>Commission</term>).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H9102BEC4C1704B25B6775950547549C0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>The
Commission shall carry out the duties specified for it in this subtitle.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H100E7F5F9FDE4D569C8D0B00F3D0BB6F"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Members</header>
<paragraph id="H4C06FB5B1F23480793C8E7D2B6FF7802"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commission shall
be composed of 5 members who shall be appointed by the President, and of
whom—</text>
<subparagraph id="HCF154B1C1333440CB528D7BD2A923374"><enum>(A)</enum><text>1 shall be
appointed from among individuals recommended by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HED30CD56F7BF404DA934943C19C07C45"><enum>(B)</enum><text>1 shall be
appointed from among individuals recommended by the majority leader of the
Senate;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9F09A6C19E9148E58E03C1230B856CAC"><enum>(C)</enum><text>1 shall be
appointed from among individuals recommended by the minority leader of the
House of Representatives;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE306305756254BF982B8079051E4CE71"><enum>(D)</enum><text>1 shall be
appointed from among individuals recommended by the minority leader of the
Senate; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE4554C876CA64BB69BC1E79782325F4C"><enum>(E)</enum><text>1 shall be
appointed from among individuals recommended by the Comptroller General.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC3F26FDF1EFD4EEA9D1C56CDDD7D3C26"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Qualifications</header>
<subparagraph id="HA8E42FC5EF68406C9680DF68F3EE5556"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Members of the Commission shall be chosen to represent
the public interest generally, and shall not be representatives of specific
interests using the Postal Service.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H259C9A96A4EC4393A8CE85C175EB7309"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Ineligibility</header><text>An
individual may not be appointed to serve as a member of the Commission if such
individual served as an employee of the Postal Service or the Postal Regulatory
Commission, or of a labor organization representing employees of the Postal
Service or the Postal Regulatory Commission, during the 3-year period ending on
the date of such appointment.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H7AD792A329D44EA9A8AB70AA6A218B20"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Political
affiliation</header><text>Not more than 3 members of the Commission may be of
the same political party.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H06ED7E19972C4E278EB0E3BE36E0D40D"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Terms</header><text>Each
member of the Commission shall be appointed for the life of the Commission and
may be removed only for cause.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H4A031243784A48A2B5A0125612B0F2FC"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Vacancies</header><text>A
vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H1CBD43B0DA224435BE6A742FD01336AE"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Chairman</header><text>The
President shall, at the time of making appointments under subsection (c),
designate one of the members to serve as chairman of the Commission.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HBBE6C79F7BE14651B3096BD67A7132BF"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Compensation and
travel expenses</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="HDF221F1A8C8747E888AC36B3FFABCC62"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Compensation</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H1038DDA8A9EC406B967BF699685A385E"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), each member of the Commission shall be paid at a rate equal
to the daily equivalent of $40,000 per year for each day (including travel
time) during which the member is engaged in the actual performance of duties
vested in the Commission.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H350DE102A0C840D7A9714EA508808FBA"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exception</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any member of the Commission who is a
full-time officer or employee of the United States may not receive additional
pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of such member’s service on the
Commission.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HEB610E202A64433EB88900028C9EE78F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Travel
expenses</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each member shall
receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in
accordance with applicable provisions of subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5,
United States Code.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HEED50C0EEEE444EE96BC6022A238B4D9"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Director</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commission shall have a Director who
shall be appointed by the Commission. The Director shall be paid at the rate of
basic pay for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5,
United States Code. An appointment under this subsection shall be subject to
the requirements of subsection (c)(2).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HCB70CA42C08C4C4F86189BCF057DB0D3"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Additional
personnel</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">With the approval
of the Commission, the Director may appoint and fix the pay of such additional
personnel as the Director considers appropriate. Such additional personnel may
be appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code,
governing appointments in the competitive service, and may be paid without
regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such
title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that an
individual so appointed may not receive pay at a rate of basic pay in excess of
the rate of basic pay payable to the Director. An individual appointed under
this subsection shall serve at the pleasure of the Director.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H38B5ACED10BA4A509885D0337B901E46"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Provisions
relating to details</header>
<paragraph id="HFCC4485C6B984EFA85D640C560B1ECE4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Upon request of the Director, the head of any Federal
department or agency may detail any of the personnel of such department or
agency to the Commission to assist the Commission in carrying out its duties
under this subtitle. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, to provide
continuity in the work of the Commission, such details may be extended beyond 1
year at the request of the Director.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9829D83DC94345AF89D93933F4E22711"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Numerical
limitation</header><text>Not more than <fraction>1/3</fraction> of the
personnel of the Commission may consist of individuals on detail from the
Postal Service or the Postal Regulatory Commission.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H495ACFB0808D41D3AED4474089218CCD"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Other
limitations</header><text>A person may not be detailed to the Commission from
the Postal Service or the Postal Regulatory Commission if such person
participated personally and substantially on any matter, within the Postal
Service or the Postal Regulatory Commission, concerning the preparation of
recommendations for closures or consolidations of postal facilities under this
subtitle. No employee of the Postal Service or the Postal Regulatory Commission
(including a detailee to the Postal Service or the Postal Regulatory
Commission) may—</text>
<subparagraph id="H17DFC860B64C4FC38C7C73C8916709E1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>prepare any report
concerning the effectiveness, fitness, or efficiency of the performance, on the
staff of the Commission, of any person detailed from the Postal Service or the
Postal Regulatory Commission to such staff;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA8BA6A60C1C5485087D6A5F3B8E2AD97"><enum>(B)</enum><text>review the
preparation of such a report; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H734FAAE21CFE4E079FC87A1C6AADB34D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>approve or
disapprove such a report.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HED73788E51CC4703B95661FF4E0B9CBE"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Other
authorities</header>
<paragraph id="H95EEC4D7C419414B86E2AED31F954678"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Experts and
consultants</header><text>The Commission may procure by contract, to the extent
funds are available, temporary or intermittent services under section 3109 of
title 5, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0284A0A846E94575B72D2CAEA8454AA9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Leasing,
etc</header><text>The Commission may lease space and acquire personal property
to the extent funds are available.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H56ABAFBD158E4F908E88FB1AD656DCBC"><enum>(l)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text>In order to carry out this section, there are
authorized to be appropriated out of the Postal Service Fund $20,000,000, which
funds shall remain available until expended.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H30C48291F20C46EF88EF2D07C026AFD6"><enum>(m)</enum><header>Financial
reporting</header>
<paragraph id="HF6E37EBFD6454B8798E9893F835234EE"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Audit and
expenditures</header><text>The Commission shall be responsible for issuing
annual financial statements and for establishing and maintaining adequate
controls over its financial reporting.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE90DFD6651E949EAB2DD8DD8DB7169F7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Internal
audits</header><text>The Commission shall maintain an adequate internal audit
of its financial transactions.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0BEB5CD2809E48AA8E84E2FA72AEF496"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Annual
certification</header><text>The Commission shall obtain an annual certification
for each fiscal year from an independent, certified public accounting firm of
the accuracy of its financial statements.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H26E8340D44984483BCED8BF34A497BE8"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Comptroller
General</header><text>The accounts and operations of the Commission shall be
audited by the Comptroller General and reports thereon made to the Congress to
the extent and at such times as the Comptroller General may determine.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HCC7BF73BB72E4779949760B4EC179232"><enum>(n)</enum><header>Termination</header><text>The
Commission shall terminate 60 days after submitting its final reports under
section 104(d)(3).</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H44B9809A60FE48C8BAD8CA2D17CDB28D"><enum>104.</enum><header>Recommendations
for closures and consolidations</header>
<subsection id="H1D83BAD2B0DB4C0D9AD853AE8A9A5F1B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Plan for the
closure or consolidation of postal retail facilities</header>
<paragraph id="H83F72CF32E534C85905C76C0DEA06C28"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 120
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Postal Service, in
consultation with the Postal Regulatory Commission, shall develop and submit to
the Commission on Postal Reorganization a plan for the closure or consolidation
of such postal retail facilities as the Postal Service considers necessary and
appropriate so that the total annual costs attributable to the operation of
postal retail facilities will be, for each fiscal year beginning at least 2
years after the date on which the Commission transmits to Congress its final
report under subsection (d)(3)(A) relating to this subsection, at least
$1,000,000,000 less than the corresponding total annual costs for the baseline
year.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF92176419AA0439E8E73ECDD848EDBEA"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The
plan shall include—</text>
<subparagraph id="HCEC54A031C154F3CA87FB1FC8DF80302"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a list of the
postal retail facilities proposed for closure or consolidation under this
subtitle;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H565B020FF4584068A9C3E5C8BDA0C692"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a proposed
schedule under which—</text>
<clause id="HDBEBF02881BF4092BD981BD1BBBC69F0"><enum>(i)</enum><text>closures and
consolidations of postal retail facilities would be carried out under this
subtitle; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H1B7D08F5AFC54ACD97446A94B486E8D8"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">all closures and consolidations of postal
retail facilities under this subtitle would be completed by not later than 2
years after the date on which the Commission transmits to Congress its final
report under subsection (d)(3)(A) relating to such plan;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCF66E2365E3B435ABD0C45345AA1C607"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the estimated
total annual cost savings attributable to the proposed closures and
consolidations described in the plan;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H39923797E0C243DDA23AB2B3AE2BEA8D"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the criteria and
process used to develop the information described in subparagraphs (A) and
(B);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBA71680403C649C182FC235D9F488004"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the methodology
and assumptions used to derive the estimates described in subparagraph (C);
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3DB50EF063284F2A8034E2216F9DBD7B"><enum>(F)</enum><text>any changes to the
processing, transportation, delivery, or other postal operations anticipated as
a result of the proposed closures and consolidations described in the
plan.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H3987F81C7EF7462791D425EC108E89B3"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Consistency</header><text>The
methodology and assumptions used to derive the cost estimates described in
paragraph (2)(C) shall be consistent with the methodology and assumptions which
would have been used by the Postal Service if those closures and consolidations
had instead taken effect in the baseline year.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCE5837C233774EC9B5E39F426CA0D61D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Plan for the
closure or consolidation of mail processing facilities</header>
<paragraph id="H45B7B32E54474802A75A5CF38644B2A3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 300
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Postal Service, in
consultation with the Inspector General of the United States Postal Service,
shall develop and submit to the Commission on Postal Reorganization a plan for
the closure or consolidation of such mail processing facilities as the Postal
Service considers necessary and appropriate so that—</text>
<subparagraph id="HC0153F00E28D48EB80B6EDAE80183E4D"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the total annual costs attributable to the
operation of mail processing facilities will be, for each fiscal year beginning
at least 2 years after the date on which the Commission transmits to Congress
its final report under subsection (d)(3)(A) relating to this subsection, at
least $1,000,000,000 less than the corresponding total annual costs for the
baseline year; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBE296AC65A0D47F0A3D568B228E1852F"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Postal Service has, for fiscal years
beginning at least 2 years after the date on which the Commission transmits to
Congress its final report under subsection (d)(3)(A) relating to this
subsection, no more than 10 percent excess mail processing capacity.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H4569B11DFA484B45ABEDFD7731200D38"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The
plan shall include—</text>
<subparagraph id="HD75882F8602B4F1F91AC199E09E304C0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a list of the mail
processing facilities proposed for closure or consolidation under this
subtitle;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDCA2EB2747A845DBADD52BE7C6CD5D6D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a proposed
schedule under which—</text>
<clause id="H66E8B32FEE06445D824200E16664567D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>closures and
consolidations of mail processing facilities would be carried out under this
subtitle; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HF5A3138E515C4CCDBB6FAED853E15B0B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">all closures and consolidations of mail
processing facilities under this subtitle would be completed by not later than
2 years after the date on which the Commission transmits to Congress its final
report under subsection (d)(3)(A) relating to such plan;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0819F54F5A8D4EB2AE22C2FED46251BE"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the estimated
total annual cost savings attributable to the proposed closures and
consolidations described in the plan;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H062AE5A485764DB9A55AC01D879ABE40"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the criteria and
process used to develop the information described in subparagraphs (A) and
(B);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5DF2F45425CC4C89AC103A0678F56690"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the methodology
and assumptions used to derive the estimates described in subparagraph (C);
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1E311FD4122E40259C6FD008EFD0D812"><enum>(F)</enum><text>any changes to the
processing, transportation, delivery, or other postal operations anticipated as
a result of the proposed closures and consolidations described in the
plan.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H488E4CD3461840E1A24DA2E1FB340083"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Consistency</header><text>The
methodology and assumptions used to derive the cost estimates described in
paragraph (2)(C) shall be consistent with the methodology and assumptions which
would have been used by the Postal Service if those closures and consolidations
had instead taken effect in the baseline year.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H83AB631D41C04FA3B49CA48FA7720798"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Excess mail
processing capacity</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The
Commission shall cause to be published in the Federal Register notice of a
proposed definition of <term>excess mail processing capacity</term> for
purposes of this section within 120 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, and shall provide a period of 30 days for public comment on the
proposed definition. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Commission shall issue and cause to be published in the Federal
Register a final definition of <term>excess mail processing capacity</term> for
purposes of this section. Such definition shall include an estimate of the
total amount of excess mail processing capacity in mail processing facilities
as of the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H93B8EB806B434AA6A71F024BF7D170AC"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Plan for the
closure or consolidation of area and district offices</header>
<paragraph id="HAE6C3E78BD0843029F3FD6A4D2F28A06"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 300
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Postal Service, in
consultation with the Inspector General of the United States Postal Service,
shall develop and submit to the Commission on Postal Reorganization a plan for
the closure or consolidation of such area and district offices as the Postal
Service considers necessary and appropriate so that the combined total number
of area and district offices will be, for each fiscal year beginning at least 2
years after the date on which the Commission transmits to Congress its final
report under subsection (d)(3)(A) relating to this subsection, at least 30
percent less than the corresponding combined total for the baseline
year.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCB6CC1385ECB478C96B87D8AE53A7047"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The
plan shall include—</text>
<subparagraph id="HBC3B1F94B39041D584858589EBB0803F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a list of the area
and district offices proposed for closure or consolidation under this
subtitle;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1A6DE8A1561D42648F1289B4243E7BC0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a proposed
schedule under which—</text>
<clause id="H5B545FF8112C4D8888AA44C313C6E344"><enum>(i)</enum><text>closures and
consolidations of area and district offices would be carried out under this
subtitle; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HE3EC1B4B69DC480E913FE756ABFDA5DB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">all closures and consolidations of area and
district offices under this subtitle would be completed by not later than 2
years after the date on which the Commission transmits to Congress its final
report under subsection (d)(3)(A) relating to such plan;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBBAC6C0D1C1A4BC78991EAB1DD30F24B"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the estimated
total annual cost savings attributable to the proposed closures and
consolidations described in the plan;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3D0C28A99C694E91BCE5E4C92FF4320C"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the criteria and
process used to develop the information described in subparagraphs (A) and
(B);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCA6DCB9C86094877AA639CFC472464C0"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the methodology
and assumptions used to derive the estimates described in subparagraph (C);
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6B5D78A202454E5EA4466DC65F3CCB3C"><enum>(F)</enum><text>any changes to the
processing, transportation, delivery, or other postal operations anticipated as
a result of the proposed closures and consolidations described in the
plan.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE3465E8F12B549C9BCE0402D6B616869"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Consistency</header><text>The
methodology and assumptions used to derive the cost estimates described in
paragraph (2)(C) shall be consistent with the methodology and assumptions which
would have been used by the Postal Service if those closures and consolidations
had instead taken effect in the baseline year.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H8F94CA785D3847FB8F17BFF204FA0375"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Review and
recommendations of the Commission</header>
<paragraph id="H23652C1CE4E84B9F99E3D9D5A55B3ABB"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Initial
reports</header>
<subparagraph id="H057E8D3D2A734F2A874F0C844BAA8655"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>After receiving the plan of the Postal Service under
subsection (a), (b), or (c), the Commission on Postal Reorganization shall
transmit to Congress and publish in the Federal Register a report under this
paragraph, which shall contain the Commission’s findings based on a review and
analysis of such plan, together with the Commission’s initial recommendations
for closures and consolidations of postal facilities, mail processing
facilities, or area and district offices (as the case may be).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9C7CA694A61949E1A532E2D057780797"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Explanation of
changes</header><text>The Commission shall explain and justify in its report
any recommendations made by the Commission that are different from those
contained in the Postal Service plan to which such report pertains.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF209682098E848DAA92851B885B1B4DB"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Deadlines</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A report of the Commission under this
paragraph shall be transmitted and published, in accordance with subparagraph
(A), within—</text>
<clause id="HCC23012FC8D94F5EAC478371E116E193"><enum>(i)</enum><text>if
the report pertains to the plan under subsection (a), 60 days after the date on
which the Commission receives such plan; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H2AE9069F689045DCB37CA8D1E91B0F07"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>if
the report pertains to the plan under subsection (b) or (c), 90 days after the
date on which the Commission receives such plan.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HE2EC064DF28442B280782F247E3D5433"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Public
hearings</header>
<subparagraph id="HDF3E9392120E4FEB869EB08010119511"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>After receiving the plan of the Postal Service under
subsection (a), (b), or (c), the Commission on Postal Reorganization shall
conduct at least 5 public hearings on such plan. The hearings shall be
conducted in geographic areas chosen so as to reflect a broadly representative
range of needs and interests.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H05575E8E3E8E4CD8BEE879E9A23ECCEA"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Testimony</header><text>All
testimony before the Commission at a public hearing conducted under this
paragraph shall be given under oath.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H484DF7271CF7400FA612D50154CF451D"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Deadlines</header><text>All
hearings under this paragraph shall be completed within 60 days after the date
as of which the Commission satisfies the requirements of paragraph (1) with
respect to such plan.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H9EC2B0D59A4B4B4D9468C26D558BE040"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Final
reports</header>
<subparagraph id="H1B4FB4D9C83C4CA388A5AB185D168C25"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>After satisfying the requirements of paragraph (2) with
respect to the plan of the Postal Service under subsection (a), (b), or (c) (as
the case may be), the Commission shall transmit to Congress and publish in the
Federal Register a report under this paragraph containing a summary of the
hearings conducted with respect to such plan, together with the Commission’s
final recommendations for closures and consolidations of postal facilities,
mail processing facilities, or area and district offices (as the case may
be).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF4E80BFA0E964926895477A4BDDBD598"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Approval</header><text>Recommendations
under subparagraph (A) shall not be considered to be final recommendations
unless they are made with—</text>
<clause id="H968453174DCE45AA95F84EB591FD21F5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>except as provided
in clause (ii), the concurrence of at least 4 members of the Commission;
or</text>
</clause><clause id="HF7C04C1F31B74368B193F5A7F32E4ABF"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to
the extent that the requirements of subsection (b)(1)(A) or (c)(1) are not met,
with the concurrence of all sitting members, but only if the shortfall
(relative to the requirements of subsection (b)(1)(A) or (c)(1), as the case
may be) does not exceed 25 percent.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7885F52F881A41EDA7D36608289EC150"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>A
report under this paragraph shall include—</text>
<clause id="H6108FC2146C04060997099C027F26081"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the
information required by paragraph (2) of subsection (a), (b), or (c) (as the
case may be); and</text>
</clause><clause id="H6F3649D129F34DC8B225BCB146531DF2"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a
description of the operations that will be affected by the closure or
consolidation and the facilities or offices which will be performing or ceasing
to perform such operations as a result of such closure or consolidation.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H88498D62C8624D4E8645BF344B7F5D79"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Deadlines</header><text>A
report of the Commission under this paragraph shall be transmitted and
published, in accordance with subparagraph (A), within 60 days after the date
as of which the Commission satisfies the requirements of paragraph (2) with
respect to the plan involved.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H4B526BBD51004B248362C86BC9FDBD17"><enum>105.</enum><header>Implementation
of closures and consolidations</header>
<subsection id="HE04DF19A4CA14BA68CB0E350F8906F80"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Subject to subsection (b), the Postal Service
shall—</text>
<paragraph id="HB3A9AA51D2944EB897BE387B4E07EFFC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>close or
consolidate (as the case may be) the facilities and offices recommended by the
Commission in each of its final reports under section 104(d)(3); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF3A8A56633C1434F82192BD81075EFA2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>carry out those
closures and consolidations in accordance with the timetable recommended by the
Commission in such report, except that in no event shall any such closure or
consolidation be completed later than 2 years after the date on which such
report is submitted to Congress.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H878E1CD060B7486DBF99290474B7E6DC"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Congressional
disapproval</header>
<paragraph id="H7CFAA0E9CECF422685B473216CFCEADE"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Postal Service may not carry out any closure or
consolidation recommended by the Commission in a final report if a joint
resolution disapproving the recommendations of the Commission is enacted, in
accordance with section 106, before the earlier of—</text>
<subparagraph id="HCDD736942E3E474ABF8B0DA0788079DC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the end of the
30-day period beginning on the date on which the Commission transmits those
recommendations to Congress under section 104(d)(3); or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFA63FE3C8DD3470CBECA2583BD39AFA4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the adjournment of
the Congress sine die for the session during which such report is
transmitted.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HBF60B7241E004BE6820A6EE72D7E73EE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Days of
session</header><text>For purposes of paragraph (1) and subsections (a) and (c)
of section 106, the days on which either House of Congress is not in session
because of an adjournment of more than 7 days to a day certain shall be
excluded in the computation of a period.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H944A9CFF2C124942A3B91000F4F309C2"><enum>106.</enum><header>Congressional
consideration of final CPR reports</header>
<subsection id="HD28A2C090F1144A589B8FC8EDFF2B50E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Terms of the
resolution</header><text>For purposes of this subtitle, the term <term>joint
resolution</term>, as used with respect to a report under section 104(d)(3),
means only a joint resolution—</text>
<paragraph id="H21D7E7A7588D4FE0A0D01E015C779439"><enum>(1)</enum><text>which is
introduced within the 10-day period beginning on the date on which such report
is received by Congress;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3E0497BFA34747B5B665BF043B92125D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the matter after
the resolving clause of which is as follows: <quote>That Congress disapproves
the recommendations of the Commission on Postal Reorganization, submitted by
such Commission on __, and pertaining to the closure or consolidation of
__.</quote>, the first blank space being filled in with the appropriate date
and the second blank space being filled in with <term>postal facilities</term>,
<term>mail processing facilities</term>, or <term>area and district
offices</term> (as the case may be);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAAE495C19BEB4270A77D41AFB4391DB2"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the title of which
is as follows: <quote>Joint resolution disapproving the recommendations of the
Commission on Postal Reorganization.</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEC50A7108FE34C308F81B47522C1DD09"><enum>(4)</enum><text>which does not
have a preamble.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H8AB1133490B540C9A7EBBDC9DF745E63"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Referral</header><text>A
resolution described in subsection (a) that is introduced in the House of
Representatives or the Senate shall be referred to the appropriate committees
of the House of Representatives or the Senate, respectively.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H84D769312F2B4A43B9DE4F8BCAF81CE0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Discharge</header><text>If
the committee to which a resolution described in subsection (a) is referred has
not reported such resolution (or an identical resolution) by the end of the
20-day period beginning on the date on which the Commission transmits the
report (to which such resolution pertains) to Congress under section 104(d)(3),
such committee shall, at the end of such period, be discharged from further
consideration of such resolution, and such resolution shall be placed on the
appropriate calendar of the House involved.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H234C54E006D94D4E820330C1320378A6"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Consideration</header>
<paragraph id="HFB9FDA403865451481D2A9E9C964A796"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>On or after the third day after the date on which the
committee to which such a resolution is referred has reported, or has been
discharged (under subsection (c)) from further consideration of, such a
resolution, it is in order (even though a previous motion to the same effect
has been disagreed to) for any Member of the respective House to move to
proceed to the consideration of the resolution. A Member may make the motion
only on the day after the calendar day on which the Member announces to the
House concerned the Member’s intention to make the motion, except that, in the
case of the House of Representatives, the motion may be made without such prior
announcement if the motion is made by direction of the committee to which the
resolution was referred. All points of order against the resolution (and
against consideration of the resolution) are waived. The motion is highly
privileged in the House of Representatives and is privileged in the Senate and
is not debatable. The motion is not subject to amendment, or to a motion to
postpone, or to a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business. A
motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to
shall not be in order. If a motion to proceed to the consideration of the
resolution is agreed to, the respective House shall immediately proceed to
consideration of the joint resolution without intervening motion, order, or
other business, and the resolution shall remain the unfinished business of the
respective House until disposed of.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H034BF047CB4D4722BD1D7F3A58FA5C4F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Debate</header><text>Debate
on the resolution, and on all debatable motions and appeals in connection
therewith, shall be limited to not more than 2 hours, which shall be divided
equally between those favoring and those opposing the resolution. An amendment
to the resolution is not in order. A motion further to limit debate is in order
and not debatable. A motion to postpone, or a motion to proceed to the
consideration of other business, or a motion to recommit the resolution is not
in order. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the resolution is agreed to
or disagreed to is not in order.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H76FFCA6E120241B492AD46BEC8F47B07"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Vote on final
passage</header><text>Immediately following the conclusion of the debate on a
resolution described in subsection (a) and a single quorum call at the
conclusion of the debate if requested in accordance with the rules of the
appropriate House, the vote on final passage of the resolution shall
occur.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9101CE4480254C579B34A2D620E44D38"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Appeals</header><text>Appeals
from the decisions of the Chair relating to the application of the rules of the
Senate or the House of Representatives, as the case may be, to the procedure
relating to a resolution described in subsection (a) shall be decided without
debate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H52C6295C4673434CBA6F9F9E385966DF"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Consideration by
other House</header>
<paragraph id="H3DDC8781553C4A079E4C90B6378E3DF7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>If, before the passage by one House of a resolution of
that House described in subsection (a), that House receives from the other
House a resolution (described in subsection (a)) relating to the same report,
then the following procedures shall apply:</text>
<subparagraph id="H441F0B2A86234796B807CDFFAA620D4C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The resolution of
the other House shall not be referred to a committee and may not be considered
in the House receiving it except in the case of final passage as provided in
subparagraph (B)(ii).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0FBED3DFB74544DBB23E1730B41E73FD"><enum>(B)</enum><text>With respect to
the resolution described in subsection (a) (relating to the report in question)
of the House receiving the resolution—</text>
<clause id="H8674D0DB81754048BF3377AC40F33A03"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the
procedure in that House shall be the same as if no resolution (relating to the
same report) had been received from the other House; but</text>
</clause><clause id="HEC5B5B4D69BB4D75BBD424CBA49D5DFD"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the
vote on final passage shall be on the resolution of the other House.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H9AF2F9449EF4448195E53B8A407F0835"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Disposition of a
resolution</header><text>Upon disposition of the resolution received from the
other House, it shall no longer be in order to consider the resolution that
originated in the receiving House.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H23F3352FD65D47818816BC0924539CEB"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Rules of the
Senate and House</header><text>This section is enacted by Congress—</text>
<paragraph id="H78EBF2E780F748DA8C8FBEB6D268275F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>as an exercise of
the rulemaking power of the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively,
and as such it is deemed a part of the rules of each House, respectively, but
applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed in that House in
the case of a resolution described in subsection (a), and it supersedes other
rules only to the extent that it is inconsistent with such rules; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC96044476B1F4D8D8582CA699A35843C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>with full
recognition of the constitutional right of either House to change the rules (so
far as relating to the procedure of that House) at any time, in the same
manner, and to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that
House.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H3C491A3B9D4E4CA18080CC0E31D4F91A"><enum>107.</enum><header>Nonappealability
of decisions</header>
<subsection id="HEDF4B388DE1A4DD18CBB8531B881C610"><enum>(a)</enum><header>To
PRC</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The closing or
consolidation of any facility or office under this subtitle may not be appealed
to the Postal Regulatory Commission under section 404(d) of title 39, United
States Code, or any other provision of such title, or the subject of an
advisory opinion issued by the Postal Regulatory Commission under section 3661
of such title.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HCB7C2131C8F34924A9E06FD7C043DA74"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Judicial
review</header><text>No process, report, recommendation, or other action of the
Commission on Postal Reorganization shall be subject to judicial review.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H6D961626A5CE43038D1710470E446248"><enum>108.</enum><header>Rules of
construction</header>
<subsection id="H8ABF1ADF13AD484DA61FAC6DD6F7EE38"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Continued
availability of authority To close or consolidate postal facilities</header>
<paragraph id="H9DF715E6EA74486F99E2CDB7D3E90FC2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Nothing in this subtitle shall be considered to prevent
the Postal Service from closing or consolidating any postal facilities, in
accordance with otherwise applicable provisions of law, either before or after
the implementation of any closures or consolidations under this
subtitle.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCB17D4BF9BD9484DBA9C6184264D237C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Coordination
rule</header><text>No appeal or determination under section 404(d) of title 39,
United States Code, or any other provision of law shall delay, prevent, or
otherwise affect any closure or consolidation under this subtitle.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H070D50F76D94448C94ACCBC371C26669"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Inapplicability
of certain provisions</header>
<paragraph id="H85B7C71767634E98B88BB695B8F0BB7D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The provisions of law identified in paragraph (2)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H08F17D08C0F1428A84051C723C11D24D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall not apply to
any closure or consolidation carried out under this subtitle; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5C90A6354F39461C9F6BDE77E9420FB2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>shall not be taken
into account for purposes of carrying out section 103 or 104.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA67E383262554764B9F1AC9C3F056956"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Provisions
identified</header><text>The provisions of law under this paragraph are—</text>
<subparagraph id="H26C2F96152E54D7FB0A2F5EBE1908D8C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>section 101(b) of
title 39, United States Code; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H754E75F7461949D88679700A491E6A41"><enum>(B)</enum><text>section 404(d) of
title 39, United States Code.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="H1DBE37832CD244CBB86AADFD28422D94"><enum>B</enum><header>Other
provisions</header>
<section id="HFFAC3CA849AB4132AAC5441B831E5DB9"><enum>111.</enum><header>Frequency of
mail delivery</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 101 of
title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H698D6AFAB11C4005A93994600719454C" style="USC">
<subsection id="HEC3BE34D65314FE2BE12B29018351656"><enum>(h)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this title or any other
provision of law shall be considered to prevent the Postal Service from taking
whatever actions may be necessary to provide for 5-day delivery of mail and a
commensurate adjustment in rural delivery of mail, subject to the requirements
of section
3661.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="H746D25090E924BCDA8B568AB8874679D"><enum>112.</enum><header>Efficient and
flexible universal postal service</header>
<subsection id="H14407AB61E0D4B049BA7B57813BC73D6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Postal
policy</header>
<paragraph id="HE8BAF4E31430468EA790729DE4D1812F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Section 101(b) of title 39, United States Code, is
amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB1CA6B9A19B24B61BA0102E164EE34D3" style="USC">
<subsection id="HA13C67DDB1FE4DFFBA9E644AC19A5952"><enum>(b)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Postal Service shall provide effective
and regular postal services to rural areas, communities, and small towns where
post offices are not
self-sustaining.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H5152676F76B54E4A999444E2F63DF4DB"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HF1F590FBC7084C7D87F7E44CD921C8FA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Clause (iii) of section
404(d)(2)(A) of title 39, United States Code, is amended to read as
follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8CC33CC00BB641ABB5510E063883269B" style="USC">
<clause commented="no" id="H9F779C9EA7984DB38BBEC02F4EEB1717" indent="up1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">whether such closing or consolidation is
consistent with the policy of the Government, as stated in section 101(b), that
the Postal Service shall provide effective and regular postal services to rural
areas, communities, and small towns where post offices are not
self-sustaining;</text>
</clause><after-quoted-block>.
</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HD0146308993A4F9BB69444CC5914BB26" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Section 2401(b)(1) of title 39, United
States Code, is amended (in the matter before subparagraph (A)), by striking
<quote>a maximum degree of</quote>.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H58397DD1C5E84CBEAAFDF56173998453"><enum>(b)</enum><header>General
duty</header><text>Paragraph (3) of section 403(b) of title 39, United States
Code, is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H15123D00FCF9450DA0D3B820EE8254D7" style="USC">
<paragraph id="HA9E25272CBA34B6B8B963F4DC96B45ED"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to ensure that postal patrons throughout
the Nation will, consistent with reasonable economies of postal operations,
have ready access to essential postal
services.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HD72601ABD2F04AA89B4784545EEB0FB8"><enum>(c)</enum><header>PRC review of
determinations To close or consolidate a post office</header>
<paragraph id="H9BF821A5D0934E55A6598FCE787EDF56"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Deadline for
review</header><text>Section 404(d)(5) of title 39, United States Code, is
amended by striking <quote>120 days</quote> and inserting <quote>60
days</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H748AE25C8CEC4FFB9085B597DD19159A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exclusion from
review</header><text>Section 404(d) of title 39, United States Code, is amended
by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H28CFC2227CDD4910B87E7F7499368093" style="USC">
<paragraph id="H1337CF7D81C84E8C86C356C73E9162C6" indent="up1"><enum>(7)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H8BA685736A6E405E81A9A2E404E76723"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The appeals process set
forth in paragraph (5) shall not apply to a determination of the Postal Service
to close a post office if there is located, within 2 miles of such post office,
a qualified contract postal unit.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6A6E61C5437A482EB8AA48AFCD107E2B" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>For purposes of this
paragraph—</text>
<clause id="HD3CD2B0AD8354CCE97A31551946FE175"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the term <term>contract postal
unit</term> means a store or other place of business which—</text>
<subclause id="H7FB345AA57B64D2E8E9EAFFD9BC473E9"><enum>(I)</enum><text>is not owned or operated by the
Postal Service; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H6FEC162E3B654FA3B8FD7CE88D1B71AD"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in addition to its usual
operations, provides postal services to the general public under contract with
the Postal Service; and</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="HF8E2AB45EBED41CFB92E267FE4F09055"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the term <term>qualified contract
postal unit</term>, as used in connection with a post office, means a contract
postal unit which—</text>
<subclause id="HD3663118728B46098F3C4A000D9BAF4D"><enum>(I)</enum><text>begins to provide postal services
to the general public during the period—</text>
<item id="H19F721B0E92744208C9C777735D4D2C0"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>beginning 1 year before the date on
which the closure or consolidation of such post office is scheduled to take
effect; and</text>
</item><item id="H6C1CF9E4DC224B258AC0BA772CE5297F"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>ending on the 15th day after the date on
which the closure or consolidation of such post office is scheduled to take
effect; and</text>
</item></subclause><subclause id="HFF1998C02432446BBA9B0F1692B328AE"><enum>(II)</enum><text>has not, pursuant to subparagraph
(A), served as the basis for exempting any other post office from the appeals
process set forth in paragraph (5).</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H315A794EB89D4AA1B4D97C729FCCB04C" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HEF561FC2DD264735A3A199F302464EF4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>If the contract postal
unit (which is providing postal services that had been previously provided by
the post office that was closed) does not continue to provide postal services,
as required by subparagraph (B)(i)(II), for at least the 2-year period
beginning on the date on which such post office was closed, the contract postal
unit shall be subject to a closure determination by the Postal Service to
decide whether a post office must be reopened within the area (delimited by the
2-mile radius referred to in subparagraph (A)).</text>
</clause><clause id="HE9AB6462E1584D229620F0E72E87DD49" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A decision under clause (i) not to reopen a
post office may be appealed to the Postal Regulatory Commission under
procedures which the Commission shall by regulation prescribe. Such procedures
shall be based on paragraph (5), except that, for purposes of this clause,
paragraph (5)(C) shall be applied by substituting <quote>in violation of
section 101(b), leaving postal patrons without effective and regular access to
postal services</quote> for <quote>unsupported by substantial evidence on the
record</quote>.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H49B732A8C6564EB28E7658A13C8F9A5F"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Applicability</header><text>The
amendments made by this subsection shall not apply with respect to any appeal,
notice of which is received by the Postal Regulatory Commission before the date
of the enactment of this Act (determined applying the rules set forth in
section 404(d)(6) of title 39, United States Code).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H784A9DA6348743E79E7C156BEC84FA16"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Expedited
procedures</header>
<paragraph id="H21A2CC7326ED429FA1D488EB0C40EF30"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Section 3661 of title 39, United States Code, is amended
by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCAFA3A4553BA4E3D85FCF5F1C14E5F0E" style="USC">
<subsection id="H84BE0A1B79C742F2918E99E94A1F0D66"><enum>(d)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H3F567B3F3C344F0A95406B7F502E0AFA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Commission shall
issue its opinion within 90 days after the receipt of any proposal (as referred
to in subsection (b)) concerning—</text>
<subparagraph id="H900C0C7F6BBE403389BF691222246D74" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the closing or consolidation of post
offices to a degree that will generally affect service on a nationwide or
substantially nationwide basis; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H909FB583965C4071AED8CA2C9CA7ADE3" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an identical or substantially
identical proposal on which the Commission issued an opinion within the
preceding 5 years.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H3FDAF28CA0704EC1808F22BEDDF70072" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>If necessary in order to comply with
the 90-day requirement under paragraph (1), the Commission may apply expedited
procedures which the Commission shall by regulation
prescribe.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEAE27CE01BFA47A5ACF177DDA217C835"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>The
Postal Regulatory Commission shall prescribe any regulations necessary to carry
out the amendment made by paragraph (1) within 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8853D392997B40AEBCE15204CE97D7CB"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Applicability</header><text>The
amendment made by this subsection shall apply with respect to any proposal
received by the Postal Regulatory Commission on or after the earlier of—</text>
<subparagraph id="H064BF6B4A95E4829B99F5BF59A7E7A3A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the 90th day after
the date of the enactment of this Act; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8116AB2304D94B15BAA76C4F7EF302F6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the effective date
of the regulations under paragraph (2).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H628D704927014114A9F679E9132B431F"><enum>113.</enum><header>More
cost-efficient Postal Service contracting</header>
<subsection id="HB9F11EA2DF624A7D80B5C149EBE7FD6E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 410 of title
39, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="HA73074033FCA47A48F508928D20F00AE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (b),
by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCF661D6714C442409994EF6487EEF3BC" style="USC">
<paragraph commented="no" id="H6DC152F912EE4A31BEA5C55F99889B9D"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">sections 3114–3116, 3118, 3131, and
3133;</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and
</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H791BEABC442E4382A6E33C92A1B15710"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
subsection (d).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H204EE36D679C457C8169C8AA8C1C1A88"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Applicability</header><text>The
amendments made by subsection (a) shall be effective with respect to contracts
and agreements first entered into on or after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HBEC6657337C145D58E952867906D9632"><enum>114.</enum><header>Enhanced
reporting on Postal Service efficiency</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 3652(a) of title 39, United States
Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HE7B0703211A14A72A5165930D1F15FED"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1),
by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7645259D38D94877A16AA1D98816FEAB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (2),
by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC96762A2633145C7AD43AFE7BFF98B82"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding after
paragraph (2) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD82DB9B960F04C47AE77361293C738A7" style="USC">
<paragraph id="H20C7615ABDBD4859BB04C05F665BA0F3"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">which shall provide the overall change in
Postal Service productivity and the resulting effect of such change on overall
Postal Service costs during such year, using such methodologies as the
Commission shall by regulation
prescribe.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.
</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section></subtitle><enum>II</enum><header>Postal Service
Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority</header>
<subtitle id="H211012FF2FCE4F4B93F7E2C1BDB62D94"><enum>A</enum><header>Establishment and
Organization</header>
<section id="HFBFDE97BC7AE41FDBCC0D604702272C0"><enum>201.</enum><header>Purposes</header>
<subsection id="H71769FFB7D4245ADA1332AE764822F41"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Purposes</header><text>The
purposes of this title are as follows:</text>
<paragraph id="H4F9F785D2F9B413A8E5ADF8642D6DE78"><enum>(1)</enum><text>To eliminate
budget deficits and cash shortages of the Postal Service through visionary
financial planning, sound budgeting, accurate revenue forecasts, and careful
spending.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9568E2CF122B45FC99F8462D5A8C42FD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>To ensure the
universal service mandate detailed in section 101 of title 39, United States
Code, is maintained during a period of fiscal emergency.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA1BAA74511EF46C890585B3D458DAA48"><enum>(3)</enum><text>To conduct
necessary investigations and studies to determine the fiscal status and
operational efficiency of the Postal Service.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6235E086CD5B40BD817E442EB73F1DBE"><enum>(4)</enum><text>To assist the
Postal Service in—</text>
<subparagraph id="H6F81E011FC6549F8A157B21636A42C24"><enum>(A)</enum><text>restructuring its
organization and workforce to bring expenses in line with diminishing revenue
and generate sufficient profits for capital investment and repayment of
debt;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4A550E08C2AA454E8DE3D38253D6D258"><enum>(B)</enum><text>meeting all fiscal
obligations to the Treasury of the United States; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCC833111D6F542DB9D42D0E4E962512D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>ensuring the
appropriate and efficient delivery of postal services.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HD0D8EF960AD34F728B5D3634EB7D16F6"><enum>(5)</enum><text>To provide the
Postal Service with a temporary increase in its borrowing authority to enable
the Postal Service to complete necessary restructuring.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4FA542241884445A82E4311B12086964"><enum>(6)</enum><text>To ensure the
long-term financial, fiscal, and economic vitality and operational efficiency
of the Postal Service.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HFAFFA4CFD0534BB6A5F87B7CBDAE1C08"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Reservation of
powers</header><text>Nothing in this title may be construed—</text>
<paragraph id="H5E551128C5844D6FBC314F0094A21854"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to relieve any
obligations existing as of the date of the enactment of this Act of the Postal
Service to the Treasury of the United States; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H169C8CA895384D369921E0E25C97786A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to limit the
authority of Congress to exercise ultimate legislative authority over the
Postal Service.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H491C7250D042410CAF55BDA87D0E2C3B"><enum>202.</enum><header>Establishment
of the Authority</header>
<subsection id="HB40E077200B34A0788C3A1A485D248C2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There shall be established, upon the
commencement of any control period, an entity to be known as the <term>Postal
Service Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority</term>
(hereinafter in this title referred to as the <term>Authority</term>).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HC7902F7CDA9C41DEB96C25B7318C4DE1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Control
period</header>
<paragraph id="H60105BF36DA548C78842CC1CE496510B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Commencement of
a control period</header><text>For purposes of this title, a control period
commences whenever the Postal Service has been in default to the Treasury of
the United States, with respect to any loans, bonds, notes, or other form of
borrowing, for a period of at least 30 days.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H489D3288CA16446F8664FF9F595498D4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Treatment of
authorities and responsibilities of the Board of Governors, etc. during a
control period</header><text>During a control period—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HC6AD9F4168F34497B82576FF5A9AB0F8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>all authorities
and responsibilities of the Board of Governors, and the individual Governors,
of the Postal Service under title 39, United States Code, and any other
provision of law shall be assumed by the Authority; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H16EE2B6EAB7C4DFFA24E7A88A5FC1581"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Board of
Governors, and the individual Governors, may act in an advisory capacity
only.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC51F5696B19145CF82AF23A7660BE69C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Treatment of
certain Postal Service executives during a control period</header>
<subparagraph id="HDC012AAED7044205A19BCC59D6ACF2BF"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>For
the purposes of this section, the term <term>Level-Two Postal Service
Executive</term> includes the Postmaster General, the Deputy Postmaster
General, and all other officers or employees of the Postal Service in level two
of the Postal Career Executive Service (or the equivalent).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H608BA793B813461A834F222083B2F7D8"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Treatment</header><text>Notwithstanding
any other provision of law or employment contract, during a control
period—</text>
<clause id="H767544326DA349A689E129D3CB481E4F"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">all Level-Two Postal Service Executives
shall serve at the pleasure of the Authority;</text>
</clause><clause id="H9D9085432F554933AE64BF65581FB954"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the duties and responsibilities of all
Level-Two Postal Service Executives, as well as the terms and conditions of
their employment (including their compensation), shall be subject to
determination or redetermination by the Authority;</text>
</clause><clause id="HFBCA8D0E98424A818CA513CF8874159A"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>total
compensation of a Level-Two Postal Service Executive may not, for any year in
such control period, exceed the annual rate of basic pay payable for level I of
the Executive Schedule under section 5312 of title 5, United States Code, for
such year; for purposes of this clause, the term <term>total
compensation</term> means basic pay, bonuses, awards, and all other monetary
compensation;</text>
</clause><clause id="H001969C74EC249E181192CB76860DE93"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the
percentage by which the rate of basic pay of a Level-Two Postal Service
Executive is increased during any year in such control period may not exceed
the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers,
unadjusted for seasonal variation, for the most recent 12-month period
available, except that, in the case of a Level-Two Postal Service Executive who
has had a significant change in job responsibilities, a greater change shall be
allowable if approved by the Authority;</text>
</clause><clause id="H3E0D13C2243C4C118011866C5A01E7C3"><enum>(v)</enum><text>apart from basic
pay, a Level-Two Postal Service Executive may not be afforded any bonus, award,
or other monetary compensation for any fiscal year in the control period if
expenditures of the Postal Service for such fiscal year exceeded revenues of
the Postal Service for such fiscal year (determined in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles); and</text>
</clause><clause id="H4C98168C254A4252BD68D5247EA82691"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>no
deferred compensation may be paid, accumulated, or recognized in the case of
any Level-Two Postal Service Executive, with respect to any year in a control
period, which is not generally paid, accumulated, or recognized in the case of
employees of the United States (outside of the Postal Service) in level I of
the Executive Schedule under section 5312 of title 5, United States Code, with
respect to such year.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1525893972CA4071BF95F9CBCDB61120"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Bonus
authority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3686 of
title 39, United States Code, shall, during the period beginning on the
commencement date of the control period and ending on the termination date of
the control period—</text>
<clause id="H71B6CAADC1854CE4A1B8A8E68E056413"><enum>(i)</enum><text>be
suspended with respect to all Level-Two Postal Service Executives; but</text>
</clause><clause id="HD90F360235AF4A45AD612B567673AC5C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>remain in effect
for all other officers and employees of the Postal Service otherwise covered by
this section.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H690D68153591423B9D0BF0084B0E815B"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Termination of a
control period</header><text>Subject to subtitle D, a control period terminates
upon certification by the Authority, with the concurrence of the Secretary of
the Treasury and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management,
that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H3F644C86ACB84755B6A46F58B2C7731E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>for 2 consecutive
fiscal years (occurring after the date of the enactment of this Act),
expenditures of the Postal Service did not exceed revenues of the Postal
Service (as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEAD3A44DC49D421F99881A860AA0CB3C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Authority has
approved a Postal Service financial plan and budget that shows expenditures of
the Postal Service not exceeding revenues of the Postal Service (as so
determined) for the fiscal year to which such budget pertains and each of the
next 3 fiscal years; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H76D782DF5CEB4141A72CA769E7B70F7D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the Postal Service
financial plan and budget (as referred to in subparagraph (B)) includes plans
to properly fund Postal Service pensions and retiree health benefits in
accordance with law.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HBBE44024D20C40FDB35F168D5AB16873"><enum>203.</enum><header>Membership and
qualification requirements</header>
<subsection id="HB2BA4D5C7E8142ECA37B54BF22324E14"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Membership</header>
<paragraph id="H4A56DCDB54364218AF9FC59046171465"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Authority shall consist of 5 members appointed by the
President who meet the qualifications described in subsection (b), except that
the Authority may take any action under this title at any time after the
President has appointed 4 of its members.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC780700AB71643B9B00B9FC88548E44C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Recommendations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Of the 5 members so appointed—</text>
<subparagraph id="H75F1C2CC42214A14979CAC0252A06F65"><enum>(A)</enum><text>1 shall be
appointed from among individuals recommended by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBB74F526930E4EDDB4A84E56E1804124"><enum>(B)</enum><text>1 shall be
appointed from among individuals recommended by the majority leader of the
Senate;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2ECB04629D8E40189833371ABEF46252"><enum>(C)</enum><text>1 shall be
appointed from among individuals recommended by the minority leader of the
House of Representatives;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4630896C3D6C4CC8B9D1FEFF2547D4D2"><enum>(D)</enum><text>1 shall be
appointed from among individuals recommended by the minority leader of the
Senate; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HECBC88AF9AD94DF2BB0FE9223EE66FDC"><enum>(E)</enum><text>1 shall be
appointed from among individuals recommended by the Comptroller General.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H7B1EB64CC3A2498DA197CCB89FAB0E57"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Political
affiliation</header><text>No more than 3 members of the Authority may be of the
same political party.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H13C9696CD812493E88CA13AF97182ABF"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Chair</header><text>The
President shall designate 1 of the members of the Authority as the Chair of the
Authority.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H003A7E22B1D348F4AA4E57C54AA632EE"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Sense of
Congress regarding deadline for appointment</header><text>It is the sense of
Congress that the President should appoint the members of the Authority as soon
as practicable after the date on which a control period commences, but no later
than 30 days after such date.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H97FB7221308047E68F8F45ABB3880A0E"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Term of
service</header>
<subparagraph id="HC2D7BAC3AF29455C963E35B6C3D14ED1"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Except as provided in subparagraph (B), each member of
the Authority shall be appointed for a term of 3 years.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8A8795C41A0C43C6B6B795015FC59646"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Appointment for
term following initial term</header><text>As designated by the President at the
time of appointment for the term immediately following the initial term, of the
members appointed for the term immediately following the initial term—</text>
<clause id="HDF9598CC06FA4F08914F15AE35F10238"><enum>(i)</enum><text>1
member shall be appointed for a term of 1 year;</text>
</clause><clause id="HF41BCE19391C4EF39FC987B17C2AE270"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>2
members shall be appointed for a term of 2 years; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H2F49574C19674623A210C4582EE8AEFC"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>2
members shall be appointed for a term of 3 years.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1A8AFCEBDEC049E59B68D4825EE22B8C"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Removal</header><text>The
President may remove any member of the Authority only for cause.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9D3226A7D1A241A4BDCDD82CB05292F0"><enum>(D)</enum><header>No compensation
for service</header><text>Members of the Authority shall serve without pay, but
may receive reimbursement for any reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by
reason of service on the Authority.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H16FEFDFE5A7F4ADAB463463320A25014"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Qualification
requirements</header>
<paragraph id="H264CA71F68184F379A7CA2D8E4C80E4F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An individual meets
the qualifications for membership on the Authority if the individual—</text>
<subparagraph id="H5092F2F3B22C43F09AD1FB1D0E39E159"><enum>(A)</enum><text>has significant
knowledge and expertise in finance, management, and the organization or
operation of businesses having more than 500 employees; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE355160D30714C098B4B5F1464C4CCFF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>represents the
public interest generally, is not a representative of specific interests using
or belonging to the Postal Service, and does not have any business or financial
interest in any enterprise in the private sector of the economy engaged in the
delivery of mail matter.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA046805B39BF4ACFB3E0D76D21B4E356"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Specific
conditions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An individual
shall not be considered to satisfy paragraph (1)(B) if, at any time during the
5-year period ending on the date of appointment, such individual—</text>
<subparagraph id="HF36637169901433FBE35D9EC6FBF0A74"><enum>(A)</enum><text>has been an
officer, employee, or private contractor with the Postal Service or the Postal
Regulatory Commission; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC57BCA7E7C2E459586594256E353225E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>has served as an
employee or contractor of a labor organization representing employees of the
Postal Service or the Postal Regulatory Commission.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H70DFDED07A0D483CA45B33D2B17535AE"><enum>204.</enum><header>Organization</header>
<subsection id="H2DB49BEDBBCB4019BD08349E4DEA49BD"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Adoption of
by-Laws for conducting business</header><text>As soon as practicable after the
appointment of its members, the Authority shall adopt by-laws, rules, and
procedures governing its activities under this title, including procedures for
hiring experts and consultants. Upon adoption, such by-laws, rules, and
procedures shall be submitted by the Authority to the Postmaster General, the
President, and Congress.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H8B82823E196B451A885116CCE5CABEDE"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Certain
activities requiring approval of majority of members</header><text>Under its
by-laws, the Authority may conduct its operations under such procedures as it
considers appropriate, except that an affirmative vote of a majority of the
members of the Authority shall be required in order for the Authority
to—</text>
<paragraph id="H07FED49DBFFE42A9BD18147636577B4A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>approve or
disapprove a financial plan and budget as described by subtitle C;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H24B43A17203A4B049436FC2D4CFBEF74"><enum>(2)</enum><text>implement
recommendations on financial stability and management responsibility under
section 225;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF3FC7D2EA82A46918CE89680FD54F486"><enum>(3)</enum><text>take any action
under authority of section 202(b)(3)(B)(i);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2B8BE5944CE64349ACB7BA44D04721C7"><enum>(4)</enum><text>require the
immediate renegotiation of an existing collective bargaining agreement in
accordance with section 211(g)(1); or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA0C020DFF8CA4892BB7ED1CCDF865F4B"><enum>(5)</enum><text>reject, modify, or
terminate 1 or more terms of an existing collective bargaining agreement in
accordance with section 211(g)(2).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H57D3222A9FA54D5696FCDA0394DF208E"><enum>205.</enum><header>Executive
Director and staff</header>
<subsection id="H7377D50DB92E4F87AF44DC2D7CF535CB"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Executive
Director</header><text>The Authority shall have an Executive Director who shall
be appointed by the Chair with the consent of the Authority. The Executive
Director shall be paid at a rate determined by the Authority, except that such
rate may not exceed the rate of basic pay payable for level IV of the Executive
Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HD151A71681B24346A95F01B89D1E06D5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Staff</header><text>With
the approval of the Authority, the Executive Director may appoint and fix the
pay of such additional personnel as the Executive Director considers
appropriate, except that no individual appointed by the Executive Director may
be paid at a rate greater than the rate of pay for the Executive Director.
Personnel appointed under this subsection shall serve at the pleasure of the
Executive Director.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H76AE03AA9C4F4345823571D0E5F8F5D9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Inapplicability
of certain civil service laws</header><text>The Executive Director and staff of
the Authority may be appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5,
United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and paid
without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53
of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H3FDB3DC82F184E89A8EC32427DC88310"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Staff of Federal
agencies</header><text>Upon request of the Chair, the head of any Federal
department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis,
any of the personnel of such department or agency to the Authority to assist it
in carrying out its duties under this title.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HF7F173A6DC094B688F5E730465A3D1E4"><enum>206.</enum><header>Funding</header>
<subsection id="H6E8CB805B1FC47499772EB18D109F8B1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There are authorized
to be appropriated, out of the Postal Service Fund, such sums as may be
necessary for the Authority. In requesting an appropriation under this section
for a fiscal year, the Authority shall prepare and submit to the Congress under
section 2009 of title 39, United States Code, a budget of the Authority’s
expenses, including expenses for facilities, supplies, compensation, and
employee benefits not to exceed $10,000,000. In years in which a control period
commences, the Authority shall submit a budget within 30 days of the
appointment of the members of the Authority.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H68A2B021D75D4A70A567E2FA9E1884AF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Amendment to
section 2009</header><text>Section 2009 of title 39, United States Code, is
amended in the next to last sentence—</text>
<paragraph id="H1B1EE443C72840B89B4C66529D7E4EFB"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>, and (3)</quote> and inserting <quote>, (3)</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H28747DD9B6F4458885B162C53D02ABD3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking the
period and inserting <quote>, and (4) the Postal Service Financial
Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority requests to be appropriated,
out of the Postal Service Fund, under section 206 of the
<short-title>Postal Reform Act of
2011</short-title>.</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="H84E1EB5596744A6EAC86257FC6AB0207"><enum>B</enum><header>Powers of the
Authority</header>
<section id="H844A24D7EAD0422B9461EF36C57703E2"><enum>211.</enum><header>Powers</header>
<subsection id="HAFC05200010D4956BEA7B2DDCF3D2D8C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Powers of
members and agents</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any member
or agent of the Authority may, if authorized by the Authority, take any action
which the Authority is authorized by this section to take.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H2D73A0CEBF8F4A5D96EC3770A2328E04"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Obtaining
official data from the Postal Service</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
the Authority may secure copies of such records, documents, information, or
data from any entity of the Postal Service necessary to enable the Authority to
carry out its responsibilities under this title. At the request of the
Authority, the Authority shall be granted direct access to such information
systems, records, documents, information, or data as will enable the Authority
to carry out its responsibilities under this title. The head of the relevant
entity of the Postal Service shall provide the Authority with such information
and assistance (including granting the Authority direct access to automated or
other information systems) as the Authority requires under this
subsection.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H1897808B56F341798B30F05D180CEC1E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Gifts, bequests,
and devises</header><text>The Authority may accept, use, and dispose of gifts,
bequests, or devises of services or property, both real and personal, for the
purpose of aiding or facilitating the work of the Authority. Gifts, bequests,
or devises of money and proceeds from sales of other property received as
gifts, bequests, or devises shall be deposited in such account as the Authority
may establish and shall be available for disbursement upon order of the
Chair.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HB14AB435DB13423BB90A86C502896358"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Administrative
support services</header><text>Upon the request of the Authority, the
Administrator of General Services may provide to the Authority, on a
reimbursable basis, the administrative support services necessary for the
Authority to carry out its responsibilities under this title.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H862920988AB24E728E5E804A5D965C48"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Authority To
enter into contracts</header><text>The Executive Director may enter into such
contracts as the Executive Director considers appropriate (subject to the
approval of the Chair) to carry out the Authority’s responsibilities under this
title.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H335E386AA2824D0BA9BAA6EBCD4102C5"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Civil actions To
enforce powers</header><text>The Authority may seek judicial enforcement of its
authority to carry out its responsibilities under this title.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H610A03C3475C4AC8A8C09414B1E619E0"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Collective
bargaining</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law—</text>
<paragraph id="H17C278EB4924451DAA657BE98E8388A8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Authority may
require the renegotiation of an existing collective bargaining agreement to
achieve specific economic savings and workforce flexibility goals; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H882ADBC5F385477499E78FB3A837C896"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">after meeting and conferring with the
appropriate bargaining representative, the Authority may reject, modify, or
terminate 1 or more terms or conditions of an existing collective bargaining
agreement if—</text>
<subparagraph id="HFEF63A22E7684A1DBF6CD093FA9FE9A4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a prompt and
satisfactory agreement under paragraph (1) is unlikely; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9079F3B4093F499EB394CB214624EA83"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the judgment of
the Authority, the rejection, modification, or termination—</text>
<clause id="HE081584472C44D239D24E76A964C9D22"><enum>(i)</enum><text>is
reasonable and necessary for the Postal Service to be a financially viable
provider of universal postal service to the Nation; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H7414FAD1D80041F786E62835A3821C03"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>is
designed to achieve the specific economic savings or workforce flexibility
goals (as the case may be) referred to in paragraph (1).</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H32EF9222F8394D849B5A0644A7520DFE"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Penalties</header>
<paragraph id="HAA2B6268ACE34264838EE550AF2E521B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Administrative
discipline</header><text>Any officer or employee of the Postal Service who
takes or fails to take any action which is noncompliant with any directive or
other order of the Authority under section 225(c) shall be subject to
appropriate administrative discipline, including suspension from duty without
pay or removal from office, by order of either the Postmaster General or the
Authority.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDD3B66392613482D8B5FE2CAB3DAC9F3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Reporting
requirement</header><text>Whenever an officer or employee of the Postal Service
takes or fails to take any action which is noncompliant with any directive or
other order of the Authority under section 225(c), the Postmaster General shall
immediately report to the Authority all pertinent facts, together with a
statement of any actions taken by the Postmaster General or proposed by the
Postmaster General to be taken under paragraph (1).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H3C7043F101DC4D41B4E5D90858A44422"><enum>212.</enum><header>Exemption from
liability for claims</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The
Authority and its members may not be liable for any obligation of or claim
against the Postal Service resulting from actions taken to carry out this
title.</text>
</section><section id="H8BCA82A8199147359C20EC13197C1FE2"><enum>213.</enum><header>Treatment of
actions arising under this title</header>
<subsection id="HF7989BC5AF394D4B953B9DE177BC97B1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Jurisdiction
established in United States Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia</header><text>A person (including the Postal Service) adversely
affected or aggrieved by an order or decision of the Authority may, within 30
days after such order or decision becomes final, institute proceedings for
review thereof by filing a petition in the United States Court of Appeals for
the District of Columbia. The court shall review the order or decision in
accordance with section 706 of title 5, United States Code, and chapter 158 and
section 2112 of title 28, United States Code, on the basis of the record before
the Authority.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H9D95DFC3179A4A08932478DA956EB597"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Prompt appeal to
the Supreme Court</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
review by the Supreme Court of the United States of a decision of the Court of
Appeals which is issued pursuant to subsection (a) may be had only if the
petition for such review is filed within 10 days after the entry of such
decision.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HEED20BEC44574600B61272DC2541D2CE"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Timing of
relief</header><text>No order of any court granting declaratory or injunctive
relief against the Authority, including relief permitting or requiring the
obligation, borrowing, or expenditure of funds, shall take effect during the
pendency of the action before such court, during the time appeal may be taken,
or (if appeal is taken) during the period before the court has entered its
final order disposing of such action.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H176CCA8B4D10436F8B93CEE122EB9CF5"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Expedited
consideration</header><text>It shall be the duty of the United States Court of
Appeals for the District of Columbia and the Supreme Court of the United States
to advance on the docket and to expedite to the greatest possible extent the
disposition of any matter brought under subsection (a).</text>
</subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="H09B9C36E89544C868969AF1AFA04B7E0"><enum>C</enum><header>Establishment and
Enforcement of Financial Plan and Budget for the Postal Service</header>
<section id="H66F408C03D9743ED81F88CE08DD21309"><enum>221.</enum><header>Development of
financial plan and budget for the Postal Service</header>
<subsection id="H3A0977C54E0749C4A822E31334A63BFF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Development of
financial plan and budget</header><text>For each fiscal year for which the
Postal Service is in a control period, the Postmaster General shall develop and
submit to the Authority a financial plan and budget for the Postal Service in
accordance with this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H63AE3C7DC0A548A9940423242B3DD2E4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contents of
financial plan and budget</header><text>A financial plan and budget for the
Postal Service for a fiscal year shall specify the budget for the Postal
Service as required by section 2009 of title 39, United States Code, for the
applicable fiscal year and the next 3 fiscal years, in accordance with the
following requirements:</text>
<paragraph id="H4D99B5E42C614971B1A33D27957418BB"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The financial plan
and budget shall meet the standards described in subsection (c) to promote the
financial stability of the Postal Service.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7F7A204667094A8B9A2A4EBD63C9274C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The financial plan
and budget shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H77BD18C50BC54AF6A2E4D548A6BE2499"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">include the Postal Service’s annual budget
program (under section 2009 of title 39, United States Code) and the Postal
Service’s plan commonly referred to as its <term>Integrated Financial
Plan</term>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H63D82FB1B7564F9FBFA8DA416114FB39"><enum>(B)</enum><text>describe lump-sum
expenditures by all categories traditionally used by the Postal Service;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC775330769FB413BA27011807F14EDBE"><enum>(C)</enum><text>describe capital
expenditures (together with a schedule of projected capital commitments and
cash outlays of the Postal Service and proposed sources of funding);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2FFD1CF469DD4AE4AE4BB3063BA4566B"><enum>(D)</enum><text>contain estimates
of overall debt (both outstanding and anticipated to be issued); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H68C28BA720BE43AA9958D1646796E527"><enum>(E)</enum><text>contain cash flow
and liquidity forecasts for the Postal Service at such intervals as the
Authority may require.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HE3A943735D0C4D2B878C65EC41A64DA9"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The financial plan
and budget shall include a statement describing methods of estimations and
significant assumptions.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6FCC073A15374AAF932B7969BAC3E168"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The financial plan
and budget shall include any other provisions and shall meet such other
criteria as the Authority considers appropriate to meet the purposes of this
title, including provisions for—</text>
<subparagraph id="H40F0749CF8CD409A9FB3B7902A7AB841"><enum>(A)</enum><text>changes in
personnel policies and levels for each component of the Postal Service;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8C41EA472CB3443DBFEE39EA9C3797F5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>management
initiatives to promote productivity, improvement in the delivery of services,
or cost savings.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H3918BC03FEA5407695E2839B17CD3ADA"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Standards To
promote financial stability</header>
<paragraph id="H643EF48C85A2442EBBF647999D28682C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The standards to promote the financial stability of the
Postal Service applicable to the financial plan and budget for a fiscal year
are as follows:</text>
<subparagraph id="HEC489DC3E4034AD7A3ECF79822643E70"><enum>(A)</enum><text>In each fiscal
year (following the first full fiscal year) in a control period, budgeted
expenditures of the Postal Service for the fiscal year involved may not exceed
budgeted revenues of the Postal Service for the fiscal year involved.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC360A4B50734441495BCC9CFAADEB8AC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>In each fiscal
year in a control period, the Postal Service shall make continuous, substantial
progress towards long-term fiscal solvency and shall have either a lower
deficit or greater surplus than in the previous fiscal year.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H529BD043845D43C594CDBBC9F0E62E1C"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The financial plan
and budget shall assure the continuing long-term financial stability of the
Postal Service, as indicated by factors such as the efficient management of the
Postal Service’s workforce and the effective provision of services by the
Postal Service.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H28F6FF515CDB47DA8D75B41B868FBC4E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Application of
sound budgetary practices</header><text>In meeting the standard described in
paragraph (1) with respect to a financial plan and budget for a fiscal year,
the Postal Service shall apply sound budgetary practices, including reducing
costs and other expenditures, improving productivity, increasing revenues, or a
combination of such practices.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFDF42F5A9E884600B91CC559C373DC48"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Assumptions
based on current law</header><text>In meeting the standards described in
paragraph (1) with respect to a financial plan and budget for a fiscal year,
the Postal Service shall base estimates of revenues and expenditures on Federal
law as in effect at the time of the preparation of such financial plan and
budget.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H96278813D5D94CAF96E14BA297A52C9C"><enum>222.</enum><header>Process for
submission and approval of financial plan and budget</header>
<subsection id="H091D9D7141C34AA0AD9A84C457822B89"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>For each fiscal year for which the Postal Service is in a
control period, the Postmaster General shall submit to the Authority—</text>
<paragraph id="H0B4E333AD4E44548B71E2F208B791B61"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by February 1
before the start of such fiscal year, a preliminary financial plan and budget
under section 221 for such fiscal year; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC52CAFD56AB84949A8DCE1E31BBCB580"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by August 31
before the start of such fiscal year, a final financial plan and budget under
section 221 for such fiscal year.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H2415493D71D14CF380E6C7A056296339"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Review by
Authority</header><text>Upon receipt of a financial plan and budget under
subsection (a) (whether preliminary or final), the Authority shall promptly
review such financial plan and budget. In conducting the review, the Authority
may request any additional information it considers necessary and appropriate
to carry out its duties under this subtitle.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H68BAE4850BAA4C518195568292CA72F4"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Approval of
Postmaster General’s financial plan and budget</header>
<paragraph id="HDFFAB9EE3FB44821B32482627E8C657A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Certification to
Postmaster General</header>
<subparagraph id="H704374BE884941C0B5BD4FBE3CC0974B"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>If the Authority determines that the final financial plan
and budget for the fiscal year submitted by the Postmaster General under
subsection (a) meets the requirements of section 221—</text>
<clause id="HFE95296E087C495D960BC7B32B324ED6"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the
Authority shall approve the financial plan and budget and shall provide the
Postmaster General, the President, and Congress with a notice certifying its
approval; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H5C1223829AAD45C4831C541EBE9331CD"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the
Postmaster General shall promptly submit the annual budget program to the
Office of Management and Budget pursuant to section 2009 of title 39, United
States Code.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE21B1F88769D44A99791466728DD0C95"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Deemed approval
after 30 days</header>
<clause id="H1F068D1A741746A79A82D3DC90E6644D"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>If the Authority has not provided the Postmaster General,
the President, and Congress with a notice certifying approval under
subparagraph (A)(i) or a statement of disapproval under subsection (d) before
the expiration of the 30-day period which begins on the date the Authority
receives the financial plan and budget from the Postmaster General under
subsection (a), the Authority shall be deemed to have approved the financial
plan and budget and to have provided the Postmaster General, the President, and
Congress with the notice certifying approval under subparagraph (A)(i).</text>
</clause><clause id="H0E23B6E58E7D47CFB2793A9813A43F12"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Explanation of
failure to respond</header><text>If clause (i) applies with respect to a
financial plan and budget, the Authority shall provide the Postmaster General,
the President and Congress with an explanation for its failure to provide the
notice certifying approval or the statement of disapproval during the 30-day
period described in such clause.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1AFC594239644DC081166395636332BE"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Disapproval of
Postmaster General’s budget</header><text>If the Authority determines that the
final financial plan and budget for the fiscal year submitted by the Postmaster
General under subsection (a) does not meet the requirements applicable under
section 221, the Authority shall disapprove the financial plan and budget, and
shall provide the Postmaster General, the President, and Congress with a
statement containing—</text>
<paragraph id="H36D238A42F0E424387A54B39E6A82488"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the reasons for
such disapproval;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7B5F1A0821C24144BAAA85284F765FF5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the amount of any
shortfall in the budget or financial plan; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE705D06D64E942E9A05B7209DFD9E2CB"><enum>(3)</enum><text>any
recommendations for revisions to the budget the Authority considers appropriate
to ensure that the budget is consistent with the financial plan and
budget.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1AAD3504E97C436DAB30365F0596B2E7"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Authority review
of Postmaster General’s revised final financial plan and budget</header>
<paragraph id="H27775DC76C094385AF6014BC464C1730"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Submission of
Postmaster General’s revised final financial plan and budget</header><text>Not
later than 15 days after receiving the statement from the Authority under
subsection (d), the Postmaster General shall promptly adopt a revised final
financial plan and budget for the fiscal year which addresses the reasons for
the Authority’s disapproval cited in the statement, and shall submit such
financial plan and budget to the Authority.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFA411660F7004E6E9305F8FF8D34DF9B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Approval of
Postmaster General’s revised final financial plan and budget</header><text>If,
after reviewing the revised final financial plan and budget for a fiscal year
submitted by the Postmaster General under paragraph (1) in accordance with the
procedures described in this section, the Authority determines that the revised
final financial plan and budget meets the requirements applicable under section
221—</text>
<subparagraph id="HF90FC6FF76854FF7B0AC8BC3FFDE20C2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Authority
shall approve the financial plan and budget and shall provide the Postmaster
General, the President, and Congress with a notice certifying its approval;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD273B085FB254B08AA83C9B75B153B0F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Postmaster
General shall promptly submit the annual budget program to the Office of
Management and Budget pursuant to section 2009 of title 39, United States
Code.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA90BF8AA17F44CE881BC42241905D3E1"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Disapproval of
Postmaster General’s revised final financial plan and budget</header>
<subparagraph id="H68936510CDE742779DCFC42E88C9FA1A"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>If, after reviewing the revised final financial plan and
budget for a fiscal year submitted by the Postmaster General under paragraph
(1) in accordance with the procedures described in this subsection, the
Authority determines that the revised final financial plan and budget does not
meet the applicable requirements under section 221, the Authority shall—</text>
<clause id="HD4787DE9A37C417F8C8C5F30026C73E7"><enum>(i)</enum><text>disapprove the
financial plan and budget;</text>
</clause><clause id="H31D0C32DE9824C908566094450BFD9FA"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>provide the
Postmaster General, the President, and Congress with a statement containing the
reasons for such disapproval and describing the amount of any shortfall in the
financial plan and budget; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H146B2EC59B8644038EC41DC72DB1CCA3"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>approve and
recommend a financial plan and budget for the Postal Service which meets the
applicable requirements under section 221, and submit such financial plan and
budget to the Postmaster General, the President, and Congress.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H59672763230A4922851ACE41F5807762"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Submission to
OMB</header><text>Upon receipt of the recommended financial plan and budget
subparagraph (A)(iii), the Postmaster General shall promptly submit the
recommended annual budget program to the Office of Management and Budget
pursuant to section 2009 of title 39, United States Code.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB7B9FE716637423D92C1BD32A49B90AA"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Deemed approval
after 15 days</header>
<subparagraph id="H201D35CF9E8B4E3185A811BBF9B9B305"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>If the Authority has not provided the Postmaster General,
the President, and Congress with a notice certifying approval under paragraph
(2)(A) or a statement of disapproval under paragraph (3) before the expiration
of the 15-day period which begins on the date the Authority receives the
revised final financial plan and budget submitted by the Postmaster General
under paragraph (1), the Authority shall be deemed to have approved the revised
final financial plan and budget and to have provided the Postmaster General,
the President, and Congress with the notice certifying approval described in
paragraph (2)(A).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC08627E5FFF14474AD4F8E67483A83B0"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Explanation of
failure to respond</header><text>If subparagraph (A) applies with respect to a
financial plan and budget, the Authority shall provide the Postmaster General,
the President and Congress with an explanation for its failure to provide the
notice certifying approval or the statement of disapproval during the 15-day
period described in such subparagraph.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE7562DC80D18422593DD45ADE4487EF8"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Deadline for
transmission of financial plan and budget by
Authority</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of this section,
not later than June 15 before each fiscal year which is a control period, the
Authority shall—</text>
<paragraph id="HB32EBF276A5E4AC08EDBB4C46E9F66C0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>provide Congress
with a notice certifying its approval of the Postmaster General’s initial
financial plan and budget for the fiscal year under subsection (c)(1);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H41624E0F699D42F8BEBE2E38C096772C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>provide Congress
with a notice certifying its approval of the Postmaster General’s revised final
financial plan and budget for the fiscal year under subsection (e)(2);
or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFE7486DE73A344CC936E12445F5F29C0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>submit to Congress
an approved and recommended financial plan and budget of the Authority for the
Postal Service for the fiscal year under subsection (e)(3)(A)(iii).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H66C1B33063A940E1A1F29ECC3B048D95"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Revisions to
financial plan and budget</header>
<paragraph id="H1DD10D00194D41B8824521B26F37E8D8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Permitting
Postmaster General to submit revisions</header><text>The Postmaster General may
submit proposed revisions to the financial plan and budget for a control period
to the Authority at any time during the year.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0B9514EEDA744C8B8694BBD7918D789E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Process for
review, approval, disapproval, and Postmaster General
action</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (3), the procedures
described in subsections (b), (c), (d), and (e) shall apply with respect to a
proposed revision to a financial plan and budget in the same manner as such
procedures apply with respect to the original financial plan and budget.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H75D359D98FA24A5A8FEA2308711B8EF4"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Exception for
revisions not affecting spending</header><text>To the extent that a proposed
revision to a financial plan and budget adopted by the Postmaster General
pursuant to this subsection does not increase the amount of spending with
respect to any account of the Postal Service, the revision shall become
effective upon the Authority’s approval of such revision.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H84A7CDBDAFBE4E5AA7539A7D1CE640A8"><enum>223.</enum><header>Responsibilities
of the Authority</header>
<subsection id="H388478614AD7403397DCAE69B7A1914F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Authority shall direct the exercise of the powers of
the Postal Service, including—</text>
<paragraph id="HB04436340DEA4AABA4F59B8D7007F891"><enum>(1)</enum><text>determining its
vision and overall strategies;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9F23DA13581140B88267A17F99D25FA4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>determining its
organizational structure, particularly for senior management at the level of
vice president and higher;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6C4379BBB21A4A49B5476CDB20492CA1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>hiring,
monitoring, compensating, and, when necessary, replacing senior management at
the level of vice president and higher, as well as ensuring adequate succession
planning for these positions;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEFAA62080D86450F8F6930149B7591A4"><enum>(4)</enum><text>approving major
policies, particularly those that have an important effect on the Postal
Service’s financial position and the provision of universal postal
service;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H558F260E6CCC4F88A6B3BD11160D4FF4"><enum>(5)</enum><text>approving
corporate budgets, financial and capital plans, operational and service
performance standards and targets, human resources strategies, collective
bargaining strategies, negotiation parameters, and collective bargaining
agreements, and the compensation structure for nonbargaining employees;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFBADB70EBD0D4882B4360CB4C0E78297"><enum>(6)</enum><text>approving
substantial capital projects and any substantial disposition of capital assets,
such as surplus property;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4CF2FAC01B46479BBE2476A33B799C29"><enum>(7)</enum><text>approving changes
in rates and classifications, new products and services, policy regarding other
substantial matters before the Postal Regulatory Commission, and any appeals of
its decisions or orders to the Federal courts;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE5B8A8D628EF428A9876008671213701"><enum>(8)</enum><text>approving the
Postal Service Annual Report, Annual Comprehensive Statement, and strategic
plans, performance plans, and performance program reports under chapter 28 of
title 39, United States Code;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFAF5F583A0A043D9AC9CE5A2867FF929"><enum>(9)</enum><text>formulating and
communicating organizational policy and positions on legislative and other
public policy matters to Congress and the public;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDED0D5716D0446CBA62940242DF7EFCF"><enum>(10)</enum><text>ensuring
organizational responsiveness to oversight by Congress, the Postal Regulatory
Commission, the Treasury of the United States, and other audit entities;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2EE703CD93914FE0ABD2A3545FC978EF"><enum>(11)</enum><text>ensuring adequate
internal controls and selecting, monitoring, and compensating an independent
public accounting firm to conduct an annual audit of the Postal Service;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAE205E4BECB940D1B1171AA569FFAF88"><enum>(12)</enum><text>carrying out any
responsibility, not otherwise listed in this subsection, that was the
responsibility of the Board of Governors at any time during the 5-year period
ending on the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H990F56E83BCD409C99E3D22D10E84B97"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Review of Postal
Service proposals</header>
<paragraph id="H7ED5EB31D02546C88BD73549EAE8F54F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Submission of
Postal Service proposals to the Authority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">During a control period, the Postmaster
General shall submit to the Authority any proposal that has a substantial
effect on any item listed in subsection (a).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H270DD144D4F24BFE9BD1F3400452ECF6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Prompt review by
Authority</header><text>Upon receipt of a proposal from the Postmaster General
under paragraph (1), the Authority shall promptly review the proposal to
determine whether it is consistent with the applicable financial plan and
budget approved under this title.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDAB8037EB08F49F4A8BBB653992D8773"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Actions by
Authority</header>
<subparagraph id="H841974EC79174142B0C4CF780B5D322A"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Approval</header><text>If
the Authority determines that a proposal is consistent with the applicable
financial plan and budget, the Authority shall notify the Postmaster General
that it approves the proposal.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB9C9BC07FEC443298EE66B3B36CF64AB"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Finding of
inconsistency</header><text>If the Authority determines that a proposal is
significantly inconsistent with the applicable financial plan and budget, the
Authority shall—</text>
<clause id="H95C717BAD0C748B5AE57590349A5F7D6"><enum>(i)</enum><text>notify the
Postmaster General of its finding;</text>
</clause><clause id="HD5C6750CA6D446DA9F7BFFE006C398B3"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>provide the
Postmaster General with an explanation of the reasons for its finding;
and</text>
</clause><clause id="H83DCC3D3C8AD44659E18CDC874BF78FF"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>to
the extent the Authority considers appropriate, provide the Postmaster General
with recommendations for modifications to the proposal.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H7BC3B5DB5CDF40F1B7A722C7B710FFEA"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Deemed
approval</header><text>If the Authority does not notify the Postmaster General
that it approves or disapproves a proposal submitted under this subsection
during the 7-day period which begins on the date the Postmaster General submits
the proposal to the Authority, the Authority shall be deemed to have approved
the proposal in accordance with paragraph (3)(A). At the option of the
Authority, the previous sentence shall be applied as if the reference in such
sentence to <quote>7-day period</quote> were a reference to <quote>14-day
period</quote> if, during the 7-day period referred to in the preceding
sentence, the Authority so notifies the Postmaster General.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H9161CDEC887742C4A6A94F64A3D3B3F8"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effect of
approved financial plan and budget on contracts and leases</header>
<paragraph id="H42FD47E8AFCF44C888A4EE3980FB0326"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Mandatory prior
approval for certain contracts and leases</header>
<subparagraph id="H7255F10FB41C4380917234825DFA8367"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In the case of a contract or lease described in
subparagraph (B) which is proposed to be entered into, renewed, modified, or
extended by the Postal Service during a control period, the Postmaster General
(or the appropriate officer or agent of the Postal Service) shall submit the
proposed contract or lease to the Authority. The Authority shall review each
contract or lease submitted under this subparagraph, and the Postmaster General
(or the appropriate officer or agent of the Postal Service) may not enter into
the contract or lease unless the Authority determines that the proposed
contract or lease is consistent with the financial plan and budget for the
fiscal year.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2A6B73D8987D49F58938D069A2F7BDDF"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Contracts and
leases described</header><text>A contract or lease described in this
subparagraph is—</text>
<clause id="H91D412B0E3E84AF383F51B9CABB7ED3F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a
labor contract entered into through collective bargaining; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H971F397BBCBE49AFAAAFA4712453ADB3"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>such other type
of contract or lease as the Authority may specify for purposes of this
subparagraph.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H01AEEA6ABD5C44C8B0988437163D471E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Authority to
review other contracts after execution</header>
<subparagraph id="H4A5C7A7B75F24AAB8A739B2EC3B03FB3"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In addition to the prior approval of certain contracts
and leases, the Postal Service shall submit to the Authority—</text>
<clause id="H73F8984B353B490D8BB4089762124873"><enum>(i)</enum><text>any
Level-Two Post Career Executive Service employee contract that is in effect
during a control period; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HCAE62CDC55E24FE58C245A65D6CD3AE5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any
collective bargaining agreement entered into by the Postal Service that is in
effect during a control period.</text>
</clause><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subparagraph">Any such
contract or agreement shall be submitted to the Authority upon the commencement
of a control period and at such other times as the Authority may
require.</continuation-text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H64A455257F624304AACF95CC12B830FF"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Review by
authority</header><text>The Authority shall review each contract submitted
under subparagraph (A) to determine if the contract is consistent with the
financial plan and budget for the fiscal year. If the Authority determines that
the contract is not consistent with the financial plan and budget, the
Authority shall take such actions as are within the Authority’s powers to
revise the contract.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HF08FA0D2173F42F7AB166BEE7F206F75"><enum>224.</enum><header>Effect of
finding noncompliance with financial plan and budget</header>
<subsection id="H4AF63A2B6BBC49C2A2F55DC4C9317ED7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Submission of
reports</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the expiration of each
quarter of each fiscal year beginning in a control period, the Postmaster
General shall submit reports to the Authority describing the actual revenues
obtained and expenditures made by the Postal Service during the quarter with
its cash flows during the quarter, and comparing such actual revenues,
expenditures, and cash flows with the most recent projections for these
items.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H4A1D573684E741D8A195C44C8E629944"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Additional
information</header><text>If the Authority determines, based on reports
submitted by the Postmaster General under subsection (a), independent audits,
or such other information as the Authority may obtain, that the revenues or
expenditures of the Postal Service during a control period are not consistent
with the financial plan and budget for the year, the Authority shall require
the Postmaster General to provide such additional information as the Authority
determines to be necessary to explain the inconsistency.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HC83D9D998DDE4059A9A0DD0CC71C1958"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Certification of
variance</header>
<paragraph id="H9D95DB469FE5463C891CD602FE5DB751"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>After requiring the Postmaster General to provide
additional information under subsection (b), the Authority shall certify to the
Postmaster General, the President, the Secretary of the Treasury, and Congress
that the Postal Service is at variance with the financial plan and budget
unless—</text>
<subparagraph id="HDEF640E0126B4C73849E12560F7BA9EF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the additional
information provides an explanation for the inconsistency which the Authority
finds reasonable and appropriate; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H35DDAB395012458BB15471624CC4CF93"><enum>(B)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H5E0C4F90B3C5478A9345FB5ADFBE6366"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Postal Service
adopts or implements remedial action (including revising the financial plan and
budget pursuant to section 222(g)) to correct the inconsistency which the
Authority finds reasonable and appropriate, taking into account the terms of
the financial plan and budget; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H98769D53E26B42AFB72236D0FB61A4A7" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Postmaster General agrees to
submit the reports described in subsection (a) on a monthly basis for such
period as the Authority may require.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC28D615A977D441B9D1D20ADFC35539D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Special rule for
inconsistencies attributable to acts of Congress</header>
<subparagraph id="H56DBAB0E67A34A47BE2FEBCAE89B9792"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Determination by
authority</header><text>If the Authority determines that the revenues or
expenditures of the Postal Service during a control period are not consistent
with the financial plan and budget for the year as approved by the Authority
under section 222 as a result of the terms and conditions of any law enacted by
Congress which affects the Postal Service, the Authority shall so notify the
Postmaster General.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB69BC508BC504D19ACD885CD9CE45062"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Certification</header><text>In
the case of an inconsistency described in subparagraph (A), the Authority shall
certify to the Postmaster General, the President, the Secretary of the
Treasury, and Congress that the Postal Service is at variance with the
financial plan and budget unless the Postal Service adopts or implements
remedial action (including revising the financial plan and budget pursuant to
section 202(e)) to correct the inconsistency which the Authority finds
reasonable and appropriate, taking into account the terms of the financial plan
and budget.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HD847B95BE05345B5861C76AC41E52927"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Effect of
certification</header><text>If the Authority certifies to the Secretary of the
Treasury that a variance exists the Authority or the Secretary may withhold
access by the Postal Service to additional supplementary debt authorized by
this title.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HE80A68BBA9084DB0914056B2E49F544E"><enum>225.</enum><header>Recommendations
regarding financial stability, etc</header>
<subsection id="H2FD53F5F21694D24B5EE7C8882CD38BE"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Authority may at any time submit recommendations to
the Postmaster General, the President, and Congress on actions the Postal
Service or any other entity of the Federal Government should take to ensure
compliance by the Postal Service with a financial plan and budget or to
otherwise promote the financial stability, management responsibility, and
service delivery efficiency of the Postal Service, including recommendations
relating to—</text>
<paragraph id="H6D7FEFFC1F1C497BAF8B89860A823802"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the management of
the Postal Service’s financial affairs, including cash forecasting, information
technology, placing controls on expenditures for personnel, reducing benefit
costs, reforming procurement practices, and placing other controls on
expenditures;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8C372A164ACD4AC6AD091850D74280BD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the relationship
between the Postal Service and other entities of the Federal Government;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H83C07BC982DA49BD972B847D494A11E7"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the structural
relationship of subdivisions within the Postal Service;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBCE42839FEED49E882FD5D8D7817EF64"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the modification
of existing revenue structures, or the establishment of additional revenue
structures;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB608C49EA41544B1AEC894A9F8660718"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the establishment
of alternatives for meeting obligations to pay for the pensions and retirement
benefits of current and future Postal Service retirees;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H36B1852465D843E5B6B84F757080BEE5"><enum>(6)</enum><text>modifications of
services which are the responsibility of and are delivered by the Postal
Service;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H87A6535C263E4E07B263A4D0AF0671BD"><enum>(7)</enum><text>modifications of
the types of services which are delivered by entities other than the Postal
Service under alternative service delivery mechanisms;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HECF2128829B449CDA72C762CD26AF2FC"><enum>(8)</enum><text>the effects of
Federal Government laws and court orders on the operations of the Postal
Service;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H656ECA9D6C0347A5A827821C69732B7A"><enum>(9)</enum><text>the increased use
of a personnel system for employees of the Postal Service which is based upon
employee performance standards; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA6C260739B864F0093B88AD0768229E5"><enum>(10)</enum><text>the improvement
of personnel training and proficiency, the adjustment of staffing levels, and
the improvement of training and performance of management and supervisory
personnel.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H872C43693D1A48E0B2806B3C6BA589DD"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Response to
recommendations for actions within authority of Postal Service</header>
<paragraph id="H8DFB0EA7AE1B410D8631CB2686674545"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In the case of any recommendations submitted under
subsection (a) during a control year which are within the authority of the
Postal Service to adopt, not later than 90 days after receiving the
recommendations, the Postmaster General shall submit a statement to the
Authority, the President, and Congress which provides notice as to whether the
Postal Service will adopt the recommendations.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF5CD021A9168477A8D10D79EA19F6FB3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Implementation
plan required for adopted recommendations</header><text>If the Postmaster
General notifies the Authority and Congress under paragraph (1) that the Postal
Service will adopt any of the recommendations submitted under subsection (a),
the Postmaster General shall include in the statement a written plan to
implement the recommendation which includes—</text>
<subparagraph id="HD03F94991C0B461B8A8B40418F5B815E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>specific
performance measures to determine the extent to which the Postal Service has
adopted the recommendation; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC69596F5BB2548158531BA1388AE1651"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a schedule for
auditing the Postal Service’s compliance with the plan.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HE2B07D1FCF404E31A9A4D3F0E4919365"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Explanations
required for recommendations not adopted</header><text>If the Postmaster
General notifies the Authority, the President, and Congress under paragraph (1)
that the Postal Service will not adopt any recommendation submitted under
subsection (a) which the Postal Service has authority to adopt, the Postmaster
General shall include in the statement explanations for the rejection of the
recommendations.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H3EFE83931ABA4E098C540C555223E1F5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Implementation
of rejected recommendations by Authority</header>
<paragraph id="HD0CF47E3298442A1A238B3802C56ED91"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>If the Postmaster General notifies the Authority, the
President, and Congress under subsection (b)(1) that the Postal Service will
not adopt any recommendation submitted under subsection (a) which the Postal
Service has authority to adopt, the Authority may by a majority vote of its
members take such action concerning the recommendation as it deems appropriate,
after consulting with the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H08F564EAE51B46C19DB05A17AB1FD185"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>This subsection shall apply with respect to recommendations
of the Authority made after the expiration of the 6-month period which begins
on the date of the commencement of a control period.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H3AEA4EC7406044349150832CCC5D2A9B"><enum>226.</enum><header>Special rules
for fiscal year in which control period commences</header>
<subsection id="HD07F930F97F446C08863B9F9CDC5D198"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Adoption of
transition budget</header><text>Notwithstanding any provision of section 222 to
the contrary, in the case of a fiscal year in which a control period commences,
the following rules shall apply:</text>
<paragraph id="H5AC5B26467C144E5AFE0640E0F823916"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Not later than 45
days after the appointment of its members, the Authority shall review the
proposed Integrated Financial Plan for the Postal Service for such fiscal year
and shall submit any recommendations for modifications to such plan to promote
the financial stability of the Postal Service to the Postmaster General, the
President, and Congress.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H121BEEFD2FDD4B6690C4D1CF86179AB7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Not later than 15
days after receiving the recommendations of the Authority submitted under
paragraph (1), the Postmaster General shall promptly adopt a revised budget for
the fiscal year (in this section referred to as the <term>transition
budget</term>), and shall submit the transition budget to the Authority, the
President, and Congress.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBACEC2BC5BDF490C90A9F8C27CB0372F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Not later than 15
days after receiving the transition budget from the Postmaster General under
paragraph (2), the Authority shall submit a report to the Postmaster General,
the President, and Congress analyzing the budget (taking into account any items
or provisions disapproved by the Postmaster General) and shall include in the
report such recommendations for revisions to the transition budget as the
Authority considers appropriate to promote the financial stability of the
Postal Service during the fiscal year.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HAC80C206AF294B039A6831DA82E1FF07"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Financial plan
and budget</header>
<paragraph id="H585CA4FD950344198C5E044932D4E304"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Deadline for
submission</header><text>For purposes of section 222, the Postmaster General
shall submit the financial plan and budget for the applicable fiscal year as
soon as practicable after the initiation of a control period (in accordance
with guidelines established by the Authority).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H94D0F10E182B47CD942B1F66E7924507"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Adoption by
Postmaster General</header><text>In accordance with the procedures applicable
under section 222 (including procedures providing for review by the Authority)
the Postmaster General shall adopt the financial plan and budget for the
applicable fiscal year (including the transition budget incorporated in the
financial plan and budget) prior to the submission by the Postmaster
General.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF57A89F3A61845E58B6DAC924B17FB4F"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Transition
budget as temporary financial plan and budget</header><text>Until the approval
of the financial plan and budget for the applicable fiscal year by the
Authority under this subsection, the transition budget established under
subsection (a) shall serve as the financial plan and budget adopted under this
subtitle for purposes of this Act (and any provision of law amended by this
Act) for the applicable fiscal year.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H125FCBD9DB774A1188E7940640D95F93"><enum>227.</enum><header>Assistance in
achieving financial stability, etc</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In addition to any other actions described
in this title, the Authority may undertake cooperative efforts to assist the
Postal Service in achieving financial stability and management efficiency,
including—</text>
<paragraph id="HEB2835FA166547C9A9E834046DA0181C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>assisting the
Postal Service in avoiding defaults, eliminating and liquidating deficits,
maintaining sound budgetary practices, and avoiding interruptions in the
delivery of services;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3D5CA88A187547199BA5E42B6BDB0C9B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>assisting the
Postal Service in improving the delivery of services, the training and
effectiveness of personnel of the Postal Service, and the efficiency of
management and supervision; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H186A7D2E59874A45BBB3AE837F7C2CD2"><enum>(3)</enum><text>making
recommendations to the President for transmission to Congress on changes to
this Act or other Federal laws, or other actions of the Federal Government,
which would assist the Postal Service in complying with an approved financial
plan and budget under subtitle B.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="H09351FFDE3E04018810441F8E8B43ED1"><enum>228.</enum><header>Obtaining
reports</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Authority may
require the Postmaster General, the Chief Financial Officer of the Postal
Service, and the Inspector General of the Postal Service, to prepare and submit
such reports as the Authority considers appropriate to assist it in carrying
out its responsibilities under this title, including submitting copies of any
reports regarding revenues, expenditures, budgets, costs, plans, operations,
estimates, and other financial or budgetary matters of the Postal
Service.</text>
</section><section id="H39CF19779A29465FA3F145C303D492C2"><enum>229.</enum><header>Reports and
comments</header>
<subsection id="H92AB8E6EAE424306AE168D823D7421B1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Annual reports
to Congress</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the last day of each
fiscal year which is a control year, the Authority shall submit a report to
Congress describing—</text>
<paragraph id="H5879F738530D46B0AEFE39F41146658B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the progress made
by the Postal Service in meeting the objectives of this title during the fiscal
year;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCFD95202781F49DA8E265F3DC2AF9F57"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the assistance
provided by the Authority to the Postal Service in meeting the purposes of this
title for the fiscal year; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF05FAA8EEB27483D96907A5140D41924"><enum>(3)</enum><text>any other
activities of the Authority during the fiscal year.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1A319F765E3B4A15A783DDEA833826E4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Review and
analysis of performance and financial accountability reports</header><text>The
Authority shall review each yearly report prepared and submitted by the
Postmaster General to the Postal Regulatory Commission and Congress and shall
submit a report to Congress analyzing the completeness and accuracy of such
reports.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H90531C8904A040F889D8A1D7E87D28C8"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Comments
regarding activities of Postal Service</header><text>At any time during a
control period, the Authority may submit a report to Congress describing any
action taken by the Postal Service (or any failure to act by the Postal
Service) which the Authority determines will adversely affect the Postal
Service’s ability to comply with an approved financial plan and budget under
subtitle B or will otherwise have a significant adverse impact on the best
interests of the Postal Service.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HEFD1D5BEF4014AAE9F77EA0710735DA5"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Reports on
effect of Federal laws on the Postal Service</header><text>At any time during
any year, the Authority may submit a report to the Postmaster General, the
President, and Congress on the effect of laws enacted by Congress on the
financial plan and budget for the year and on the financial stability and
management efficiency of the Postal Service in general.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HFCFC3086275347F9AD1DA890B296B2EC"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Making reports
publicly available</header><text>The Authority shall make any report submitted
under this section available to the public, except to the extent that the
Authority determines that the report contains confidential material.</text>
</subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="HAE3B9490BC4A44E6824C185B5E8B1863"><enum>D</enum><header>Termination of a
Control Period </header>
<section id="H66D6A0CB618942D48974A51F29F0BFA6"><enum>231.</enum><header>Termination of
control period, etc</header>
<subsection id="H8DBFE2FA82734F14AAB04423A3208719"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>After the completion of the requirements for the
termination of a control period described in section 202(b)(4), the Authority
shall submit a recommendation to Congress requesting the termination of such
control period, the dissolution of the Authority, and the reinstatement to the
Board of Governors (and the individual Governors) of the Postal Service of the
authorities and responsibilities referred to in section 202(b)(2)(A).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HC23E3C12338F446792A37836A8E959AF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Congressional
approval</header>
<paragraph id="H9FEA46E7B75444018217D2F8D3D5CFAD"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>A control period shall not be terminated unless a joint
resolution approving of the recommendation in subsection (a) is enacted, in
accordance with section 232, before the earlier of—</text>
<subparagraph id="HA865184395894112B8D78246678F275B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the end of the
30-day period beginning on the date on which the Authority transmits the
recommendation to Congress under subsection (a); or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H29BBA55DC70A4EAAA3EFF0A7C1EE6DE0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the adjournment of
the Congress sine die for the session during which such recommendation is
transmitted.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC143943DC9424DA59821B8E4BAC5BBFD"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Days of
session</header><text>For purposes of paragraph (1) and subsections (a) and (c)
of section 232, the days on which either House of Congress is not in session
because of an adjournment of more than 3 days to a day certain shall be
excluded in the computation of a period.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H44CE06A62C16495DA71673E6956421EB"><enum>232.</enum><header>Congressional
consideration of recommendation</header>
<subsection id="H537FC53B524A4D869064C494A221453D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Terms of the
resolution</header><text>For purposes of this subtitle, the term <term>joint
resolution</term> means only a joint resolution which is introduced within the
10-day period beginning on the date on which the recommendation referred to in
section 231(a) is received by Congress—</text>
<paragraph id="HF8C683D712CA477F80AD0EEE044F9770"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the matter after
the resolving clause of which is as follows: <quote>That Congress approves the
recommendation of the Postal Service Financial Responsibility and Management
Assistance Authority, submitted by such Authority on __.</quote>, the blank
space being filled in with the appropriate date;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H243648F82FC84550B77DE1FF5F2B0415"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the title of which
is as follows: <quote>Joint resolution approving the recommendation of Postal
Service Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority.</quote>;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H033A6F0713D841CC8A4BC8B73D005CD0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>which does not
have a preamble.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HF4DCB84FD7104983B097D9A349FD1C98"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Referral</header><text>A
resolution described in subsection (a) that is introduced in the House of
Representatives or the Senate shall be referred to the appropriate committees
of the House of Representatives or the Senate, respectively.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H46D7C0C0F32441869087528485278D3C"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Discharge</header><text>If
the committee to which a resolution described in subsection (a) is referred has
not reported such resolution (or an identical resolution) by the end of the
20-day period beginning on the date on which the Authority transmits its
recommendation to Congress under section 231(a) such committee shall, at the
end of such period, be discharged from further consideration of such
resolution, and such resolution shall be placed on the appropriate calendar of
the House involved.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HD298FEB7E6AA4B418767A5CC744B5046"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Consideration</header>
<paragraph id="H9CA6857AA712472C9E6FB3B61D21D15C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>On or after the third day after the date on which the
committee to which such a resolution is referred has reported, or has been
discharged (under subsection (c)) from further consideration of, such a
resolution, it is in order (even though a previous motion to the same effect
has been disagreed to) for any Member of the respective House to move to
proceed to the consideration of the resolution. A Member may make the motion
only on the day after the calendar day on which the Member announces to the
House concerned the Member’s intention to make the motion, except that, in the
case of the House of Representatives, the motion may be made without such prior
announcement if the motion is made by direction of the committee to which the
resolution was referred. All points of order against the resolution (and
against consideration of the resolution) are waived. The motion is highly
privileged in the House of Representatives and is privileged in the Senate and
is not debatable. The motion is not subject to amendment, or to a motion to
postpone, or to a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business. A
motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to
shall not be in order. If a motion to proceed to the consideration of the
resolution is agreed to, the respective House shall immediately proceed to
consideration of the joint resolution without intervening motion, order, or
other business, and the resolution shall remain the unfinished business of the
respective House until disposed of.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA6A0924A93744FE08D92BA437115D1AE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Debate</header><text>Debate
on the resolution, and on all debatable motions and appeals in connection
therewith, shall be limited to not more than 2 hours, which shall be divided
equally between those favoring and those opposing the resolution. An amendment
to the resolution is not in order. A motion further to limit debate is in order
and not debatable. A motion to postpone, or a motion to proceed to the
consideration of other business, or a motion to recommit the resolution is not
in order. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the resolution is agreed to
or disagreed to is not in order.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H231A06DEB5124C5994DE9CCBD0CC8B80"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Vote on final
passage</header><text>Immediately following the conclusion of the debate on a
resolution described in subsection (a) and a single quorum call at the
conclusion of the debate if requested in accordance with the rules of the
appropriate House, the vote on final passage of the resolution shall
occur.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H824F870CC3B6410FAB9F7041017E6093"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Appeals</header><text>Appeals
from the decisions of the Chair relating to the application of the rules of the
Senate or the House of Representatives, as the case may be, to the procedure
relating to a resolution described in subsection (a) shall be decided without
debate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HDEDA0CA1082643C686851FB94243AF3B"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Consideration by
other House</header>
<paragraph id="H99976ECD68864E6EA3E2569DC8C33952"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>If, before the passage by one House of a resolution of
that House described in subsection (a), that House receives from the other
House a resolution described in subsection (a), then the following procedures
shall apply:</text>
<subparagraph id="H457CCC2169774F2687071A1AC5033567"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The resolution of
the other House shall not be referred to a committee and may not be considered
in the House receiving it except in the case of final passage as provided in
subparagraph (B)(ii).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3CC9AB7A5B044BFABABB7BC11A7DB8B9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>With respect to a
resolution described in subsection (a) of the House receiving the
resolution—</text>
<clause id="HD5DF664A98AF4063BF9FEE3EB4412C0F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the
procedure in that House shall be the same as if no resolution had been received
from the other House; but</text>
</clause><clause id="H469B020420764C0FBECC1210D1185E12"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the
vote on final passage shall be on the resolution of the other House.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H823122D119634A96BB33B3750A4C3AE8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Disposition of a
resolution</header><text>Upon disposition of the resolution received from the
other House, it shall no longer be in order to consider the resolution that
originated in the receiving House.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HA40174529C064A4EBB2AD249E8C9C70A"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Rules of the
Senate and House</header><text>This section is enacted by Congress—</text>
<paragraph id="HC45F29BF1F304B08AE0C13507485EBAF"><enum>(1)</enum><text>as an exercise of
the rulemaking power of the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively,
and as such it is deemed a part of the rules of each House, respectively, but
applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed in that House in
the case of a resolution described in subsection (a), and it supersedes other
rules only to the extent that it is inconsistent with such rules; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H17408B4AD9364E859DD43689C8B1C892"><enum>(2)</enum><text>with full
recognition of the constitutional right of either House to change the rules (so
far as relating to the procedure of that House) at any time, in the same
manner, and to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that
House.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle><enum>III</enum><header>Postal Service
Workforce</header>
<subtitle id="H0F966E1052E1450491B204B3AC1F082D"><enum>A</enum><header>General
Provisions</header>
<section id="H2A5A65B3531E4F848234DCCFCAB1B880"><enum>301.</enum><header>Modifications
relating to determination of pay comparability</header>
<subsection id="H84F39447C4A74D9E897F9AA4388770A8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Postal
policy</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 101(c) of
title 39, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H7A6E7E19837945E9977C14053E2BBB2F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the first
sentence, by inserting <quote>total</quote> before <quote>rates and types of
compensation</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFD6A33DA95D6470AA3E1C99EABE51C1B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the second
sentence, by inserting <quote>entire</quote> before <quote>private
sector</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H735A0BB3FA9B4989BA0DC1628FBFA8C7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Employment
policy</header><text>The second sentence of section 1003(a) of title 39, United
States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HAFE275DB0B624766AC48358410A35C27"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>total</quote> before <quote>compensation and benefits</quote>;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7F0998A9BB704A918BD2D1A4A63B61E6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>entire</quote> before <quote>private sector</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H8157190ACFCE4C24B48AB23F119977AE"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Considerations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of the amendments made by this
section, any determination of <term>total rates and types of
compensation</term> or <term>total compensation and benefits</term> shall, at a
minimum, take into account pay, health benefits, retirement benefits, life
insurance benefits, leave, holidays, and continuity and stability of
employment.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HE1A83D0172B447D29BAF64922BF9B280"><enum>302.</enum><header>Limitation on
postal contributions under FEGLI and FEHBP</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1003 of title 39, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H66B1EFABB959418C813FBA9B08A77945" style="USC">
<subsection id="H3231D9C4B31047BE9C864C6A1CD428BE"><enum>(e)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HABAC090E9552436191C56E5D0D12A07B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>At least 1 month before
the start of each fiscal year as described in paragraph (2), the Postmaster
General shall transmit to the Postal Regulatory Commission certification
(together with such supporting documentation as the Postal Regulatory
Commission may require) that contributions of the Postal Service for such
fiscal year will not exceed—</text>
<subparagraph id="H74E7872023534C6D89DE67373EAC3915" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the case of life insurance under
chapter 87 of title 5, the Government contributions determined under section
8708 of such title; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H14C630CA7F44454292B0D8CB5ABE3630" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the case of health insurance under
chapter 89 of title 5, the Government contributions determined under 8906 of
such title.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1340347850D240D1BD0C085430A4EB62" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>This subsection applies with respect
to—</text>
<subparagraph id="HEA33D60178A34343A356144075EEEB1C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>except as provided in subparagraph
(B), each fiscal year beginning after September 30, 2013; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA20D4A71A05C43DF976647B0548132A8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the case of officers and employees
of the Postal Service covered by a collective bargaining agreement which is in
effect on the date of the enactment of this subsection—</text>
<clause id="H5EBCA51931AD4B07B30EA384DF95DCA4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>each fiscal year beginning after
the expiration date of such agreement, including</text>
</clause><clause id="H065BFCDAFA5E4ABDBFC60FBF10C695D4"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>for the fiscal year in which such
expiration date occurs, any portion of such fiscal year remaining after such
expiration date.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H5BF56F9041024137A05F6ED93227BD37" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HDA8A636DB1774DD7B7FF70798175D0D3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>If, after reasonable
notice and opportunity for hearing is afforded to the Postal Service, the
Postal Regulatory Commission finds that the contributions of the Postal Service
for a fiscal year will exceed or are exceeding the limitation specified in
subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1), the Commission shall order that the
Postal Service take such action as the Commission considers necessary to
achieve full and immediate compliance with the applicable limitation or
limitations.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9A81304FB292484DA5E7B7DE76A42C48" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Sections 3663 and 3664 shall apply
with respect to any order issued by the Postal Regulatory Commission under
subparagraph (A).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC079CD16735B4D1681C2BD5C18726090" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Nothing in this paragraph shall be
considered to permit the issuance of an order requiring reduction of
contributions below the level specified by the provision of law cited in
subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1), as
applicable.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.
</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="H27AEBEEF5BE64AD1B4D548D3C6911EA7"><enum>303.</enum><header>Repeal of
provision relating to overall value of fringe benefits</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The last sentence of section 1005(f) of
title 39, United States Code, is repealed.</text>
</section><section id="HCA88072AE2174A2DB1CDDBDF89A761CD"><enum>304.</enum><header>Modifications
relating to collective bargaining</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1207 of title 39, United States
Code, is amended by striking subsections (c) and (d) and inserting the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF6901F02AD1D4A4C80FF69842F2A8725" style="USC">
<subsection id="H14A40FAAF8D74A4CA824DFF8C9D3968F"><enum>(c)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HBE529404806E46B68D78D5962B14CD2D"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If no agreement is reached within 30 days
after the appointment of a mediator under subsection (b), or if the parties
decide upon arbitration before the expiration of the 30-day period, an
arbitration board shall be established consisting of 1 member selected by the
Postal Service (from the list under paragraph (2)), 1 member selected by the
bargaining representative of the employees (from the list under paragraph (2)),
and the mediator appointed under subsection (b).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8FB7E7948AA14B719A00DEE39DBD084E" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon receiving a request from either of the
parties referred to in paragraph (1), the Director of the Federal Mediation and
Conciliation Service shall provide a list of not less than 9 individuals who
are well qualified to serve as neutral arbitrators. Each person listed shall be
an arbitrator of nationwide reputation and professional nature, a member of the
National Academy of Arbitrators, and an individual whom the Director has
determined to be willing and available to serve. If, within 7 days after the
list is provided, either of the parties has not selected an individual from the
list, the Director shall make the selection within 3 days.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HACB456E7EC3C41AC89D03603D6BBE77F" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The arbitration board shall give the
parties a full and fair hearing, including an opportunity to present evidence
in support of their claims, and an opportunity to present their case in person,
by counsel, or by other representative as they may elect. The hearing shall be
concluded no more than 40 days after the arbitration board is
established.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5E924B9C08E44D24B8B6BA092A2096AD" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No more than 7 days after the hearing is
concluded, each party shall submit to the arbitration board 2 offer packages,
each of which packages shall specify the terms of a proposed final
agreement.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4E8AF73DC0254A9D9523057E870B9824" indent="up1"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If no agreement is reached within 7 days
after the last day date for the submission of an offer package under paragraph
(4), each party shall submit to the arbitration board a single final offer
package specifying the terms of a proposed final agreement.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H256403C6FC17466A85734AB027D149B6" indent="up1"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No later than 3 days after the submission
of the final offer packages under paragraph (5), the arbitration board shall
select 1 of those packages as its tentative award, subject to paragraph
(7).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H464F21779289464E97F1B2733A974CFA" indent="up1"><enum>(7)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H6D8262B887B54A52A1B404D4EF67A59C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The arbitration board
may not select a final offer package under paragraph (6) unless it satisfies
each of the following:</text>
<clause id="H5283296C93914C4AAEB8ADF98D772784" indent="up1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>The offer complies with the
requirements of sections 101(c) and 1003(a).</text>
</clause><clause id="H907666F21E924B09B6268243F93D9B7A" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>The offer takes into account the
current financial condition of the Postal Service.</text>
</clause><clause id="H7B2487F36E20418E8168024F37F3424E" indent="up1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>The offer takes into account the
long-term financial condition of the Postal Service.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBBDCA7B51518468C987E6EDA09C3DE60" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H408BD60F78BC43E892ABADF7E036624B"><enum>(i)</enum><text>If the board unanimously
determines, based on clear and convincing evidence presented during the hearing
under paragraph (3), that neither final offer package satisfies the conditions
set forth in subparagraph (A), the board shall by majority vote—</text>
<subclause id="H184CCC72116D42C59436EC0A6096116D" indent="up1"><enum>(I)</enum><text>select the package that best meets
such conditions; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H3ACBDA4BFC9E484783486E7D582D0CF6" indent="up1"><enum>(II)</enum><text>modify the package so selected to the
minimum extent necessary to satisfy such conditions.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="HC91D4F332BB14EAF9545E96EBB398405" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>If modification (as described in
subparagraph (B)(i)(II)) is necessary, the board shall have an additional 7
days to render its tentative award under this subparagraph.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H173F5494E433450C8F20E7FFD5605BBD" indent="up1"><enum>(8)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The parties may negotiate a substitute
award to replace the tentative award selected under paragraph (6) or rendered
under paragraph (7) (as the case may be). If no agreement on a substitute award
is reached within 10 days after the date on which the tentative award is so
selected or rendered, the tentative award shall become final.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2CB5E3D1B9984D91BCD6B23302853C79" indent="up1"><enum>(9)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The arbitration board shall review any
substitute award negotiated under paragraph (8) to determine if it satisfies
the conditions set forth in paragraph (7)(A). If the arbitration board, by a
unanimous vote taken within 3 days after the date on which the agreement on the
substitute award is reached under paragraph (8), determines that the substitute
award does not satisfy such conditions, the tentative award shall become final.
In the absence of a vote, as described in the preceding sentence, the
substitute agreement shall become final.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H963CC3ABB1CF4314BFE83DA2D2FC4DE6" indent="up1"><enum>(10)</enum><text>If, under paragraph (5), neither
party submits a final offer package by the last day allowable under such
paragraph, the arbitration board shall develop and issue a final award no later
than 20 days after such last day.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC083E320D0164A5998EE92DDB27C4204" indent="up1"><enum>(11)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A final award or agreement under this
subsection shall be conclusive and binding upon the parties.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC8206BE26AB14242BDD1DCDAE0628E46" indent="up1"><enum>(12)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Costs of the arbitration board and
mediation shall be shared equally by the Postal Service and the bargaining
representative.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H8DD046DE86D444F4ABDE7BE09136D2E3"><enum>(d)</enum><text>In the case of a
bargaining unit whose recognized collective-bargaining representative does not
have an agreement with the Postal Service, if the parties fail to reach
agreement within 90 days after the commencement of collective bargaining, a
mediator shall be appointed in accordance with the provisions of subsection
(b), unless the parties have previously agreed to another procedure for a
binding resolution of their differences. If the parties fail to reach agreement
within 180 days after the commencement of collective bargaining, an arbitration
board shall be established to provide conclusive and binding arbitration in
accordance with the provisions of subsection
(c).</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section></subtitle><subtitle id="HD046805920654B038BDD4987059A20BD"><enum>B</enum><header>Postal Service
Workers’ Compensation Reform</header>
<section id="HE1F643C7D275486190A185C02C348BFD"><enum>311.</enum><header>Sense of
Congress</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of
Congress that—</text>
<paragraph id="H2BAD9B1909754C4EB75673A09E40F17A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Postal Service
should develop and manage a program to pay compensation for the disability or
death of an officer or employee of the Postal Service which results from an
injury sustained while in the performance of duty;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9F1EE723BD484010A4CA092E881D9A6E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>such program
should include an automatic transition to retirement and provide a retirement
pension based on the average salary of the officer or employee, determined as
if such officer or employee had continued to receive basic pay from the date of
injury to the date of retirement; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H10499622534245C08793C201DEA07620"><enum>(3)</enum><text>officers or
employees of the Postal Service receiving compensation for a disability from an
injury sustained while in the performance of duty should be transitioned to the
program described in paragraph (1).</text>
</paragraph></section></subtitle><enum>IV</enum><header>Postal Service
Revenue</header>
<section id="H7D75DC7A1F144BBEAB921E7C835E3DA6"><enum>401.</enum><header>Adequacy,
efficiency, and fairness of postal rates</header>
<subsection id="H56ADF4E54FE1443F8FAF4EAF4C7603E4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Paragraph (1) of
section 3622(d) of title 39, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HCBE9FD23CCD54C7398F6E46F9854A220"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating
subparagraphs (B) through (E) as subparagraph (D) through (G), respectively;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H99489585A2884315908E51F17EB38C13"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after
subparagraph (A) the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="HB93786B771734C6FAB7246EEECD21C2E" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="H66083FEB0A0C4E30A9ACD4A1F8D780E4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>subject to the
limitation under paragraph (A), establish postal rates to fulfill the
requirement that each market-dominant class, product, and type of mail service
(except for an experimental product or service) bear the direct and indirect
postal costs attributable to such class, product, or type through reliably
identified causal relationships plus that portion of all other costs of the
Postal Service reasonably assignable to such class, product, or type;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD3E58D900F95496E82B6A1C55B10A0FF"><enum>(C)</enum><text>establish postal
rates for each loss-making class of mail to eliminate such losses by exhausting
all unused rate authority as well as maximizing incentives to reduce costs and
increase efficiency; with—</text>
<clause id="H544429611FCF40AF80B91E05E8C8E6A3"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the term
<term>loss-making</term>, as used with respect to a class of mail, meaning a
class of mail that bears less than 100 percent of its costs attributable (as
described in subparagraph (B)), according to the most recent annual
determination of the Postal Regulatory Commission under section 3653;
and</text>
</clause><clause id="H7DA60E1252044299A8E4253DCAEBF5F5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>unused rate
authority annually increased by 5 percent for each class of mail that bore less
than 90 percent of its costs attributable, according to the most annual
determination by the Postal Regulatory Commission under section 3653, with such
increase in unused rate authority to take effect 30 days after issuance of such
Commission determination;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.
</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H807B50A3A66F4898A758E5138CCF12BA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Exception</header><text>Section
3622(d) of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2A800306A7124A7F9E98427CD9353B49" style="USC">
<paragraph id="H561B4A2050AC477EA99009F09F1B2E9E"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Exception</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The requirements of paragraph (1)(B) shall
not apply to a market-dominant product for which a substantial portion of the
product’s mail volume consists of inbound international mail with terminal dues
rates determined by the Universal Postal Union (and not by bilateral agreements
or other
arrangements).</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="H1A663BF458A24964AC60494B5E85BE80"><enum>402.</enum><header>Repeal of rate
preferences for qualified political committees</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Subsection (e) of section 3626 of title 39,
United States Code, is repealed.</text>
</section><section id="H5B593B76460346E2A3614D46F9B38F0D"><enum>403.</enum><header>Rate
preferences for nonprofit advertising</header>
<subsection id="H1F952C261ADC444FBC6965FF71477A34"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Provisions
relating to former section
4358<enum-in-header>(f)</enum-in-header></header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3626(a)(5) of title 39, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
<quote>Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph, the percentage
specified in the preceding sentence shall be increased by an additional 5
percentage points as of the first day of each calendar year beginning after the
date of the enactment of the <short-title>Postal Reform
Act of 2011</short-title>, until such percentage reaches 90
percent.</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H0062B467BEC745018BE9AE43C007DB71"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Provisions
relating to former section 4452 <enum-in-header>(b) </enum-in-header>and
<enum-in-header>(c)</enum-in-header></header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3626(a)(6) of title 39, United
States Code, is amended by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following (as a
flush left sentence):</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H96AD5B7A5AFC48719C9AFAF713722841" style="USC">
<quoted-block-continuation-text quoted-block-continuation-text-level="subsection">Notwithstanding any other provision
of this paragraph, the percentage specified in subparagraph (A) shall be
increased by an additional 5 percentage points as of the first day of each
calendar year beginning after the date of the enactment of the
<short-title>Postal Reform Act of 2011</short-title>,
until such percentage reaches 90
percent.</quoted-block-continuation-text><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="H3B089261738B4CFB8E154908B9BF0470"><enum>404.</enum><header>Streamlined
review of qualifying service agreements for competitive products</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 3633 of title 39, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H2D70DEEB7BEC4DF2891F96C945C5C177" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H172D66F587064EFABD616E513DF66BB6"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Streamlined
review</header><text>Within 90 days after the date of the enactment of this
subsection, after notice and opportunity for public comment, the Postal
Regulatory Commission shall promulgate (and may from time to time thereafter
revise) regulations for streamlined after-the-fact review of new agreements
between the Postal Service and users of the mail that provide rates not of
general applicability for competitive products, and are functionally equivalent
to existing agreements that have collectively covered costs attributable to
such agreements and collectively improved the net financial position of the
Postal Service. Streamlined review will be concluded within 5 working days
after the agreement is filed with the Commission and shall be limited to
approval or disapproval of the agreement as a whole based on the Commission’s
determination of its functional equivalence. Agreements not approved may be
resubmitted without prejudice under section
3632(b)(3).</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="HCD19711EA88D4AC4905C0EDD2851D7D2"><enum>405.</enum><header>Submission of
service agreements for streamlined review</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 3632(b) of title 39, United States
Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H32D1A6E257494696B869FFEC9F642B6C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating
paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8A9C6241D3204DA894957556BC10F0D8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting
paragraph (3) the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="HF1A70041C6A64FE283D25647A3F51788" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HBFB100423D354712BAC98BEA9B56550C"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Rates for
streamlined review</header><text>In the case of rates not of general
applicability for competitive products that the Postmaster General considers
eligible for streamlined review under section 3633(c), the Postmaster General
shall cause each agreement to be filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission by
such date, on or before the effective date of any new rate, as the Postmaster
General considered
appropriate.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="H6FF148FDFD33420EA2AC243B9272A69D"><enum>406.</enum><header>Transparency
and accountability for service agreements</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 3632(b) of title 39, United States
Code, as amended by section 405, is amended by adding at the end the
following:</text>
<quoted-block id="HEF0EEE311AF743A397D764270867FC56" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H3B98C47EE600458CA682C95B23D3E17F"><enum>(6)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H1FC7537C324E43798B1178EEEC83D4A1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Each annual written
determination of the Commission under section 3653 shall include written
determinations, for each group of functionally equivalent agreements between
the Postal Service and users of the mail, whether it—</text>
<clause id="HBD35474FEAC14995A1195EF50B637A74" indent="up1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>covered costs attributable;
and</text>
</clause><clause id="H0E187F961B97422A97D1341373529953" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>improved the net financial
position of the Postal Service.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA27376A9185D4BDDB0A2A5115D92139D" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Any group of functionally equivalent
agreements (as referred to in subparagraph (A)) not meeting clauses (i) and
(ii) of subparagraph (A) shall be determined to be in noncompliance under
section 3653(c).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5F53BE2CAE6D407A9696AD17A11E78F7" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>For purposes of this paragraph, a
group of functionally equivalent agreements (as referred to in subparagraph
(A)) shall consist of all service agreements that are functionally equivalent
to each other within the same market-dominant or competitive product, but shall
not include agreements within an experimental
product.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="H5BF487CC434A471C909CF37EAE361B90"><enum>407.</enum><header>Nonpostal
services</header>
<subsection id="H66A788476203453A969132193E551973"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Nonpostal
services</header>
<paragraph id="H55BC69CD3528492E83B0AC7FF1B10D36"><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="HBA4FA15EB0CD49EB84D9E4F8ECF6A879" style="USC">
<chapter id="H6B59C650B5AF43CE8E970C310D35AD0B"><enum>37</enum><header>Nonpostal
Services</header>
<toc container-level="chapter-container" idref="H6B59C650B5AF43CE8E970C310D35AD0B" lowest-bolded-level="division-lowest-bolded" lowest-level="section" quoted-block="no-quoted-block" regeneration="yes-regeneration">
<toc-entry idref="H5350D35589CA4457ACD15B7175777DF6" level="section">Sec.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry level="section">3701. Purpose.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="HC0DBDFEA20DE414D9DE3EC8B5ABED2B8" level="section">3702. Definitions.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="HB548664B4B43436B875EF59720708629" level="section">3703. Postal Service advertising program.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="H6C8AC8C7FBB946E086CACC9EF227C885" level="section">3704. Postal Service program for State governments.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="HD60B3F5E61E84968A07192D2B967B085" level="section">3705. Postal Service program for other government
agencies.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="H6CAFE93B3F164535903D4A1FF7171AC8" level="section">3706. Transparency and accountability for nonpostal
services.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<section id="H5350D35589CA4457ACD15B7175777DF6"><enum>3701.</enum><header>Purpose</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This chapter is intended 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="HC0DBDFEA20DE414D9DE3EC8B5ABED2B8"><enum>3702.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">As used in this chapter—</text>
<paragraph id="HA930FD2B5A1D47DCA33055C6073F6F34"><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="HDC40DD54C5DE438F9753D9D41D7F13C1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the term
<term>Postal Service advertising program</term> means a program, managed by the
Postal Service, by which the Postal Service receives revenues from entities
which advertise at Postal Service facilities and on Postal Service
vehicles;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9BE047AC21BC4F0584D5AC1B8D8964C2"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the term
<term>Postal Service program for State government services</term> means a
program, managed by the Postal Service, by which the Postal Service receives
revenue from State governments (including their agencies) which provide
services at Postal Service facilities;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD8528D6322CB4B5881B0407ED7098778"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the term
<term>costs attributable</term> has the same meaning as is given such term in
section 3631; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H231FDF7C369D4025AC597F6C5A0C83CA"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the term
<term>year</term> means a fiscal year.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="HB548664B4B43436B875EF59720708629"><enum>3703.</enum><header>Postal Service
advertising program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of this
title, the Postal Service may establish and manage a program that allows
entities to advertise at Postal Service facilities and on Postal Service
vehicles. Such a program shall be subject to the following requirements:</text>
<paragraph id="HF50A44F372184E648E5F0B1B98870F81"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Postal Service
shall at all times ensure advertising it permits is consistent with the
integrity of the Postal Service.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF8FFBDCA75EA4072B87DAA2D29F064AD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Any advertising
program is required to cover a minimum of 200 percent of the costs attributable
to the program in each year.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF7786DA180864E36AACB12CF4CA4A8DA"><enum>(3)</enum><text>All advertising
expenditures and revenues are subject to annual compliance determination
(including remedies for noncompliance) applicable to nonpostal products.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCAEF59C92EF048AFB7219B6BA94BF58F"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Total advertising
expenditures and revenues must be disclosed in Postal Service Annual
Reports.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="H6C8AC8C7FBB946E086CACC9EF227C885"><enum>3704.</enum><header>Postal Service
program for State governments</header>
<subsection id="H152F50BB68ED4FB99FA959C18AB9BB17"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the
Postal Service may establish a program to provide services for agencies of
State governments within the United States, but only if such services—</text>
<paragraph id="H5A800A53B1A6420AAEA694C074137534"><enum>(1)</enum><text>shall 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 id="HB074753024954B6386618E7BD96F9280"><enum>(2)</enum><text>do not interfere
with or detract from the value of postal services, including—</text>
<subparagraph id="HB7A28E119BF045519A698169582B9C97"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the cost and
efficiency of postal services; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H79F9643807CB43128C8FEBE74EB94C4E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>access to postal
retail service, such as customer waiting time and access to parking; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA55E2993AAC94B1BBE3AFFB18A426D9F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>provide a
reasonable contribution to the institutional costs of the Postal Service,
defined as reimbursement for each service and to each agency covering at least
150 percent of the costs attributable to such service in each year.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HEDCE8956596E40A4BC75355CA820A41E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Public
notice</header><text>At least 90 days before offering any services under this
section, the Postal Service shall make each agreement with State agencies
readily available to the public on its Web site, including a business plan that
describes the specific services 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 Services
that will be covered by reimbursement (with documentation to support these
estimates). The Postal Service shall solicit public comment for at least 30
days, with comments posted on its Web site, followed by its written response
posted on its Web site at least 30 days before offering such services.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H181AAE73DF3D474AA73BA37B96ED5FE8"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Approval
required</header><text>The Governors of the Postal Service shall approve the
provision of services under this section by a recorded vote, with at least 6
members voting for approval, with the vote publicly disclosed on the Postal
Service Web site.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HFFB1EB742D664D01BD1796AD21C3B6A5"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Classification
of services</header><text>All services for a given agency provided under this
section shall be classified as a separate activity subject to the requirements
of annual reporting under section 3706. Such reporting shall also include
information on the quality of service and related information to demonstrate
that it satisfied the requirements of subsection (a). Information provided
under this section shall be according to requirements that the Postal
Regulatory Commission shall by regulation prescribe.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H1F1AAAA9082346919E9D8CFEE8449083"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>For
the purpose of this section—</text>
<paragraph id="H24E2ECD2B4D94495904140B694680FB5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the term
<term>State</term> includes 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; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1BAD487468C74445B221B29B356D4DE5"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the term <term>United States</term>, when
used in a geographical sense, means the States.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HD60B3F5E61E84968A07192D2B967B085"><enum>3705.</enum><header>Postal Service
program for other government agencies</header>
<subsection id="H4E1D94A069E442E597C43462E5E942F7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Postal Service may establish a program to provide
property and services for 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 costs attributable to all
property and service provided by the Postal Service in a each year to such
agency.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H4BAD26C345E6461BBDD602F3E6967A3D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Classification
of services</header><text>For each agency, all property and services provided
by the Postal Service under this section shall be classified as a separate
activity subject to the requirements of annual reporting under section 3706.
Information provided under this section shall be according to requirements that
the Postal Regulatory Commission shall by regulation prescribe.</text>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6CAFE93B3F164535903D4A1FF7171AC8" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>3706.</enum><header>Transparency and
accountability for nonpostal services</header>
<subsection id="HEF01D69959F742AA9F505D4FB0CDD826"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Annual reports
to the Commission</header>
<paragraph id="H9F3CC7F658BA495CA60B31CBAFEB7929"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Postal Service shall, no later than 90 days after the
end of each year, prepare and submit to the Postal Regulatory Commission a
report (together with such nonpublic annex to the report as the Commission may
require under subsection (b)) which shall analyze costs, revenues, rates, and
quality of service for section 3704, using such methodologies as the Commission
shall by regulation prescribe, and in sufficient detail to demonstrate
compliance with all applicable requirements of this chapter.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC755F8EDC14048F8AE5396D8D1AE7AD1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Audits</header><text>The
Inspector General shall regularly audit the data collection systems and
procedures utilized in collecting information and preparing such report. The
results of any such audit shall be submitted to the Postal Service and the
Postal Regulatory Commission.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HC20DADF94C25467BAC9EC22B830FC8DF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Supporting
matter</header><text>The Postal Regulatory Commission shall have access, in
accordance with such regulations as the Commission shall prescribe, to the
working papers and any other supporting matter of the Postal Service and the
Inspector General in connection with any information submitted under this
section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H9173F01453214341A0837D68C6A48DA2"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Content and form
of reports</header>
<paragraph id="HC14D60F717F243FE863FA00F68A872FE"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Postal Regulatory Commission shall, by regulation,
prescribe the content and form of the public reports (and any nonpublic annex
and supporting matter relating to the report) to be provided by the Postal
Service under this section. Such reports shall be included with the annual
compliance determination reported under section 3653. In carrying out this
subsection, the Commission shall give due consideration to—</text>
<subparagraph id="H6A359B74276B4C02B73A34B722B526A9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>providing the
public with timely, adequate information to assess compliance;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE94F1FCA920E41F49EBB43493C7C4199"><enum>(B)</enum><text>avoiding
unnecessary or unwarranted administrative effort and expense on the part of the
Postal Service; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1BAF0CA88BD640F2B9EFA5B5E98FAF8C"><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="HA52B89B917C64F5D870CA29D1A15BFA9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Revised
requirements</header><text>The Commission may, on its own motion or on request
of an interested party, initiate proceedings (to be conducted in accordance
with regulations that the Commission shall prescribe) to improve the quality,
accuracy, or completeness of Postal Service data required by the Commission
under this subsection whenever it shall appear that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H555CA24832DA46508C518C4CB23DFFFD"><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="H7A8573C8006F49D7BA5AF5FF2E3C73D7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the quality of
service data provided to the Commission for annual reports under this chapter
has become significantly inaccurate or can be significantly improved; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3EBA8E365A6C4E96AB63E41EA2500962"><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="H04A2E52AF57D41E296E974B0F8BF60B7"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Confidential
information</header>
<paragraph id="HC9AA8A608E4F4B6AB0F33E7289D75A73"><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 which is described in section 410(c) of this title, 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="H9358FFB53DF64FFBA9067FE27F2F0EB8"><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="H5889BA7E08724E47A33E811A4E484072"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Annual
compliance determination</header>
<paragraph id="HA2B4EA26479741D1869F95E370E9D0BD"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Opportunity for
public comment</header><text>After receiving the reports required under
subsection (a) for any year, the Postal Regulatory Commission shall promptly
provide an opportunity for comment on such reports by any interested party, and
an officer of the Commission who shall be required to represent the interests
of the general public.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFC355F82790B42229396209B47024706"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Determination of
compliance or noncompliance</header><text>Not later than 90 days after
receiving the submissions required under subsection (a) with respect to a year,
the Postal Regulatory Commission shall make a written determination as to
whether any nonpostal activities during such year were or were not in
compliance with applicable provisions of this chapter (or regulations
promulgated under this chapter). The Postal Regulatory Commission shall issue a
determination of noncompliance if the requirements for coverage of costs
attributable to the activities are not met. If, with respect to a year, no
instance of noncompliance is found to have occurred in such year, the written
determination shall be to that effect.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3C903417E4974B579272B0D4B5F22C68"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Noncompliance</header><text>If,
for a year, a timely written determination of noncompliance is made under this
chapter, the Postal Regulatory Commission shall take appropriate action. If the
requirements for coverage of costs attributable to activities 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, which shall also include the full restoration of revenue
shortfalls during the following fiscal year. The Commission may order the
Postal Service to discontinue a nonpostal service under section 3703 or 3704
that persistently fails to meet cost coverage requirements.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0E1D72CCF9DE4649A8AE3CC76FDE9E2B"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Any deliberate
noncompliance</header><text>In addition, in cases 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 noncompliance. All receipts from
fines imposed under this subsection shall be deposited in the general fund of
the Treasury of the United
States.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section></chapter><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBE16A855AFBE44A0A5131A071833D824"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Clerical
amendment</header><text>The analysis 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="H0616382B67304341A0810D853DADFAD1" 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="HB4F2C5BD6B7947F695A2D0E56597E793"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header>
<paragraph id="HB4F863F08039429BAC300A38268CBD9F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Section
<enum-in-header>404(e)</enum-in-header></header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 404(e) of title 39, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H9EB0B2E3A9B841ABBE07411B1DFDA87F" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H57EE9DDC2FF54F22898F6EB77BE200FE" indent="up1"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Nothing in this section shall be
considered 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>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1A26FB6AE150453984DAC7EA4A96ABEC"><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></subsection></section><enum>V</enum><header>Postal Contracting
Reform</header>
<section id="H2E0DBA071ECB45F681DC8B471854A42D"><enum>501.</enum><header>Contracting
provisions</header>
<subsection id="H7BD06221FEC64043A0D8AC27B64CF2DF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Part I of title 39, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H607E401C0FC24AD887700FD67DD938DF" style="USC">
<chapter id="HFA3476DBA0EF412FB4D147CAEBE0DBBF"><enum>7</enum><header>Contracting
Provisions</header>
<toc container-level="chapter-container" idref="HFA3476DBA0EF412FB4D147CAEBE0DBBF" lowest-bolded-level="division-lowest-bolded" lowest-level="section" quoted-block="no-quoted-block" regeneration="yes-regeneration">
<toc-entry idref="H905E248AF4794B72A830289DFD489CEA" level="section">Sec.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry level="section">701. Definitions.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="H9060024B894443D191B28A533A06482A" level="section">702. Advocate for competition.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="HE5ACEF7987D644E883B6B33F745B4D00" level="section">703. Delegation of contracting authority.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="H0A6AB6E1DAE649029AEFD97CD58FA845" level="section">704. Posting of noncompetitive purchase requests for
noncompetitive contracts.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="H0D7035109A54447E8499EB98DCAC05E1" level="section">705. Review of ethical issues.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="H571F4706F3FB42489CBCB80704EE1F99" level="section">706. Ethical restrictions on participation in certain
contracting activity.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<section id="H905E248AF4794B72A830289DFD489CEA"><enum>701.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this chapter—</text>
<paragraph id="HB3DA34E9AB8E458495B763A350B4FF74"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the term
<term>contracting officer</term> means an employee of a covered postal entity
who has authority to enter into a postal contract;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEC709C776B48461BB87AFDD6C7B81238"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the term
<term>covered postal entity</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph id="HAB58895448754C0ABBB6B319616273E9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the United States
Postal Service; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H160E5B5C429C44EDB345DFB0A280F237"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Postal
Regulatory Commission;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H48F06596B08E4B9795DD64BEC13730A0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the term
<term>head of a covered postal entity</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph id="H96BDEDF6D8E346A6957A5A48FCACB6B9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the case of the
United States Postal Service, the Postmaster General; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H77F6655C8247438F884892A47F4B4D18"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the case of the
Postal Regulatory Commission, the Chairman of the Postal Regulatory
Commission;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H08C6AD125977489BA9CE2DCB5E11F3B2"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the term
<term>postal contract</term> means any contract (including any agreement or
memorandum of understanding) entered into by a covered postal entity for the
procurement of goods or services; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8145172445E5402F871E555663DF2F9F"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the term
<term>senior procurement executive</term> means the senior procurement
executive of a covered postal entity.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="H9060024B894443D191B28A533A06482A"><enum>702.</enum><header>Advocate for
competition</header>
<subsection id="HA032BCE5858B44DF8A4CCA9B0630ED1E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment
and designation</header>
<paragraph id="H6F700E0554EA49618F00CE3E0FD08862"><enum>(1)</enum><text>There is
established in each covered postal entity an advocate for competition.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4465CBDE4D894A58A9DF604580E2C756"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The head of each
covered postal entity shall designate for the covered postal entity 1 or more
officers or employees (other than the senior procurement executive) to serve as
the advocate for competition.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HD776C162E41A4EF8940665A9B49B1182"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Responsibilities</header><text>The
advocate for competition of each covered postal entity shall—</text>
<paragraph id="H9E56DF2F97BF407BA85172C7CC0D955F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>be responsible for
promoting—</text>
<subparagraph id="H0DE092A5B5D34A4B8FF3E4D6A85E6ACB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the contracting
out of Postal Service functions that the private sector can perform equally
well or better, and at lower cost; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6E6A9AD2C03C42518E78A47FD63BF70D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>competition to the
maximum extent practicable consistent with obtaining best value by promoting
the acquisition of commercial items and challenging barriers to
competition;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC0DAA6E0D9BB41BA807F75FBA696D81E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>review the
procurement activities of the covered postal entity; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H52D97ADB13D64F34B44B2AD4216D90B1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>prepare and
transmit to the head of each covered postal entity, the senior procurement
executive of each covered postal entity, the Board of Governors of the United
States Postal Service, and Congress, an annual report describing—</text>
<subparagraph id="H2A5E36E6C19447BAB7E54AFDB26181BD"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the activities of
the advocate under this section;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2D792505D5854DF28EAD11B303BE94F1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>initiatives
required to promote contracting out and competition;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H72C461D07C494541B8D15884FF689496"><enum>(C)</enum><text>barriers to
contracting out and competition; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3078DE0DF0654F2C8F5E5364D9A4CDD9"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the number of
waivers made by each covered postal entity under section 704(c).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HE5ACEF7987D644E883B6B33F745B4D00"><enum>703.</enum><header>Delegation of
contracting authority</header>
<subsection id="HF74B413F44B04425AA7E9B3E885571E8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header>
<paragraph id="H958F8C25FF374DEB9BDCEE6046D78E08"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Policy</header><text>Not
later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this chapter, the head of
each covered postal entity shall issue a policy on contracting officer
delegations of authority for the covered postal entity.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7FF41B8553EA44C28D7C01087DB9AE0C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The
policy issued under paragraph (1) shall require that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7059408188D641D48338E3B41A6EA4AA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>notwithstanding
any delegation of authority with respect to postal contracts, the ultimate
responsibility and accountability for the award and administration of postal
contracts resides with the senior procurement executive; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H663A31486FF544948E26B26B5BE92F4D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a contracting
officer shall maintain an awareness of and engagement in the activities being
performed on postal contracts of which that officer has cognizance,
notwithstanding any delegation of authority that may have been executed.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HF6B10C312C8B442A85B717383883FBD7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Posting of
delegations</header>
<paragraph id="H3B1503E62D4A44D9BEF764980D2F279A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The head of each covered postal entity shall make any
delegation of authority for postal contracts outside the functional contracting
unit readily available and accessible on the Web site of the covered postal
entity.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6A032F4693E54965861F89086E3275B4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>This paragraph shall apply to any delegation of authority
made on or after 30 days after the date of enactment of this chapter.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H0A6AB6E1DAE649029AEFD97CD58FA845"><enum>704.</enum><header>Posting of
noncompetitive purchase requests for noncompetitive contracts</header>
<subsection id="H294D9B2AA2D94265A0DA991BBF544A98"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Posting
required</header>
<paragraph id="H08270900AF29423FA1B3F346DB53144F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Postal
regulatory commission</header><text>The Postal Regulatory Commission shall make
the noncompetitive purchase request for any noncompetitive award, including the
rationale supporting the noncompetitive award, publicly available on the Web
site of the Postal Regulatory Commission—</text>
<subparagraph id="HA9812D930F7540C1829031FF46A8C61F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>not later than 14
days after the date of the award of the noncompetitive contract; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8A837BDCC372459E9C240E08EE6406F5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>not later than 30
days after the date of the award of the noncompetitive contract, if the basis
for the award was a compelling business interest.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H2CE75249C0AF4C699C481F9008022DB2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>United states
postal service</header><text>The United States Postal Service shall make the
noncompetitive purchase request for any noncompetitive award of a postal
contract valued at $250,000 or more, including the rationale supporting the
noncompetitive award, publicly available on the Web site of the United States
Postal Service—</text>
<subparagraph id="H80B4D361BB224CB7B08ACCE0CD2BD6ED"><enum>(A)</enum><text>not later than 14
days after the date of the award; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2621E002BDA84A169BAE03CA73BE097C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>not later than 30
days after the date of the award, if the basis for the award was a compelling
business interest.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H9307086DABE144E6B83D1126A149D44C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Adjustments to
the posting threshold for the united states postal service</header>
<subparagraph id="HFC04FF6CC3344DB4B15CE7858B231FBA"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Review and
determination</header><text>Not later than January 31 of each year, the United
States Postal Service shall—</text>
<clause id="H0C0A4EF510BF4E97A7A009D4AEE5188A"><enum>(i)</enum><text>review the
$250,000 threshold established under paragraph (2); and</text>
</clause><clause id="HFF360B26E44E4581851B935CB7C8FE16"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>based on any
change in the Consumer Price Index for all-urban consumers of the Department of
Labor, determine whether an adjustment to the threshold shall be made.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8A1455C2002E4A9AA011E62E91756D91"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Amount of
adjustments</header><text>An adjustment under subparagraph (A) shall be made in
increments of $5,000. If the United States Postal Service determines that a
change in the Consumer Price Index for a year would require an adjustment in an
amount that is less than $5,000, the United States Postal Service may not make
an adjustment to the threshold for the year.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1F26C293C73C4CF5BC71C614D35A56E4"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>This subsection shall apply to any noncompetitive contract
awarded on or after the date that is 90 days after the date of enactment of
this chapter.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7AE5CAB9DA134FB7A0EEE2AFAB82CE77"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Public
availability</header>
<paragraph id="H1F65D3BE9C0945B9BD2011769359CDAC"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Subject to paragraph (2), the information required to be
made publicly available by a covered postal entity under subsection (a) shall
be readily accessible on the Web site of the covered postal entity.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0F6EF28100A341AD9A7CE07C0C4DCA38"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Protection of
proprietary information</header><text>A covered postal entity shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H87FAB83AF555441DB4FD5393D49DD56B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>carefully screen
any description of the rationale supporting a noncompetitive award required to
be made publicly available under subsection (a) to determine whether the
description includes proprietary data (including any reference or citation to
the proprietary data) or security-related information; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCE3E94AA4A9D4CCEA935B0DF3AE1F176"><enum>(B)</enum><text>remove any
proprietary data or security-related information before making publicly
available a description of the rationale supporting a noncompetitive
award.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HBE814221D8A242F5AFC6C4A532C5D108"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Waivers</header>
<paragraph id="HEFCBB0CF86204E42AA0017CB11EF8706"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Waiver
permitted</header><text>If a covered postal entity determines that making a
noncompetitive purchase request publicly available would risk placing the
United States Postal Service at a competitive disadvantage relative to a
private sector competitor, the senior procurement executive, in consultation
with the advocate for competition of the covered postal entity, may waive the
requirements under subsection (a).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAD23383DC8E44FCEB1CE8E884BE16E00"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Form and content
of waiver</header>
<subparagraph id="HBD028B030F174C0BB7B6BB611906BFE9"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Form</header><text>A
waiver under paragraph (1) shall be in the form of a written determination
placed in the file of the contract to which the noncompetitive purchase
agreement relates.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2ADD3C69DFFF4FBE85283A323D8D9532"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Content</header><text>A
waiver under paragraph (1) shall include—</text>
<clause id="H30EE95B7847E495588244BE33D9FB5C1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a
description of the risk associated with making the noncompetitive purchase
request publicly available; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H423DBC5855944D85B61E8F831F38192E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a
statement that redaction of sensitive information in the noncompetitive
purchase request would not be sufficient to protect the United States Postal
Service from being placed at a competitive disadvantage relative to a private
sector competitor.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H15782F1E40F14294B476B03BF4D845E6"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Delegation of
waiver authority</header><text>A covered postal entity may not delegate the
authority to approve a waiver under paragraph (1) to any employee having less
authority than the senior procurement executive.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H0D7035109A54447E8499EB98DCAC05E1"><enum>705.</enum><header>Review of
ethical issues</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">If a
contracting officer identifies any ethical issues relating to a proposed
contract and submits those issues and that proposed contract to the designated
ethics official for the covered postal entity before the awarding of that
contract, that ethics official shall—</text>
<paragraph id="H138963BD0E2447FFB4735942B590CB2A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>review the
proposed contract; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H11F0A4AB17204953B65ED812BA4A749F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>advise the
contracting officer on the appropriate resolution of ethical issues.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="H571F4706F3FB42489CBCB80704EE1F99"><enum>706.</enum><header>Ethical
restrictions on participation in certain contracting activity</header>
<subsection id="HF5218E494D6C4F6AA9C65A1D5AC6BB80"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In
this section—</text>
<paragraph id="HB144474969F54CBEB4B733B27BC26B44"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the term
<term>covered employee</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph id="H997D4D81341C4EF49E298A80777B15CA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a contracting
officer; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2ECB98AC644048D6A776E61E2224E5E1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any employee of a
covered postal entity whose decisionmaking affects a postal contract as
determined by regulations prescribed by the head of a covered postal
entity;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H7CE9034098404CA285EF0F9B341162F2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the term
<term>final conviction</term> means a conviction, whether entered on a verdict
or plea, including a plea of nolo contendere, for which a sentence has been
imposed; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H62305E0077B44BF79E5A543067AFC756"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the term
<term>covered relationship</term> means a covered relationship described in
section 2635.502(b)(1) of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, or any
successor thereto.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H09CC662C001545F4A10E887D1FDDEFA1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>In
general</header>
<paragraph id="HEF7AC7C318E74DAAA9A320F9D67974D9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>The
head of each covered postal entity shall prescribe regulations that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H332D43698A1D4F1C8E10553C53D423FC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>require a covered
employee to include in the file of any noncompetitive purchase request for a
noncompetitive postal contract a written certification that—</text>
<clause id="H2221119A3D504285B9004C2ED694BE14"><enum>(i)</enum><text>discloses any
covered relationship of the covered employee; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HAB473DBA607446879F9AA7BB3A2A2020"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>states that the
covered employee will not take any action with respect to the noncompetitive
purchase request that affects the financial interests of a friend, relative, or
person with whom the covered employee is affiliated in a nongovernmental
capacity, or otherwise gives rise to an appearance of the use of public office
for private gain, as described in section 2635.702 of title 5, Code of Federal
Regulations, or any successor thereto;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H77B676988BF645918F097E655CC1088B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>require a
contracting officer to consult with the ethics counsel for the covered postal
entity regarding any disclosure made by a covered employee under subparagraph
(A)(i), to determine whether participation by the covered employee in the
noncompetitive purchase request would give rise to a violation of part 2635 of
title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (commonly referred to as the Standards of
Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5E344FE059CB48ED96F540F1B3C96578"><enum>(C)</enum><text>require the ethics
counsel for a covered postal entity to review any disclosure made by a
contracting officer under subparagraph (A)(i) to determine whether
participation by the contracting officer in the noncompetitive purchase request
would give rise to a violation of part 2635 of title 5, Code of Federal
Regulations (commonly referred to as the Standards of Ethical Conduct for
Employees of the Executive Branch), or any successor thereto;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6458684C6B834637AC2261AD2BB03488"><enum>(D)</enum><text>under subsections
(d) and (e) of section 2635.50 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, or any
successor thereto, require the ethics counsel for a covered postal entity
to—</text>
<clause id="HDF12167670CB4E9EA2C5AC16002ED81D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>authorize a
covered employee that makes a disclosure under subparagraph (A)(i) to
participate in the noncompetitive postal contract; or</text>
</clause><clause id="HE3ABB49C6E064814A9FF1E2947E96889"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>disqualify a
covered employee that makes a disclosure under subparagraph (A)(i) from
participating in the noncompetitive postal contract;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE53FC849B92F4C15A75DEA6F50391DF7"><enum>(E)</enum><text>require a
contractor to timely disclose to the contracting officer in a bid,
solicitation, award, or performance of a postal contract any conflict of
interest with a covered employee; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF4754E5566ED48D6BF67DFAE39535E54"><enum>(F)</enum><text>include authority
for the head of the covered postal entity to grant a waiver or otherwise
mitigate any organizational or personal conflict of interest, if the head of
the covered postal entity determines that the waiver or mitigation is in the
best interests of the Postal Service.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H2D004806F581425B967A31043753804B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Posting of
waivers</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the head of a covered postal
entity grants a waiver described in paragraph (1)(F), the head of the covered
postal entity shall make the waiver publicly available on the Web site of the
covered postal entity.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H01F614A4E27D4B5F88B243842A4E1B97"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Contract
voidance and recovery</header>
<paragraph id="HD03C28E4CD914F23821069AD340AC118"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Unlawful
conduct</header><text>In any case in which there is a final conviction for a
violation of any provision of chapter 11 of title 18 relating to a postal
contract, the head of a covered postal entity may—</text>
<subparagraph id="H457BF301FD4C48CEACD85F77CC64E697"><enum>(A)</enum><text>void that
contract; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6DF06901D4B14F6FB2308E4566E13736"><enum>(B)</enum><text>recover the
amounts expended and property transferred by the covered postal entity under
that contract.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H002D729347D944EEA952EF314667520E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Obtaining or
disclosing procurement information</header>
<subparagraph id="H38AE90E59B4B465DA910EC6EE4461379"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In any case in which a contractor under a postal contract
fails to timely disclose a conflict of interest to the appropriate contracting
officer as required under the regulations promulgated under subsection
(b)(1)(E), the head of a covered postal entity may—</text>
<clause id="H03E3BC7B037F429C81C92C3D4D99F89D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>void that
contract; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H2527DDA2F1464106B8DDC0A4FB2D6EEA"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>recover the
amounts expended and property transferred by the covered postal entity under
that contract.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2EE3C545AEF94EA29586700A767D64C9"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Conviction or
administrative determination</header><text>A case described under subparagraph
(A) is any case in which—</text>
<clause id="H17E43A88BDDA4B578AB84CD4F8BD5671"><enum>(i)</enum><text>there is a final
conviction for an offense punishable under section 2105 of title 41, United
States Code; or</text>
</clause><clause id="HC11AF733FB6B4A7B99E2C3357660224A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the head of a
covered postal entity determines, based upon a preponderance of the evidence,
that the contractor or someone acting for the contractor has engaged in conduct
constituting an offense punishable under section 2105 of such
title.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section></chapter><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H75559249F84C40F48436883B266A8BE7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical
amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of
chapters for part I of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding at
the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6F69118CF38740B88F110116D51F95A0" style="USC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<multi-column-toc-entry bold="on" level="section"><toc-enum>7.</toc-enum><level-header bold="on" level="section">Contracting
Provisions</level-header><target>701</target></multi-column-toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="H81D1940566674B6CB2878C83F024371A"><enum>502.</enum><header>Technical
amendment to definition</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7101(8) of title 41, United States
Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H5C2D49D534554A109A5BC7AFF3BE9214"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>and</quote> at the end of subparagraph (C);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H68A048D479144C2CB1CA745A3FD78FA2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking the
period at the end of subparagraph (D) and inserting <quote>; and</quote>;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF660D7306DA34E47BAB42DB9536BA135"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following new subparagraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC21C955C8E9D4171BDA39C7DDC7CCD34" style="USC">
<subparagraph id="H1C37D768E13C4530AC1BED59B5EF8D71"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the United States Postal Service and the
Postal Regulatory
Commission.</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section>