[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1873 Introduced in House (IH)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1873

 To eliminate the use of the frank for mail transmitted by Members of 
     Congress and Congressional officials, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 16, 2015

Mr. Woodall (for himself, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Joyce, and 
 Mr. Ribble) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on 
   Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To eliminate the use of the frank for mail transmitted by Members of 
     Congress and Congressional officials, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Ending Special Mail Privileges for 
Congress Act''.

SEC. 2. REPEAL OF FRANK; REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO THE USE OF 
              CONGRESSIONAL MAIL.

    (a) Repeal of Franking Privilege.--Section 3201 of title 39, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``other than franked 
        mail'' and inserting ``other than Congressional mail subject to 
        section 3210 of this title''; and
            (2) by striking paragraphs (3) and (4).
    (b) Requirements for Mail Transmitted by Members of Congress and 
Congressional Officials.--
            (1) Policy and intent of congress in sending congressional 
        mail.--Section 3210(a) of such title is amended as follows:
                    (A) In paragraph (1), by striking ``as franked 
                mail'' and inserting ``as Congressional mail''.
                    (B) In paragraph (3)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
                        (A), by striking ``which is frankable'' and 
                        inserting ``which may be sent as Congressional 
                        mail''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (I), by striking 
                        ``under the franking privilege'' and inserting 
                        ``which is sent as Congressional mail''.
                    (C) In paragraph (4)--
                            (i) by striking ``the franking privilege'' 
                        and inserting ``the privilege of sending 
                        Congressional mail''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``franked mail'' and 
                        inserting ``Congressional mail''.
                    (D) In paragraph (5)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
                        (A), by striking ``franked mail'' and inserting 
                        ``Congressional mail''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking 
                        ``frankable mail'' and inserting 
                        ``Congressional mail''.
                    (E) In paragraph (6), by striking ``franked mail'' 
                each place it appears in subparagraphs (A) and (C) and 
                inserting ``Congressional mail''.
            (2) Authority to send congressional mail.--Section 3210(b) 
        of such title is amended--
                    (A) in paragraphs (1) and (3), by striking 
                ``franked mail'' each place it appears and inserting 
                ``Congressional mail''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``the franking 
                privilege'' and inserting ``the privilege to send 
                Congressional mail under paragraph (1)''.
            (3) Form of congressional mail.--Section 3210(c) of such 
        title is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``Franked mail'' the first place it 
                appears and inserting ``Congressional mail under this 
                section'';
                    (B) by striking ``Franked mail'' the second place 
                it appears and inserting ``Such Congressional mail''; 
                and
                    (C) in the second sentence, by striking ``franked 
                mail'' and inserting ``Congressional mail''.
            (4) Form of address; regulations for review of official 
        status of mail.--Section 3210(d) of such title is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``franked mail'' each place it 
                appears in paragraphs (1) through (6) and inserting 
                ``Congressional mail''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (7), by striking ``Franked mail'' 
                and inserting ``Congressional mail''.
            (5) Determination of status of mail by type and content.--
        Section 3210(e) of such title is amended by striking ``The 
        frankability of mail matter shall be determined under the 
        provisions of this section'' and inserting ``The determination 
        as to whether mail matter may be sent as Congressional mail 
        under this section shall be determined''.
            (6) Source of funds for sending mail.--Section 3210(f) of 
        such title is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``franked mail'' and inserting 
                ``Congressional mail'';
                    (B) by striking ``an otherwise frankable mass 
                mailing'' and inserting ``a mass mailing which 
                otherwise may be sent as Congressional mail''; and
                    (C) by striking ``is frankable'' and inserting 
                ``may be sent as Congressional mail''.
            (7) Exclusion of payments for congressional mail from 
        treatment as campaign contribution or expenditure.--Section 
        3210(g) of such title is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``franked mail mailed under the 
                frank'' and inserting ``Congressional mail'';
                    (B) by striking ``Congress, and the cost'' and 
                inserting ``Congress which is mailed under this 
                section, and the cost''; and
                    (C) by striking ``such frankable matter for such 
                mailing under the frank'' and inserting ``such 
                Congressional mail for such mailing''.
            (8) Conforming amendment to heading.--The heading of 
        section 3210 of such title is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 3210. Mail transmitted by Members of Congress and congressional 
              officials''.
    (c) Payment for Congressional Mail.--
            (1) Payments to postal service from amounts appropriated 
        for congressional mail costs.--Section 3216(a) of such title is 
        amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``under the 
                franking privilege'' and inserting ``as Congressional 
                mail'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``franked mail'' 
                and inserting ``Congressional mail'', and
                    (C) by striking the last sentence.
            (2) Exclusive source of payments.--Section 3216(c) of such 
        title is amended by striking ``under the frank'' and inserting 
        ``as Congressional mail which is subject to this section''.
            (3) Deposit of funds improperly collected.--Section 3216(d) 
        of such title is amended by striking ``under the franking 
        privilege'' and inserting ``as Congressional mail which is 
        subject to this section''.
            (4) Quarterly reports on pieces and costs of congressional 
        mail.--Section 3216(e)(1) of such title is amended by striking 
        ``franked mail, as defined in section 3201 of this title,'' and 
        inserting ``Congressional mail which is subject to this 
        section''.
            (5) Conforming amendment to heading.--The heading of 
        section 3216 of such title is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 3216. Payment for Congressional mail''.
    (d) Repeal of Mailing Privileges of Survivors of Members of 
Congress.--
            (1) Repeal.--Section 3218 of such title is repealed.
            (2) Conforming amendment relating to payment.--Section 
        3216(a)(1) of such title is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``through the mails--'' and all 
                that follows through ``under the'' and inserting 
                ``through the mails under the''; and
                    (B) by striking subparagraph (B).
            (3) Conforming amendment relating to role of house 
        commission on congressional mailing standards.--Section 5(d) of 
        Public Law 93-191 (2 U.S.C. 501(d)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``3218,''; and
                    (B) by striking ``(or any individual designated by 
                the Clerk of the House under section 3218 of title 
                39)''.
            (4) Conforming amendment relating to role of select 
        committee on standards and conduct of the senate.--Section 6 of 
        Public Law 93-191 (2 U.S.C. 502(a)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``3218,''; and
                    (B) by striking ``, surviving spouse of any of the 
                foregoing,''.
    (e) Miscellaneous Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Shipment by most economical means.--Section 3208 of 
        such title is amended by striking ``other than franked mail''.
            (2) Mailing of public documents after expiration of 
        terms.--Section 3211 of such title is amended by striking 
        ``franked mail'' and inserting ``Congressional mail''.
            (3) Congressional record as congressional mail.--Section 
        3212 of such title is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``franked mail'' each place it 
                appears and inserting ``Congressional mail''; and
                    (B) by amending the heading to read as follows:
``Sec. 3212. Congressional Record as Congressional mail''.
            (4) Mailing of seeds and reports from the department of 
        agriculture after expiration of terms.--Section 3213(2) of such 
        title is amended by striking ``franked mail'' and inserting 
        ``Congressional mail''.
            (5) Mailing privilege of former president and surviving 
        spouse.--Section 3214 of such title is amended by striking 
        ``franked mail'' and inserting ``Congressional mail''.
            (6) Lending or permitting use of frank.--Section 3215 of 
        such title is amended--
                    (A) in the heading, by striking ``Lending or 
                permitting use of frank'' and inserting ``Permitting 
                others to send Congressional mail''; and
                    (B) by amending the first sentence to read as 
                follows: ``A person entitled to send Congressional mail 
                under this chapter may not permit the sending of such 
                mail by any committee, organization, or association, or 
                permit the sending of such mail by any person for the 
                benefit or use of any committee, organization, or 
                association.''
            (7) Treatment of certain mailgrams as congressional mail.--
        Section 3219 of such title is amended by striking ``franked 
        mail'' both places it appears and inserting ``Congressional 
        mail''.
            (8) Use of congressional mail in the location and recovery 
        of missing children.--Section 3220 of such title is amended--
                    (A) in the heading, by striking ``official'' and 
                inserting ``Congressional''; and
                    (B) in subsection (b), by striking ``franked mail'' 
                and inserting ``Congressional mail''.
    (f) Clerical Amendments.--(1) The chapter heading and table of 
sections at the beginning of chapter 32 of such title are amended to 
read as follows:

              ``CHAPTER 32--PENALTY AND CONGRESSIONAL MAIL

``Sec.
``3201. Definitions.
``3202. Penalty mail.
``3203. Endorsements on penalty covers.
``3204. Restrictions on use of penalty mail.
``3205. Accounting for penalty covers.
``3206. Reimbursement for penalty mail service.
``3207. Limit of weight of penalty mail; postage on overweight matter.
``3208. Shipment by most economical means.
``3209. Executive departments to supply information.
``3210. Mail transmitted by Members of Congress and congressional 
                            officials.
``3211. Public documents.
``3212. Congressional Record as Congressional mail.
``3213. Seeds and reports from Department of Agriculture.
``3214. Mailing privilege of former President; surviving spouse of 
                            former President.
``3215. Permitting others to send Congressional mail unlawful.
``3216. Payment for Congressional mail.
``3217. Correspondence of members of diplomatic corps and consuls of 
                            countries of Postal Union of Americas and 
                            Spain.
``3218. [repealed].
``3219. Mailgrams.
``3220. Use of Congressional mail in the location and recovery of 
                            missing children.''.
    (2) The item in the table of chapters at the beginning of part IV 
of such title is amended to read as follows:

``32. Penalty and Congressional mail........................    3201''.

SEC. 3. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS RELATING TO OPERATION OF CONGRESS.

    (a) Standards for Mass Mailings by Senators.--
            (1) Requiring mass mailings to meet standards for 
        congressional mail.--Section 5 of the Legislative Branch 
        Appropriations Act, 1995 (39 U.S.C. 3210 note) is amended by 
        striking ``under the frank'' and inserting ``mailed as 
        Congressional mail under chapter 32 of title 39, United States 
        Code''.
            (2) Standards.--Section 6 of such Act (39 U.S.C. 3210 note) 
        is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``the franking 
                privilege'' and inserting ``Congressional mail''; and
                    (B) in subsection (c), by striking ``under the 
                frank'' and inserting ``as Congressional mail under 
                chapter 32 of title 39, United States Code''.
    (b) Congressional Regulations Regarding Use of Funds for 
Congressional Mail.--Section 311 of the Legislative Branch 
Appropriations Act, 1991 (2 U.S.C. 503) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``entitled to use the 
        congressional frank'' each place it appears and inserting 
        ``entitled to send Congressional mail'';
            (2) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ``the frank'' and 
        inserting ``Congressional mail under chapter 32 of title 39, 
        United States Code'';
            (3) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``entitled to use the 
        congressional frank'' and inserting ``entitled to send 
        Congressional mail'';
            (4) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ``official mail'' and 
        inserting ``Congressional mail under chapter 32 of title 39, 
        United States Code,'';
            (5) in subsection (c), by striking ``official mail'' and 
        inserting ``Congressional mail under chapter 32 of title 39, 
        United States Code,'';
            (6) in subsection (d), by striking ``franked mail'' and 
        inserting ``Congressional mail under chapter 32 of title 39, 
        United States Code,'';
            (7) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) by striking ``official mail'' each place it 
                appears and inserting ``Congressional mail under 
                chapter 32 of title 39, United States Code,'', and
                    (B) by striking ``entitled to use the congressional 
                frank'' each place it appears and inserting ``entitled 
                to send Congressional mail''; and
            (8) by amending subsection (g)(2) to read as follows:
            ``(2) the term `person entitled to send Congressional mail' 
        means a Senator, Member of the House of Representatives, or 
        other person authorized to send Congressional mail under 
        section 3210(b) of title 39, United States Code.''.
    (c) Guidance on Appropriate Use of Congressional Mail.--
            (1) House commission on congressional mailing standards.--
        Section 5 of Public Law 93-191 (2 U.S.C. 501) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (d)--
                            (i) by striking ``franked mail'' each place 
                        it appears and inserting ``Congressional 
                        mail'', and
                            (ii) by striking ``the franking privilege'' 
                        and inserting ``the privilege to send 
                        Congressional mail''; and
                    (B) in subsection (e)--
                            (i) in the first sentence, by striking 
                        ``franked mail'' and inserting ``Congressional 
                        mail'', and
                            (ii) in the tenth sentence, by striking 
                        ``franking laws'' and all that follows through 
                        ``franked mail'' and inserting ``or abuse of 
                        the Congressional mailing laws by any person 
                        listed under subsection (d) of this section as 
                        entitled to send mail as Congressional mail''.
            (2) Select committee on standards and conduct of the 
        senate.--Section 6 of Public Law 93-191 (2 U.S.C. 502) is 
        amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a)--
                            (i) by striking ``franked mail'' both 
                        places it appears and inserting ``Congressional 
                        mail'', and
                            (ii) by striking ``the franking privilege'' 
                        and inserting ``Congressional mail''; and
                    (B) in subsection (c), by striking ``franking 
                laws'' and all that follows through ``franked mail'' 
                and inserting ``or abuse of the Congressional mailing 
                laws by any person listed under subsection (a) of this 
                section as entitled to send mail as Congressional 
                mail''.
    (d) Miscellaneous Conforming Amendments Relating to House of 
Representatives.--
            (1) Mail privileges of former speakers.--Section 4 of House 
        Resolution 1238, Ninety-first Congress, as enacted into 
        permanent law by chapter VIII of the Supplemental 
        Appropriations Act, 1971 (2 U.S.C. 5127), is amended by 
        striking ``franked mail'' each place it appears and inserting 
        ``Congressional mail''.
            (2) Transportation of official records and papers to house 
        member's district.--Section 2(2) of House Resolution 1297, 
        Ninety-fifth Congress, as enacted into permanent law by section 
        111(1) of the Congressional Operations Appropriations Act, 1984 
        (2 U.S.C. 5346(b)(2)), is amended by striking ``franked mail'' 
        and inserting ``Congressional mail under chapter 32 of title 
        39, United States Code''.
            (3) Mail privileges of house legislative counsel.--Section 
        525 of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 (2 U.S.C. 
        282d) is amended by striking ``franked mail'' and inserting 
        ``Congressional mail''.
    (e) Miscellaneous Conforming Amendments Relating to Senate.--
            (1) Senators' official personnel and office expense 
        account.--Subsection (a)(6) of the first section of Public Law 
        100-137 (2 U.S.C. 6313(6)) is amended by striking ``the payment 
        of franked mail expenses of Senators'' and inserting ``the 
        payment of expenses of Senators for Congressional mail under 
        chapter 32 of title 39, United States Code''.
            (2) Contingent fund of the senate.--Section 506(a)(3) of 
        the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1973 (2 U.S.C. 6314(a)3)) 
        is amended by striking ``(B) postage on'' and all that follows 
        through ``and (C)''.
            (3) Transportation of official records and papers to a 
        senator's state.--Section 7(d) of the Legislative Branch 
        Appropriations Act, 2005 (2 U.S.C. 6319(d)) is amended by 
        striking ``franked mail'' and inserting ``Congressional mail 
        under chapter 32 of title 39, United States Code''.
            (4) Mass mailing information by senators.--Section 320 of 
        the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1991 (2 U.S.C. 505) 
        is amended by striking ``under the frank'' and inserting ``as 
        Congressional mail''.
            (5) Inquiries and investigations by senate committees.--
        Section 6(b) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1998 
        (2 U.S.C. 4334) is amended by striking ``franked mail 
        expenses'' and inserting ``expenses for Congressional mail 
        under chapter 32 of title 39, United States Code''.

SEC. 4. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS RELATING TO RESPONSIBILITIES OF 
              GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE.

    (a) Time for Distribution of Documents by Members of Congress.--
Section 732 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by striking 
``to frank documents'' and inserting ``to send documents as 
Congressional mail under chapter 32 of title 39''.
    (b) Documents and Reports Ordered by Members of Congress.--Section 
733 of such title is amended--
            (1) in the heading, by striking ``franks and''; and
            (2) by striking the second and third undesignated 
        paragraphs.
    (c) Mailing Congressional Record.--Section 907 of such title is 
amended by striking ``franked mail'' and inserting ``Congressional 
mail''.
    (d) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 7 of 
such title is amended by amending the item relating to section 733 to 
read as follows:

``733. Documents and reports ordered by Members of Congress; envelopes 
                            for Members of Congress.''.

SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE; REGULATIONS.

    (a) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this Act shall apply 
with respect to matter mailed during the second session of the One 
Hundred Fourteenth Congress and each succeeding session of each 
succeeding Congress.
    (b) Regulations.--In consultation with the United States Postal 
Service, the Committee on House Administration of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the 
Senate shall each revise the regulations governing the treatment of 
official mail of the House or Senate (as the case may be) to take into 
account the amendments made by this Act.
                                 <all>