[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1742 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1742

   To improve the provision of postal services to rural areas of the 
                             United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              July 9, 2015

Ms. Heitkamp (for herself, Mr. Tester, Mrs. McCaskill, and Mr. Peters) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
        Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To improve the provision of postal services to rural areas of the 
                             United States.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Postal Act 
of 2015''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Maintenance of delivery service standards.
Sec. 4. Preservation of 6-day delivery.
Sec. 5. Protection of rural post offices.
Sec. 6. Protection of workforce rights.
Sec. 7. Alternative Means of Transportation contracts.
Sec. 8. Rural Postal Service Advisory Commission.
Sec. 9. Equipping delivery vehicles for rural areas.
Sec. 10. Wi-Fi in rural post offices.
Sec. 11. Protection of door and curbside delivery.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act, the following definitions shall apply:
            (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Postal 
        Regulatory Commission.
            (2) Postal service.--The term ``Postal Service'' means the 
        United States Postal Service.

SEC. 3. MAINTENANCE OF DELIVERY SERVICE STANDARDS.

    (a) Preserving Mail Processing Capacity; Review of Discontinuances, 
Closings, and Consolidations.--
            (1) Moratorium on closing or consolidating postal 
        facilities.--During the 2-year period beginning on the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Postal Service may not close or 
        consolidate any postal facility (as defined in section 404(f) 
        of title 39, United States Code, as added by this subsection).
            (2) Procedures for closing or consolidation of postal 
        facilities.--Section 404 of title 39, United States Code, is 
        amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f) Closing or Consolidation of Certain Postal Facilities.--
            ``(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `postal 
        facility' means a processing and distribution center, 
        processing and distribution facility, network distribution 
        center, or other facility that is operated by the Postal 
        Service, the primary function of which is to sort and process 
        mail.
            ``(2) Area mail processing studies.--
                    ``(A) Applicability.--In this paragraph--
                            ``(i) the term `area mail processing study' 
                        means an area mail processing feasibility study 
                        described in section 2-1 of Handbook PO-408 of 
                        the Postal Service, entitled `Area Mail 
                        Processing Guidelines', as in effect on October 
                        1, 2013;
                            ``(ii) the term `closing', with respect to 
                        a covered postal facility, means the transfer 
                        of all incoming and outgoing mail sortation and 
                        processing operations of the covered postal 
                        facility to a different covered postal 
                        facility;
                            ``(iii) the term `consolidate', with 
                        respect to a covered postal facility, means the 
                        transfer of either all incoming or all outgoing 
                        mail sortation and processing operations of the 
                        covered postal facility to a different covered 
                        postal facility; and
                            ``(iv) the term `covered postal facility' 
                        means a postal facility, the primary function 
                        of which is to sort and process first-class 
                        mail originating or designating within a 
                        defined geographic area.
                    ``(B) New area mail processing studies.--Before 
                making a determination under subsection (a)(3) as to 
                the necessity for the closing or consolidation of a 
                covered postal facility, the Postal Service shall--
                            ``(i) conduct an area mail processing study 
                        relating to the covered postal facility that 
                        includes consideration of a plan to reduce the 
                        capacity of the covered postal facility without 
                        closing the covered postal facility; and
                            ``(ii) upon completing the study under 
                        clause (i)--
                                    ``(I) publish the results of the 
                                study on the website of the Postal 
                                Service; and
                                    ``(II) publish a notice that the 
                                study is complete and the results of 
                                the study are available to the public, 
                                including on the website of the Postal 
                                Service.
                    ``(C) Completed or ongoing area mail processing 
                studies.--
                            ``(i) In general.--In the case of a covered 
                        postal facility described in clause (ii), the 
                        Postal Service shall--
                                    ``(I) consider a plan to reduce the 
                                capacity of the covered postal facility 
                                without closing the covered postal 
                                facility; and
                                    ``(II) publish the results of the 
                                consideration under subclause (I) with 
                                or as an amendment to the area mail 
                                processing study relating to the 
                                covered postal facility.
                            ``(ii) Postal facilities.--A covered postal 
                        facility described in this clause is a covered 
                        postal facility--
                                    ``(I) for which, as of the date of 
                                enactment of this subsection, an area 
                                mail processing study--
                                            ``(aa) has been completed 
                                        but does not include a plan to 
                                        reduce the capacity of the 
                                        covered postal facility without 
                                        closing the covered postal 
                                        facility; or
                                            ``(bb) is in progress; and
                                    ``(II) which, as of the date of 
                                enactment of this subsection, has not 
                                been closed or consolidated.
            ``(3) Notice, public comment, and public hearing.--If the 
        Postal Service makes a determination under subsection (a)(3) to 
        close or consolidate a postal facility, the Postal Service 
        shall--
                    ``(A) provide notice of the determination to--
                            ``(i) Congress; and
                            ``(ii) the Postal Regulatory Commission;
                    ``(B) provide adequate public notice of the 
                intention of the Postal Service to close or consolidate 
                the postal facility;
                    ``(C) ensure that interested persons have an 
                opportunity to submit public comments during a 45-day 
                period after the Postal Service provides the notice of 
                intention under subparagraph (B);
                    ``(D) before the 45-day period described in 
                subparagraph (C), provide public notice of the 
                opportunity under subparagraph (C) to submit public 
                comments during that period by--
                            ``(i) publication on the website of the 
                        Postal Service;
                            ``(ii) posting at the affected postal 
                        facility; and
                            ``(iii) publicizing the date and location 
                        of the public community meeting under 
                        subparagraph (E); and
                    ``(E) during the 45-day period described in 
                subparagraph (C), conduct a public meeting that 
                provides an opportunity for comments to be submitted 
                verbally or in writing.
            ``(4) Further considerations.--The Postal Service, in 
        making a determination under subsection (a)(3) to close or 
        consolidate a postal facility, shall consider--
                    ``(A) the views presented by interested persons 
                under paragraph (3);
                    ``(B) the effect of the closing or consolidation on 
                the affected community, including the impact the 
                closing or consolidation may have on a State, region, 
                or locality;
                    ``(C) the effect of the closing or consolidation on 
                the travel times and distances for affected customers 
                to access services under the proposed closing or 
                consolidation;
                    ``(D) the effect of the closing or consolidation on 
                delivery times for all classes of mail and packages;
                    ``(E) any characteristics of certain geographical 
                areas, such as remoteness, broadband internet 
                availability with a lower rates of access than the 
                average rate of access in other geographical areas of 
                the United States, and weather-related obstacles, that 
                may result in the closing or consolidation having a 
                unique effect;
                    ``(F) the effect of the closing or consolidation on 
                small businesses in the area, including shipping and 
                communications with customers and suppliers and the 
                corresponding impact on revenues, operations, and 
                growth;
                    ``(G) the extent to which significant changes in 
                delivery service resulting from the closure or 
                consolidation of the postal facility would affect the 
                ability of individuals and businesses in the region 
                served by the postal facility to participate in the 
                national economy;
                    ``(H) the ability of the Postal Service to maintain 
                a safe working environment at each postal facility 
                that, as a result of the closing or consolidation, 
                would process the mail that had been processed by the 
                closed or consolidated postal facility, including by 
                examining--
                            ``(i) the capacity of each affected postal 
                        facility to process a greater volume of mail;
                            ``(ii) the ability of the workforce at each 
                        affected postal facility to handle a larger 
                        workload; and
                            ``(iii) whether the Postal Service would 
                        need to hire additional employees at affected 
                        postal facilities to process the increased 
                        volume of mail;
                    ``(I) the extent to which the Postal Service can 
                take action to mitigate significant negative impacts 
                identified through the considerations under this 
                paragraph; and
                    ``(J) any other factor the Postal Service 
                determines is necessary.
            ``(5) Notice of final determination; justification 
        statement.--If the Postal Service determines to close or 
        consolidate a postal facility, the Postal Service shall post on 
        the website of the Postal Service--
                    ``(A) notice of the final determination to close or 
                consolidate the postal facility; and
                    ``(B) a closing or consolidation justification 
                statement that includes--
                            ``(i) a response to the public comments 
                        received with respect to the considerations 
                        described under paragraph (4);
                            ``(ii) a description of the considerations 
                        made by the Postal Service under paragraph (4); 
                        and
                            ``(iii) the actions that the Postal Service 
                        will take to mitigate any significant negative 
                        effects identified under paragraph (4).
            ``(6) Closing or consolidation of postal facilities.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not earlier than 15 days after 
                the date on which the Postal Service posts notice of a 
                final determination and a justification statement under 
                paragraph (5) with respect to a postal facility, the 
                Postal Service may close or consolidate the postal 
                facility.
                    ``(B) Alternative intake of mail.--If the Postal 
                Service closes or consolidates a postal facility under 
                subparagraph (A), the Postal Service shall make 
                reasonable efforts to ensure continued mail receipt 
                from customers of the closed or consolidated postal 
                facility at the same location or at another appropriate 
                location in close geographic proximity to the closed or 
                consolidated postal facility.
            ``(7) Protection of certain information.--Nothing in this 
        subsection shall be construed to require the Postal Service to 
        disclose any--
                    ``(A) proprietary data;
                    ``(B) information relating to the security of a 
                postal facility; or
                    ``(C) information that is exempt from disclosure 
                under section 552 of title 5.
            ``(8) Postal regulatory commission appeals.--
                    ``(A) Right to appeal.--A determination of the 
                Postal Service to close or consolidate any postal 
                facility may be appealed by any person served by the 
                postal facility to the Postal Regulatory Commission not 
                later than 30 days after the date on which the 
                determination is posted on the Postal Service website 
                under paragraph (5).
                    ``(B) Review based on record.--The Commission shall 
                review a determination appealed under this paragraph on 
                the basis of the record before the Postal Service in 
                the making of the determination.
                    ``(C) Deadline for commission determination.--The 
                Commission shall make a determination based upon a 
                review conducted under subparagraph (B) not later than 
                90 days after the date on which the Commission receives 
                the appeal of the determination under subparagraph (A).
                    ``(D) Bases for setting aside postal service 
                determinations.--In making a determination under 
                subparagraph (C), the Commission shall set aside any 
                determination, finding, or conclusion of the Postal 
                Service that the Commission determines--
                            ``(i) is arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of 
                        discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with 
                        the law;
                            ``(ii) is without observance of the 
                        procedures required under this subsection or 
                        any other applicable law; or
                            ``(iii) is unsupported by substantial 
                        evidence on the record.
                    ``(E) Option to affirm or remand.--The Commission--
                            ``(i) may affirm a determination of the 
                        Postal Service appealed under this paragraph or 
                        order that the entire matter be returned for 
                        further consideration; and
                            ``(ii) may not modify the determination of 
                        the Postal Service.
                    ``(F) Temporary suspension.--The Commission may 
                suspend the effectiveness of a determination of the 
                Postal Service appealed under this paragraph until the 
                final disposition of the appeal.
                    ``(G) Applicability of other laws.--The provisions 
                of section 556, section 557, and chapter 7 of title 5 
                shall not apply to any review carried out by the 
                Commission under this paragraph.
                    ``(H) Date of receipt of appeal.--For purposes of 
                subparagraph (A), any appeal received by the Commission 
                shall--
                            ``(i) if sent to the Commission through the 
                        mails, be considered to have been received on 
                        the date of the Postal Service postmark on the 
                        envelope or other cover in which the appeal is 
                        mailed; or
                            ``(ii) if otherwise lawfully delivered to 
                        the Commission, be considered to have been 
                        received on the date determined based on any 
                        appropriate documentation or other indicia (as 
                        determined under regulations of the 
                        Commission).''.
    (b) Maintenance of Delivery Service Standards.--
            (1) Reinstatement of overnight service standards.--
                    (A) Definition.--In this paragraph, the term 
                ``market-dominant product'' means a product subject to 
                subchapter I of chapter 36 of title 39, United States 
                Code.
                    (B) Standards for market-dominant products.--The 
                Postal Service shall apply the service standards for 
                market-dominant products under part 121 of title 39, 
                Code of Federal Regulations, that were in effect on 
                July 1, 2012.
            (2) Commission study and report.--
                    (A) Study.--The Commission shall conduct a study 
                that assesses--
                            (i) how the Postal Service measures 
                        delivery times for the purpose of determining 
                        whether service standards have been met; and
                            (ii) whether the method used by the Postal 
                        Service to measure delivery times reflects the 
                        total period of time beginning when a mailed 
                        item is transferred from a postal customer and 
                        ending when the mailed item arrives at its 
                        final destination.
                    (B) Report.--
                            (i) In general.--Not later than 1 year 
                        after the date of enactment of this Act, and 
                        after conducting the hearing under clause (ii), 
                        the Commission shall submit to the Committee on 
                        Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of 
                        the Senate and the Committee on Oversight and 
                        Government Reform of the House of 
                        Representatives a report on the findings of the 
                        study conducted under subparagraph (A) that 
                        includes recommendations as to whether the 
                        Postal Service should use additional or 
                        improved methods to--
                                    (I) measure the actual delivery 
                                times experienced by postal customers; 
                                and
                                    (II) assess compliance with the 
                                service standards promulgated under 
                                section 3691 of title 39, United States 
                                Code.
                            (ii) Hearing.--Before the Commission 
                        submits the report under clause (i), the 
                        Commission shall--
                                    (I) conduct a hearing on the record 
                                under sections 556 and 557 of title 5, 
                                United States Code, to provide the 
                                Postal Service, users of the mail, and 
                                an officer of the Commission required 
                                to represent the interests of the 
                                general public the opportunity to 
                                present views on the proposed report; 
                                and
                                    (II) revise the report as the 
                                Commission determines appropriate to 
                                incorporate the views presented at the 
                                hearing conducted under subclause (I).
                    (C) Consultation.--In conducting the study under 
                subparagraph (A), the Commission shall consult with the 
                Inspector General of the Postal Service.

SEC. 4. PRESERVATION OF 6-DAY DELIVERY.

    Section 403 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
    ``(d) The Postal Service shall provide 6-day delivery and rural 
delivery of mail at not less than the level required under the second 
proviso under the heading `payment to the postal service fund' under 
the heading `United States Postal Service' under title V of division E 
of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 
(Public Law 113-235; 128 Stat. 2373) (commonly referred to as the `1983 
level').''.

SEC. 5. PROTECTION OF RURAL POST OFFICES.

    Section 404(d) of title 39, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(6) For purposes of paragraph (5)'' and 
        inserting the following:
            ``(8) Date of receipt of appeals.--For purposes of 
        paragraph (7)'';
            (2) by striking ``(5) A determination'' and inserting the 
        following:
            ``(7) Appeals.--A determination'';
            (3) by striking ``(d)(1) The Postal Service'' and all that 
        follows through the end of paragraph (4) and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(d) Discontinuance of Post Offices.--
            ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection--
                    ``(A) the term `discontinuance' has the meaning 
                given the term in section 241.3 of title 39, Code of 
                Federal Regulations, as in effect on November 1, 2013;
                    ``(B) the term `local government' means--
                            ``(i) a county, municipality, city, town, 
                        township, local public authority, special 
                        district, intrastate district, council of 
                        government, or regional or interstate 
                        government entity;
                            ``(ii) an agency or instrumentality of an 
                        entity described in clause (i); or
                            ``(iii) a rural community, an 
                        unincorporated town or village, or an 
                        instrumentality of a rural community or an 
                        unincorporated town or village;
                    ``(C) the term `post office' means a post office, 
                post office branch, post office classified station, or 
                other facility that is operated by the Postal Service, 
                the primary function of which is to provide retail 
                postal services; and
                    ``(D) the term `rural post office' means a post 
                office that is--
                            ``(i) in a rural area, as defined by the 
                        Census Bureau; and
                            ``(ii) within the K or L cost ascertainment 
                        grouping, as classified by the Postal Service.
            ``(2) Preliminary considerations.--The Postal Service, 
        prior to making a determination under subsection (a)(3) of this 
        section as to the necessity for the discontinuance of any post 
        office, and, with respect to a determination to discontinue a 
        rural post office, prior to making the determinations required 
        under paragraph (5), shall--
                    ``(A) consider whether--
                            ``(i) to discontinue the post office and 
                        combine it with another post office located 
                        within a reasonable distance;
                            ``(ii) instead of discontinuing the post 
                        office--
                                    ``(I) to reduce the number of hours 
                                a day that the post office operates; or
                                    ``(II) to continue operating the 
                                post office for the same number of 
                                hours a day;
                            ``(iii) to procure a contract providing 
                        full, or less than full, retail postal services 
                        in the community served by the post office; or
                            ``(iv) to provide postal services to the 
                        community served by the post office--
                                    ``(I) through a letter carrier or 
                                by Alternate Means of Transportation 
                                delivery contract;
                                    ``(II) by colocating postal 
                                services at a commercial or government 
                                entity; or
                                    ``(III) by implementing an 
                                alternative proposal made by a local 
                                government under subparagraph (B)(iii);
                    ``(B) provide--
                            ``(i) relevant information on financial 
                        costs associated with the operations of the 
                        post office to postal customers and local 
                        governments served by the post office;
                            ``(ii) postal customers served by the post 
                        office an opportunity to present their views, 
                        which may be by nonbinding survey conducted by 
                        mail; and
                            ``(iii) local governments served by the 
                        post office an opportunity to present 
                        alternative proposals for providing postal 
                        services to the community; and
                    ``(C) if the Postal Service determines to 
                discontinue the post office, provide adequate public 
                notice of its intention to discontinue the post office 
                at least 60 days prior to the proposed date of the 
                discontinuance to persons and local governments served 
                by the post office.
            ``(3) Considerations.--The Postal Service, in making a 
        determination whether or not to discontinue a post office--
                    ``(A) shall consider--
                            ``(i) the effect of the discontinuance on 
                        the community served by the post office;
                            ``(ii) the effect of the discontinuance on 
                        businesses, including small businesses, in the 
                        area;
                            ``(iii) the effect of the discontinuance on 
                        employees of the Postal Service employed at the 
                        post office;
                            ``(iv) whether the discontinuance would 
                        have a significant adverse effect on regular 
                        postal services to rural areas, communities, 
                        and small towns where post offices are not 
                        self-sustaining;
                            ``(v) the extent to which the community 
                        served by the post office lacks access to 
                        Internet, broadband, or cellular telephone 
                        service;
                            ``(vi) the extent to which postal customers 
                        served by the post office would continue after 
                        the discontinuance to receive substantially 
                        similar access to essential items, such as 
                        prescription drugs and time-sensitive 
                        communications;
                            ``(vii) the proximity and accessibility of 
                        other post offices;
                            ``(viii) whether substantial economic 
                        savings to the Postal Service would result from 
                        the discontinuance; and
                            ``(ix) any other factors that the Postal 
                        Service determines are necessary; and
                    ``(B) may not consider compliance with any 
                provision of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 
                1970 (29 U.S.C. 651 et seq.).
            ``(4) Written determination and findings.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Any determination of the Postal 
                Service to discontinue a post office shall--
                            ``(i) be in writing;
                            ``(ii) include the findings of the Postal 
                        Service with respect to the considerations 
                        required to be made under paragraph (3); and
                            ``(iii) with respect to a determination to 
                        discontinue a rural post office, include a 
                        summary of the determinations required under 
                        paragraph (5).
                    ``(B) Availability of findings.--The Postal Service 
                shall make available, to persons served by a post 
                office that the Postal Service determines to 
                discontinue, any determination and findings under 
                subparagraph (A) with respect to that post office.
                    ``(C) Notice before discontinuance.--The Postal 
                Service may not take any action to discontinue a post 
                office until 60 days after the date on which the Postal 
                Service makes available, to persons served by the post 
                office, the written determination and findings with 
                respect to the post office as required under 
                subparagraph (B).
            ``(5) Rural post offices.--
                    ``(A) Moratorium on discontinuance of rural post 
                offices.--The Postal Service may not discontinue a 
                rural post office during the 1-year period beginning on 
                the date of enactment of the Rural Postal Act of 2015.
                    ``(B) Requirements for discontinuance of rural post 
                offices.--The Postal Service may not make a 
                determination under subsection (a)(3) to discontinue a 
                rural post office unless the Postal Service--
                            ``(i)(I) determines that postal customers 
                        served by the post office would continue after 
                        the discontinuance to receive substantially 
                        similar access to essential items, such as 
                        prescription medications and time-sensitive 
                        communications, that are sent through the 
                        mails; or
                            ``(II) takes action to substantially 
                        ameliorate any projected reduction in access to 
                        essential items described in subclause (I); and
                            ``(ii) determines that--
                                    ``(I) there is unlikely to be 
                                substantial economic loss to the 
                                community served by the post office as 
                                a result of the discontinuance;
                                    ``(II) the area served by the post 
                                office has adequate access to broadband 
                                Internet service, as identified on the 
                                National Broadband Map of the National 
                                Telecommunications and Information 
                                Administration; and
                                    ``(III) there is a road with year-
                                round access connecting the community 
                                to another post office that is within 
                                10 miles from the post office proposed 
                                to be discontinued.
                    ``(C) Study and report.--
                            ``(i) Study.--The Inspector General shall 
                        conduct a study after the discontinuance of a 
                        rural post office under this section, which 
                        shall include--
                                    ``(I) the actual cost savings 
                                resulting from the discontinuance; and
                                    ``(II) a comparison between the 
                                findings described in subclause (I) and 
                                the cost savings that the Postal 
                                Service predicted would result from the 
                                discontinuance.
                            ``(ii) Report.--Not later than 2 years 
                        after the date of the discontinuance of a rural 
                        post office under this section, the Inspector 
                        General shall submit a report on the findings 
                        of the study conducted under clause (i) with 
                        respect to the rural post office to--
                                    ``(I) the Postal Regulatory 
                                Commission;
                                    ``(II) the Board of Governors;
                                    ``(III) the Committee on Homeland 
                                Security and Governmental Affairs of 
                                the Senate;
                                    ``(IV) the Committee on Oversight 
                                and Government Reform of the House of 
                                Representatives;
                                    ``(V) the Member of the House of 
                                Representatives in whose district the 
                                rural post office was located; and
                                    ``(VI) the Senators in whose State 
                                the rural post office was located.
                            ``(iii) Sunset.--This subparagraph is 
                        repealed effective 10 years after the date of 
                        enactment of the Rural Postal Act of 2015.
            ``(6) Reductions in hours of operation.--
                    ``(A) Moratorium on reduction of hours of operation 
                of rural post offices.--The Postal Service may not 
                reduce the hours of operation of a rural post office 
                during the 2-year period beginning on the date of 
                enactment of the Rural Postal Act of 2015.
                    ``(B) Considerations.--The Postal Service, prior to 
                making a determination under paragraph (2)(A)(ii)(I) to 
                reduce the number of hours per day that a post office 
                operates, shall consider--
                            ``(i) the impact of the proposed reduction 
                        in hours on local businesses;
                            ``(ii) the effect of the proposed reduction 
                        in hours on the community served by the post 
                        office;
                            ``(iii) the ability of the Postal Service 
                        to hire qualified employees to operate the post 
                        office during the reduced hours;
                            ``(iv) the proximity and accessibility of 
                        other post offices within 15 miles of the post 
                        office, and the hours those post offices are 
                        open;
                            ``(v) the impact of the proposed reduction 
                        in hours on the elderly and other vulnerable 
                        populations; and
                            ``(vi) the impact of alternative schedules 
                        on the community served by the post office, 
                        including consideration of which schedules 
                        would most effectively mitigate any negative 
                        impacts identified under clauses (i) through 
                        (v).
                    ``(C) Findings.--If the Postal Service determines, 
                after considering the factors under subparagraph (B), 
                to reduce the number of hours per day that a post 
                office operates, the Postal Service shall make 
                available to persons served by the post office--
                            ``(i) a summary of the findings of the 
                        Postal Service under subparagraph (B);
                            ``(ii) the hours during which the post 
                        office will be open; and
                            ``(iii) an explanation of the change in 
                        hours referred to in clause (ii).
                    ``(D) Review period after reduction in hours.--
                            ``(i) In general.--During the 1-year period 
                        beginning on the date on which the Postal 
                        Service implements a reduction in hours for a 
                        post office under paragraph (2)(A)(ii)(I), the 
                        community served by the post office may submit 
                        a complaint to the Inspector General if the 
                        community finds that the reduction in hours has 
                        significantly impacted the community in a 
                        negative manner.
                            ``(ii) Sufficiency of complaint.--A 
                        complaint submitted by a community under clause 
                        (i) shall be sufficient if the community 
                        demonstrates that--
                                    ``(I) a majority of the members of 
                                the community oppose the reduction in 
                                hours, which may be demonstrated with a 
                                signed petition; and
                                    ``(II) the findings of the Postal 
                                Service under subparagraph (B) upon 
                                which the Postal Service based the 
                                determination to reduce the hours of 
                                the post office are no longer valid, 
                                which the community may demonstrate 
                                using evidence of--
                                            ``(aa) lobbies in disarray;
                                            ``(bb) long wait times in 
                                        line;
                                            ``(cc) insufficient mail 
                                        acceptance options;
                                            ``(dd) unaccommodating post 
                                        office box service and window 
                                        times, including any negative 
                                        impact on regional businesses;
                                            ``(ee) retail units closing 
                                        at times other than the posted 
                                        hours;
                                            ``(ff) inadequate staffing;
                                            ``(gg) running out of 
                                        postal supplies;
                                            ``(hh) unprofessional 
                                        employees or an unfriendly 
                                        atmosphere; and
                                            ``(ii) any other factors 
                                        that the community believes are 
                                        relevant.
                            ``(iii) Inspector general determination.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--If the Inspector 
                                General determines that a complaint 
                                submitted under clause (i) is 
                                sufficient, in accordance with clause 
                                (ii), not later than 6 months after the 
                                date on which the Inspector General 
                                receives the complaint, the Inspector 
                                General shall analyze the validity of 
                                the complaint.
                                    ``(II) Submission to postal 
                                service.--If the Inspector General, in 
                                analyzing a complaint under subclause 
                                (I), determines that the community that 
                                submitted the complaint has been 
                                disproportionately impacted by the 
                                reduction in hours, the Inspector 
                                General shall submit to the Postal 
                                Service a report that includes--
                                            ``(aa) the determination; 
                                        and
                                            ``(bb) a recommendation on 
                                        the number of additional hours 
                                        of operation per day that would 
                                        be sufficient for the postal 
                                        customers served by the post 
                                        office to have access to fair 
                                        and reliable service.
                            ``(iv) Implementation of recommendations.--
                        Not later than 1 year after the date on which 
                        the Postal Service receives a report under 
                        clause (iii)(II) relating to a post office, the 
                        Postal Service shall adjust the hours of 
                        operation of the post office in accordance with 
                        the recommendation of the Inspector General in 
                        the report.'';
            (4) in paragraph (7), as so designated--
                    (A) by striking ``close or consolidate'' and 
                inserting ``discontinue'';
                    (B) by striking ``under paragraph (3)'' and 
                inserting ``under paragraph (4)'';
                    (C) by moving subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) 2 ems 
                to the right; and
                    (D) by moving the flush text following subparagraph 
                (C) 2 ems to the right;
            (5) in paragraph (8), as so designated, by moving 
        subparagraphs (A) and (B) 2 ems to the right; and
            (6) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(9) Minimum retail standards.--The Postal Service shall 
        establish minimum standards for retail postal services.''.

SEC. 6. PROTECTION OF WORKFORCE RIGHTS.

    (a) Right of Appeal to Merit Systems Protection Board.--Section 
1005(a)(4)(A)(ii)(I) of title 39, United States Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
                    ``(I) is an officer or employee of the Postal 
                Service who--
                            ``(aa) is not represented by a bargaining 
                        representative recognized under section 1203; 
                        and
                            ``(bb) is in a supervisory, professional, 
                        technical, clerical, administrative, or 
                        managerial position covered by the Executive 
                        and Administrative Schedule; and''.
    (b) Supervisory and Other Managerial Organizations.--Section 1004 
of title 39, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``and fringe benefits'' 
        after ``differentials in rates of pay'';
            (2) in subsection (b), in the second sentence, by inserting 
        ``as provided under subsection (d) and any changes in, or 
        termination of, pay policies and schedules and fringe benefit 
        programs for members of the supervisors' organization as 
        provided under subsection (e). Such pay policies and fringe 
        benefit programs shall reflect adequate differentials in rates 
        of pay and fringe benefits as provided under subsection (a)'' 
        before the period; and
            (3) in subsection (e)(1), by inserting ``, or termination 
        of,'' after ``any changes in''.
    (c) Chief Morale Officer.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 2 of title 39, United States Code, 
        is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 209. Chief Morale Officer
    ``(a) Establishment.--There shall be in the Postal Service a Chief 
Morale Officer appointed by the Postmaster General.
    ``(b) Qualifications.--The Chief Morale Officer shall have--
            ``(1) recognized and significant experience in such fields 
        as human resources, leadership training, and public 
        administration;
            ``(2) a documented record of innovative thinking;
            ``(3) significant experience working with employees and 
        managers; and
            ``(4) experience with revitalizing and improving the morale 
        of organizations, corporations, or communities that have 
        experienced significant financial challenges or other 
        challenges.
    ``(c) Responsibilities.--The Chief Morale Officer shall--
            ``(1) oversee the employees of the Postal Service, 
        including managers, who work in post offices and postal 
        facilities (as defined in section 404(f)); and
            ``(2) oversee and develop national initiatives that 
        address--
                    ``(A) working conditions, including--
                            ``(i) employee morale;
                            ``(ii) the physical strain of work;
                            ``(iii) handling of overtime;
                            ``(iv) consistency of workday hours;
                            ``(v) flexibility in schedules;
                            ``(vi) break schedules;
                            ``(vii) adequate pay;
                            ``(viii) the time of mail delivery;
                            ``(ix) the safety of mail delivery;
                            ``(x) work environment;
                            ``(xi) work-life balance;
                            ``(xii) leadership and management; and
                            ``(xiii) management accountability;
                    ``(B) staffing, including--
                            ``(i) sufficient staffing;
                            ``(ii) hiring strategies;
                            ``(iii) wages;
                            ``(iv) turnover rate; and
                            ``(v) the balance between temporary and 
                        career employees;
                    ``(C) communication, including--
                            ``(i) employee feedback process;
                            ``(ii) communication between employees and 
                        management; and
                            ``(iii) protections from retribution; and
                    ``(D) training, including--
                            ``(i) sufficient training for new 
                        employees;
                            ``(ii) the structure of the training 
                        program; and
                            ``(iii) addressing frustrations of new 
                        employees.
    ``(d) Regional Morale Officers.--
            ``(1) Appointment.--The Chief Morale Officer shall appoint 
        a Regional Morale Officer for each area, as that term is used 
        in section 221.6 of title 39, Code of Federal Regulations, or 
        any successor thereto.
            ``(2) Responsibilities.--Each Regional Morale Officer 
        shall--
                    ``(A) implement the national initiatives of the 
                Chief Morale Officer at a regional level;
                    ``(B) hold monthly morale roundtables with 
                employees of the Postal Service at which the employees 
                can discuss concerns relating to working conditions, 
                staffing, communication, and training;
                    ``(C) conduct annual regional training sessions for 
                employees;
                    ``(D) submit biannual feedback reports to the Chief 
                Morale Officer; and
                    ``(E) participate in regular conference calls with 
                other Regional Morale Officers and the Chief Morale 
                Officer to provide feedback on how initiatives are 
                progressing.''.
            (2) Deadline for initial appointment.--Not later than 1 
        year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Postmaster 
        General shall appoint a Chief Morale Officer under section 209 
        of title 39, United States Code, as added by paragraph (1).
            (3) Technical and conforming amendment.--The table of 
        sections for chapter 2 of title 39, United States Code, is 
        amended by adding at the end the following:

``209. Chief Morale Officer.''.

SEC. 7. ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION CONTRACTS.

    (a) Restriction on Discontinuance of Alternate Means of 
Transportation Contracts.--Section 404 of title 39, United States Code, 
as amended by section 3, is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(g) Alternative Means of Transportation Contracts.--
            ``(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `covered 
        route' means a route on which first-class mail and periodicals 
        are transported under an Alternate Means of Transportation 
        contract.
            ``(2) Requirements before changing to other means of 
        transportation.--The Postal Service, prior to making a 
        determination under subsection (a)(1) to transport first-class 
        mail or periodicals on a covered route using a means other than 
        under an Alternate Means of Transportation contract, shall 
        consider--
                    ``(A) the effect of the change on--
                            ``(i) each community served by the covered 
                        route;
                            ``(ii) businesses, including small 
                        businesses, in the area served by the covered 
                        route; and
                            ``(iii) employees of the Postal Service 
                        involved in transportation on the covered 
                        route;
                    ``(B) whether the change is consistent with the 
                policy of the Government, as stated in section 101(b), 
                that the Postal Service shall provide a maximum degree 
                of effective and regular postal services to rural 
                areas, communities, and small towns where post offices 
                are not self-sustaining;
                    ``(C) the extent to which each community served by 
                the covered route lacks access to Internet service;
                    ``(D) the extent to which postal customers served 
                by the covered route would continue after the change to 
                receive substantially similar access to essential items 
                and time-sensitive communications;
                    ``(E) whether substantial economic savings to the 
                Postal Service would result from the change;
                    ``(F) the average daily volume of mail transported 
                on the covered route;
                    ``(G) any change in the volume of mail transported 
                on the covered route during the preceding 12 months;
                    ``(H) the capacity of available transportation 
                service providers to meet the volume needs of the 
                Postal Service on the covered route;
                    ``(I) the ability of the Postal Service to procure 
                and access additional transportation capacity to meet 
                the volume needs of the Postal Service on the covered 
                route;
                    ``(J) the impact of the change on postal facilities 
                (as that term is defined in subsection (f)) that use 
                the covered route;
                    ``(K) the ability of postal facilities described in 
                subparagraph (J) to continue to provide service that 
                complies with applicable service standards after the 
                change; and
                    ``(L) any other factors that the Postal Service 
                determines are necessary.
            ``(3) Determinations.--Any determination of the Postal 
        Service to transport first-class mail or periodicals on a 
        covered route using a means other than under an Alternate Means 
        of Transportation contract shall--
                    ``(A) be in writing;
                    ``(B) include the findings of the Postal Service 
                with respect to the considerations required to be made 
                under paragraph (2); and
                    ``(C) be made available by public notice to persons 
                served by the covered route.
            ``(4) Advance notice of determinations.--The Postal Service 
        shall take no action to transport first-class mail or 
        periodicals on a covered route using a means other than under 
        an Alternate Means of Transportation contract until 60 days 
        after the date on which the Postal Service makes available to 
        persons served by the covered route a written determination 
        under paragraph (3).''.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Postal Service shall submit to Congress a report on 
potential cost savings resulting from any decision made during the 2-
year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act--
            (1) to transport first-class mail or periodicals on a 
        covered route (as defined in section 404(g)(1) of title 39, 
        United States Code, as added by this section) using a means 
        other than under an Alternate Means of Transportation contract; 
        or
            (2) to discontinue a post office.

SEC. 8. RURAL POSTAL SERVICE ADVISORY COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--
            (1) In general.--There is established in the executive 
        branch a Rural Postal Service Advisory Commission (referred to 
        in this section as the ``Advisory Commission'').
            (2) Independence.--The Advisory Commission shall not be 
        subject to the supervision of the Board of Governors of the 
        Postal Service (referred to in this section as the ``Board of 
        Governors''), the Postmaster General, or any other officer or 
        employee of the Postal Service.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Advisory Commission is to--
            (1) provide strategic guidance to the President, Congress, 
        the Board of Governors, and the Postmaster General on enhancing 
        and protecting the provision of postal services to rural areas 
        of the United States (referred to in this section as ``rural 
        postal services''); and
            (2) foster innovative thinking to address the challenges 
        facing the Postal Service in enhancing and protecting rural 
        postal services.
    (c) Membership.--
            (1) Composition.--The Advisory Commission shall be composed 
        of 7 members, of whom--
                    (A) 3 members shall be appointed by the President, 
                who shall designate 1 member appointed under this 
                subparagraph to serve as Chairperson of the Advisory 
                Commission; and
                    (B) 1 member shall be appointed by each of--
                            (i) the majority leader of the Senate;
                            (ii) the minority leader of the Senate;
                            (iii) the Speaker of the House of 
                        Representatives; and
                            (iv) the minority leader of the House of 
                        Representatives.
            (2) Qualifications.--Members of the Advisory Commission 
        shall have--
                    (A) recognized and significant experience in such 
                fields as business, technology, and public 
                administration;
                    (B) a documented record of innovative thinking;
                    (C) familiarity with new and emerging technologies;
                    (D) experience with rural areas of the United 
                States; and
                    (E) experience with revitalizing and improving the 
                morale of organizations, corporations, or communities 
                that have experienced significant financial challenges 
                or other challenges.
            (3) Incompatible offices.--An individual who is appointed 
        to the Advisory Commission may not serve as an elected official 
        or an officer or employee of the Federal Government while 
        serving as a member of the Advisory Commission, except in the 
        capacity of that individual as a member of the Advisory 
        Commission.
            (4) Deadline for appointment.--Each member of the Advisory 
        Commission shall be appointed not later than 60 days after the 
        date of enactment of this Act.
            (5) Meetings; quorum; vacancies.--
                    (A) Meetings.--The Advisory Commission shall meet 
                at the call of the Chairperson or a majority of the 
                members of the Advisory Commission.
                    (B) Quorum.--Four members of the Advisory 
                Commission shall constitute a quorum.
                    (C) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Advisory 
                Commission shall not affect the powers of the Advisory 
                Commission, but shall be filled as soon as practicable 
                in the same manner in which the original appointment 
                was made.
    (d) Duties and Powers.--
            (1) Duties.--The Advisory Commission shall--
                    (A) study matters that the Advisory Commission 
                determines are necessary and appropriate to improve and 
                protect rural postal services and develop a strategic 
                blueprint to improve and protect rural postal services, 
                including--
                            (i) the financial, operational, and 
                        structural condition of the Postal Service;
                            (ii) alternative strategies and business 
                        models that the Postal Service could adopt that 
                        would improve and protect rural postal 
                        services;
                            (iii) opportunities for additional postal 
                        and nonpostal services that the Postal Service 
                        could offer that would assist the mission of 
                        the Postal Service in rural areas of the United 
                        States;
                            (iv) the comparative postal practices of 
                        other countries in rural areas, including 
                        innovative products and services that postal 
                        services in other countries have offered;
                            (v) the governance and organizational and 
                        management structures of the Postal Service;
                            (vi) efforts by the Postal Service to 
                        recruit and retain a workforce in rural areas 
                        that is capable of meeting the strategic needs 
                        of the Postal Service regarding innovation, 
                        nationwide service standards, and nationwide 
                        delivery schedules;
                            (vii) the morale of the workforce of the 
                        Postal Service, including strategies to improve 
                        the morale of the workforce, with a focus on 
                        the workforce that serves rural areas; and
                            (viii) technology that could enhance and 
                        protect rural postal services; and
                    (B) submit the report required under subsection 
                (h).
            (2) Hearings.--The Advisory Commission may hold such 
        hearings, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as is 
        necessary to carry out this section.
            (3) Access to information.--The Advisory Commission may 
        secure directly from the Postal Service, the Board of 
        Governors, the Postal Regulatory Commission, and any other 
        Federal department or agency such information as the Advisory 
        Commission considers necessary to carry out this section. Upon 
        request of the Chairperson of the Advisory Commission, the head 
        of the department or agency shall furnish the information 
        described in the preceding sentence to the Advisory Commission.
    (e) Applicability of Laws.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
U.S.C. App.) and section 552a of title 5, United States Code (commonly 
known as the ``Privacy Act of 1974'') shall apply to the Advisory 
Commission.
    (f) Assistance From Federal Agencies.--
            (1) Postal service.--The Postmaster General shall provide 
        to the Advisory Commission administrative support and other 
        services for the performance of the functions of the Advisory 
        Commission.
            (2) Other departments and agencies.--An agency of the 
        Federal Government may provide to the Advisory Committee such 
        services, funds, facilities, staff, and other support services 
        that the agency determines to be advisable or is otherwise 
        authorized under law.
    (g) Personnel Matters.--
            (1) Advisory commission members.--
                    (A) Compensation of members.--Each member of the 
                Advisory Commission shall be compensated at a rate 
                equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of 
                basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive 
                Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States 
                Code, for each day during which the member is engaged 
                in the actual performance of the duties of the Advisory 
                Commission.
                    (B) Travel expenses.--Each member of the Advisory 
                Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including 
                per diem in lieu of subsistence, at the rate authorized 
                for employees serving intermittently in the Government 
                service under section 5703 of title 5, United States 
                Code, while away from home or regular place of business 
                in the performance of services for the Advisory 
                Commission.
            (2) Staff.--
                    (A) Appointment and compensation.--The Chairperson, 
                in accordance with rules agreed upon by the Advisory 
                Commission, shall appoint and fix the compensation of 
                an executive director and such other personnel as may 
                be necessary to enable the Advisory Commission to carry 
                out the functions of the Advisory Commission, without 
                regard to the provisions of title 5, United States 
                Code, governing appointments in the competitive 
                service, and without regard to the provisions of 
                chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such 
                title relating to classification of positions and 
                General Schedule pay rates, except that a rate of pay 
                fixed under this subparagraph may not exceed the annual 
                rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the 
                Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, 
                United States Code.
                    (B) Detailees.--Any Federal employee, including an 
                employee of the Postal Service, may be detailed to the 
                Advisory Commission without reimbursement, and such 
                detail shall be without interruption or loss of the 
                civil service rights, status, or privilege of the 
                employee.
    (h) Strategic Blueprint for Rural Postal Services.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 9 months after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Advisory Commission shall submit a 
        report that contains a strategic blueprint for rural postal 
        services to--
                    (A) the President;
                    (B) the Committee on Homeland Security and 
                Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
                    (C) the Committee on Oversight and Government 
                Reform of the House of Representatives;
                    (D) the Board of Governors; and
                    (E) the Postmaster General.
            (2) Contents.--The strategic blueprint contained in the 
        report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include--
                    (A) an assessment of the effectiveness of the 
                business model of the Postal Service for protecting 
                rural postal services as of the date on which the 
                report is submitted;
                    (B) an assessment of potential future business 
                models for the Postal Service and the impact of those 
                business models on rural postal services, including an 
                evaluation of the impact of--
                            (i) reductions of service on revenue; and
                            (ii) additional opportunities for growth 
                        and revenue;
                    (C) a strategy for addressing challenges and costs 
                in protecting rural postal services;
                    (D) identification of opportunities for new and 
                innovative products and services that would help 
                protect and enhance rural postal services;
                    (E) an enumeration of steps that the Postal Service 
                needs to take to ensure that, 20 years after the date 
                of enactment of this Act, the Postal Service can 
                continue to offer postal services in rural areas;
                    (F) a strategy for ensuring that the Postal Service 
                has a sufficient workforce to comply with service 
                standards for, and meet the needs of postal customers 
                in, rural areas; and
                    (G) recommendations for any legislative changes 
                necessary to implement the strategic blueprint 
                described in this paragraph.
    (i) Termination of the Commission.--The Advisory Commission shall 
terminate on the earlier of--
            (1) the date that is 60 days after the date on which the 
        Advisory Commission submits the report on the strategic 
        blueprint for rural postal services under subsection (h); or
            (2) the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of 
        this Act.
    (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated out of the Postal Service Fund a total of not more than 
$3,000,000 for fiscal years 2015 and 2016.

SEC. 9. EQUIPPING DELIVERY VEHICLES FOR RURAL AREAS.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) while it may be too late for the Postal Service to 
        consider rural mail delivery as part of its Next Generation 
        Delivery Vehicles (commonly known as ``NGDV'') initiative, the 
        Postal Service should consider options for a rural delivery 
        truck prototype in the future, as rural letter carriers 
        currently must use their own vehicles due to the unique terrain 
        challenges across the United States; and
            (2) the Postal Service should consider the feasibility of 
        equipping delivery vehicles that can not only handle the 
        challenges described in paragraph (1), but can also handle 
        severe weather conditions.
    (b) GAO Study.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall--
            (1) study the feasibility of the Postal Service designing 
        mail delivery vehicles that are equipped for rural areas; and
            (2) submit to Congress a report on the findings of the 
        study conducted under paragraph (1).

SEC. 10. WI-FI IN RURAL POST OFFICES.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) because post offices still serve as a central point in 
        many rural communities where people congregate and connect with 
        the rest of the world, the Postal Service should consider 
        providing wireless broadband Internet access service at all 
        rural post offices as a method of incentivizing individuals to 
        use their community post office as much as possible; and
            (2) because of the challenges that implementing wireless 
        broadband Internet access service at all rural post offices 
        would pose, the Postal Service should first consider 
        implementing a pilot program under which the Postal Service 
        would provide wireless broadband Internet access service at 4 
        rural post offices in diverse areas of the United States for a 
        2-year period in order to determine whether the addition of 
        such service in those post offices has an impact on the amount 
        of business or revenue generated by each post office.
    (b) GAO Study.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall--
            (1) study the feasibility of the Postal Service providing 
        wireless broadband Internet access service at all rural post 
        offices; and
            (2) submit to Congress a report on the findings of the 
        study conducted under paragraph (1).

SEC. 11. PROTECTION OF DOOR AND CURBSIDE DELIVERY.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section--
            (1) the term ``centralized delivery'' means a primary mode 
        of mail delivery whereby mail is delivered to a group or 
        cluster of mail receptacles at a single location;
            (2) the term ``curbside delivery'' means a primary mode of 
        mail delivery whereby mail is delivered to a mail receptacle 
        that is situated at the edge of a public sidewalk abutting a 
        road or curb, at a road, or at a curb;
            (3) the term ``delivery point'' means a mailbox or other 
        receptacle to which mail is delivered;
            (4) the term ``door delivery''--
                    (A) means a primary mode of mail delivery whereby 
                mail is--
                            (i) delivered to a mail receptacle at or 
                        near a postal customer's door; or
                            (ii) hand-delivered to a postal customer; 
                        and
                    (B) does not include curbside or centralized 
                delivery; and
            (5) the term ``primary mode of mail delivery'' means the 
        typical method by which the Postal Service delivers mail to the 
        delivery point of a postal customer.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the Postal 
Service should not convert existing residential or business addresses 
to centralized delivery from door delivery or curbside delivery.
                                 <all>