[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2517 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2517
To amend title 18, United States Code, and title 39, United States
Code, to provide the United States Postal Service the authority to mail
alcoholic beverages, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 3, 2019
Ms. Speier (for herself, Mr. Biggs, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Cohen, Mrs. Davis
of California, Mr. DeFazio, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. Grijalva, Mr.
LaMalfa, Ms. Lee of California, Ms. Norton, and Mr. Pocan) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight
and Reform, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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 amend title 18, United States Code, and title 39, United States
Code, to provide the United States Postal Service the authority to mail
alcoholic beverages, 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 ``United States Postal Service
Shipping Equity Act''.
SEC. 2. SHIPPING OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.
(a) Mailability.--
(1) Nonmailable articles.--Section 1716(f) of title 18,
United States Code, is amended by striking ``mails'' and
inserting ``mails, except to the extent that the mailing is
allowable under section 3001(p) of title 39''.
(2) Alcoholic beverages.--Section 1154(a) of title 18,
United States Code, is amended, by inserting ``or, with respect
to the mailing of alcoholic beverages to the extent allowed
under section 3001(p) of title 39'' after ``mechanical
purposes''.
(b) Regulations.--Section 3001 of title 39, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(p)(1) Alcoholic beverages shall be considered mailable if
mailed--
``(A) by a covered entity in accordance with applicable
regulations under paragraph (2); and
``(B) in accordance with the delivery requirements
otherwise applicable to a privately carried shipment of an
alcoholic beverage in the State, territory, or district of the
United States where the addressee or duly authorized agent
takes delivery.
``(2) The Postal Service shall prescribe such regulations as may be
necessary to carry out this subsection, including regulations providing
that--
``(A) the mailing shall be by a means established by the
Postal Service to ensure direct delivery to the addressee or a
duly authorized agent at a postal facility;
``(B) the addressee (and any duly authorized agent) shall
be an individual at least 21 years of age, and shall present a
valid, Government-issued photo identification at the time of
delivery;
``(C) the alcoholic beverage may not be for resale or other
commercial purpose; and
``(D) the covered entity involved shall--
``(i) certify in writing to the satisfaction of the
Postal Service, through a registration process
administered by the Postal Service, that the mailing is
not in violation of any provision of this subsection or
regulation prescribed under this subsection; and
``(ii) provide any other information or affirmation
that the Postal Service may require, including with
respect to the prepayment of State alcohol beverage
taxes.
``(3) For purposes of this subsection--
``(A) the term `alcoholic beverage' has the meaning given
such term in section 203 of the Federal Alcohol Administration
Act (27 U.S.C. 214); and
``(B) the term `covered entity' means an entity (including
a winery, brewery, or beverage distilled spirits plant, or
other wholesaler, distributer, or retailer of alcoholic
beverages) that has registered with, obtained a permit from, or
obtained approval of a notice or an application from, the
Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to--
``(i) the Federal Alcohol Administration Act (27
U.S.C. 201 et seq.); or
``(ii) Chapter 51 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 (26 U.S.C. 5001 et seq.).''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take
effect on the earlier of--
(1) the date on which the Postal Service issues regulations
under section 3001(p) of title 39, United States Code, as
amended by this section; or
(2) 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
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