[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4976 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4976
To provide for free mailing privileges for personal correspondence and
parcels sent to members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty in
Iraq, Afghanistan, or other designated hostile fire areas.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 1, 2019
Mr. King of New York (for himself, Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York,
Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. DeFazio, Ms. Pingree, Ms. Moore, and Mr. McGovern)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for free mailing privileges for personal correspondence and
parcels sent to members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty in
Iraq, Afghanistan, or other designated hostile fire areas.
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 ``Supply Our Soldiers Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. POSTAL BENEFITS PROGRAM FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the
United States Postal Service, shall provide for a program under which
postal benefits shall be provided to qualified individuals in
accordance with succeeding provisions of this Act.
(b) Qualified Individual.--For purposes of this Act, the term
``qualified individual'' means an individual who--
(1) is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States on
active duty (as defined in section 101 of title 10, United
States Code); and
(2)(A) is serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, or other designated
hostile fire area, as described in section 351(a)(1) of title
37, United States Code; or
(B) is hospitalized at a facility under the jurisdiction of
the Armed Forces of the United States as a result of a disease
or injury incurred as a result of service described in
subparagraph (A).
(c) Postal Benefits Described.--
(1) In general.--The postal benefits provided under this
Act shall consist of such coupons or other similar evidence of
credit (whether in printed, electronic, or other format, and in
this Act referred to as ``vouchers'') as the Secretary of
Defense (in consultation with the Postal Service) shall
determine, entitling the bearer or user to make qualified
mailings free of postage.
(2) Qualified mailing.--For purposes of this Act, the term
``qualified mailing'' means the mailing of a single mail piece
which--
(A) is described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of
paragraph (3);
(B) is sent from within an area served by a United
States post office; and
(C) is addressed to a qualified individual.
(3) Mail described.--Mail described in this paragraph is--
(A) any first-class mail (including any sound- or
video-recorded communication) not exceeding 13 ounces
in weight and having the character of personal
correspondence; and
(B) parcel post not exceeding 15 pounds in weight.
(4) Limitations.--
(A) Number.--An individual shall be eligible for 1
voucher for each month in which such individual is a
qualified individual.
(B) Use.--Any such voucher may not be used--
(i) for more than a single qualified
mailing; or
(ii) beyond the expiration date of such
voucher, as designated by the Secretary of
Defense.
(5) Coordination rule.--Postal benefits under this Act
shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any reduced rates
of postage or other similar benefits which might otherwise be
available by or under law, including any rates of postage
resulting from the application of section 3401(b) of title 39,
United States Code.
(d) Regulations.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense (in consultation with
the Postal Service) shall prescribe any regulations necessary to carry
out this Act, including--
(1) procedures by which vouchers will be provided or made
available in a timely manner to persons duly identified by
qualified individuals to receive those vouchers; and
(2) procedures to ensure that the number of vouchers
provided or made available with respect to any qualified
individual complies with subsection (c)(4)(A).
SEC. 3. FUNDING.
(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the
Department of Defense, for fiscal years 2020 through 2025, a sum
determined by the Secretary of Defense to be equal to the expenses
incurred by the Department in providing the benefits described in
section 2(c) for such fiscal years. Such sum shall be derived from
amounts appropriated in each such fiscal year for Operation and
Maintenance, Defense-wide, for the Office of the Secretary of Defense,
and shall not to exceed $75 million for the total period beginning with
fiscal year 2020 and ending with fiscal year 2025.
(b) Transfers to Postal Service.--
(1) Based on estimates.--The Secretary of Defense shall
transfer to the Postal Service, out of any amount so
appropriated and in advance of each calendar quarter during
which postal benefits under this Act may be used, an amount
equal to the amount of postal benefits that the Secretary of
Defense estimates will be used during such quarter, reduced or
increased (as the case may be) by any amounts by which the
Secretary finds that a determination under this section for a
prior quarter was greater than or less than the amount finally
determined for such quarter.
(2) Based on annual determination.--For each of the fiscal
years 2020 through 2025, an annual determination of the amount
necessary to correct any previous determination under this
section during such fiscal year, and any transfer of amounts
between the Postal Service and the Department of Defense based
on that annual determination, shall be made not later than 6
months after the end of such fiscal year.
(3) Based on final determination.--A final determination of
the amount necessary to correct any previous determination
under this section, and any transfer of amounts between the
Postal Service and the Department of Defense based on that
final determination, shall be made not later than 6 months
after the end of fiscal year 2025.
(c) Consultation Required.--All estimates and determinations under
this section of the amount of postal benefits under this Act used in
any period shall be made by the Department of Defense in consultation
with the Postal Service.
SEC. 4. DURATION.
The postal benefits under this Act shall apply with respect to mail
matter sent during the period beginning on October 1, 2019, and ending
on September 30, 2025.
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