[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4675 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4675

 To require the United States Postal Service to submit a comprehensive 
 proposal to the Postal Regulatory Commission before implementing any 
                network changes, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                July 11 (legislative day, July 10), 2024

  Mr. Peters (for himself, Ms. Collins, and Ms. Rosen) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
               Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To require the United States Postal Service to submit a comprehensive 
 proposal to the Postal Regulatory Commission before implementing any 
                network changes, 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 Stop 
and Study Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Postal 
        Regulatory Commission.
            (2) Network changes.--The term ``network changes''--
                    (A) means permanent changes to the facilities or 
                network of the Postal Service, including--
                            (i) consolidation or partial consolidation 
                        of processing or logistics facilities;
                            (ii) aggregation or consolidation of 
                        processing, distribution, or delivery 
                        operations;
                            (iii) conversions or construction of 
                        facilities in order to centralize operations; 
                        or
                            (iv) the systematic reduction of 
                        transportation trips between sorting facilities 
                        and delivery units; and
                    (B) does not include temporary operational changes 
                that are necessary to maintain reliable service between 
                facilities or to alleviate congestion that has caused 
                delays or disruption of service.
            (3) Postal service.--The term ``Postal Service'' means the 
        United States Postal Service.

SEC. 3. ADVISORY OPINION ON NETWORK CHANGES.

    (a) Advisory Opinion.--
            (1) Proposal.--Prior to implementing any network changes, 
        the Postal Service shall submit to the Commission a 
        comprehensive proposal with respect to all such network changes 
        using the procedures under section 3661(b) of title 39, United 
        States Code.
            (2) Opinion.--Not later than 180 days after the submission 
        of a comprehensive proposal under paragraph (1), the Commission 
        shall issue an opinion on the comprehensive proposal using the 
        procedures under section 3661(c) of title 39, United States 
        Code.
            (3) Reversal.--An opinion under paragraph (2) shall also 
        address the extent to which reversal of any network changes 
        implemented on or after January 1, 2023, is advisable.
            (4) Access.--The Postal Service shall provide the 
        Commission any information and records the Commission deems 
        necessary to issue an opinion under paragraph (2), including 
        any access to Postal Service facilities.
    (b) Pause.--The Postal Service shall not implement any proposed 
network changes until--
            (1) the Commission issues an opinion on the proposed 
        network changes under subsection (a)(2); and
            (2) the Postal Service--
                    (A) considers the opinion; and
                    (B) submits to Congress and the Commission a 
                response to the opinion that--
                            (i) addresses the opinion and any 
                        recommendations therein; and
                            (ii) explains the decision of the Postal 
                        Service to implement or not implement each 
                        recommendation contained in the opinion.
    (c) Prohibition.--The Postal Service shall not implement any 
network changes if the opinion under subsection (a)(2) finds that such 
changes are likely to have a negative impact on service if implemented.
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