[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 26, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: January 26, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              THE 1994 ELECTION YEAR MAILING RESTRICTIONS

                                 ______


                        HON. WILLIAM (BILL) CLAY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 26, 1994

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, with the 1994 elections approaching, the House 
Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards wishes to remind Members 
of the House about the franking statutes, rules, and regulations 
governing mass mailings by candidates prior to elections.
  Generally, Members of the House seeking reelection or election to any 
other office are prohibited from sending franked mass mailings during 
the 60-day period immediately before the date of any public election--
whether primary, general, special, or runoff--in which the Member's 
name appears on the ballot.
  Members should ensure that staff persons responsible for mass 
mailings are knowledgeable concerning State election laws as they 
affect mailing privileges during the period prior to primary and 
general election periods. Members' staff seeking advisory opinions from 
the Commission must certify that, to the best of their knowledge, the 
frankability of the proposed mailing is not adversely affected by 
applicable State election laws.
  Mr. Speaker, I cannot emphasize strongly enough the importance of 
compliance with these regulations. I urge my colleagues to ensure that 
their staffs are familiar with the statutes, rules of the House, and 
pertinent regulations and guidelines governing the proper use of the 
franking privilege.
  The Commission staff is ready to assist in every possible way.
  A detailed explanation of the mass mailing provisions, along with a 
listing of cutoff dates for the congressional primaries in the various 
States, follows:

  Limitations on the Use of the Frank by Candidates for Public Office

       Pursuant to Public Law 101-163, the Legislative Branch 
     Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1990,
       39 U.S.C. 3210(a)(6)(A) provides that, ``It is the intent 
     of Congress that a Member of, or Member-elect to, Congress 
     may not mail any mass mailing as franked mail--
       (i) if the mass mailing is postmarked fewer than 60 days 
     immediately before the date of any primary election or 
     general election (whether regular, special, or runoff) in 
     which the Member is a candidate for reelection; or
       (ii) in the case of a Member of, or Member-elect to, the 
     House who is candidate for any other public office, if the 
     mass mailing--
       (I) is prepared for delivery within any portion of the 
     jurisdiction of or the area covered by the public office 
     which is outside the area constituting the congressional 
     district from which the Member or Member-elect was elected; 
     or
       (II) is postmarked fewer than 60 days immediately before 
     the date of any primary election or general election (whether 
     regular, special or runoff) in which the Member or Member-
     elect is a candidate for any other public office.
       39 U.S.C. 3210(a)(6)(F) states that for purposes of 
     subparagraphs (A) *** if mail matter is of a type which is 
     not customarily postmarked, the date on which such matter 
     would have been postmarked if it were of a type customarily 
     postmarked shall apply.


                              definitions

                             Mass Mailings

       Mass mailings are defined by law [39 U.S.C. 3210(a)(6)(E)] 
     as, with respect to a session of Congress, newsletters and 
     other similar mailings (including town meeting notices) of 
     more than 500 pieces in which the content of the matter 
     mailed is substantially identical. Mail matter is deemed to 
     be a mass mailing when the total number of pieces exceeds 
     500, whether in a single mailing or in cumulative mailings 
     during this session of Congress.

  Candidate for Election or Reelection to the House of Representatives

       For purposes of the subject statutes and regulations, a 
     Member of or a Member-elect to the House of Representatives 
     is deemed to be a candidate for public office at any election 
     if his or her name appears anywhere on any official ballot to 
     be used in a public election.

                 Candidate for Any Other Public Office

       For the purpose of 39 U.S.C. 3210(a)(6)(A)(ii), ``any other 
     public office'' means any local, State, or Federal office. 
     (Examples: President, Governor, U.S. Senator, State Supreme 
     Court Justice, States Senator, Assemblyman, etc.) 
     ``Candidate'' means a Member who has qualified under State or 
     local law for the official ballot in a primary, runoff, 
     special, or general election, or who has been certified for 
     candidacy by an appropriate State or local election official.


                               exceptions

       The subject statutes, rules, and regulations provide three 
     exceptions to the mass mail prohibition prior to elections, 
     as follows:
       (i) mailings which are in direct response to inquiries or 
     requests from the persons to whom the matter is mailed;
       (ii) mailings to colleagues in Congress or to government 
     officials (whether Federal, State, or local); and
       (iii) mailings of news releases to the communications 
     media.
       The Commission believes the latter two exceptions are self-
     explanatory.
       In application of the first exception, the Commission 
     stresses the phrase ``direct response to inquiries or 
     requests''. Therefore, response to a signed petition with a 
     form or identical letter individually addressed to each of 
     the signers of the petition is frankable. However, a follow-
     up letter to the same list of petitioners is not frankable 
     under this section in that it would not be in direct response 
     to an inquiry.
       Similarly, follow-up letters to persons who had previously 
     written and had been answered on a particular subject, if 
     such  letter by their form and volume constitute a mass 
     mailing, are not frankable during the 60-day period prior 
     to elections. Also, requests for questionnaire results or 
     other material, when solicited by members on questionnaire 
     forms or newsletters, are not deemed to be in direct 
     response to any inquiry or request. The above restrictions 
     on mass mailings by candidates do not apply to mass 
     mailings by the chairman of any standing, select, joint or 
     other official committee of the Congress, or subcommittee 
     thereof, and which relate to the normal business of the 
     committee [39 U.S.C. 3210 (a)(6)(B)]. the Commission 
     emphasizes ``normal and regular'' committee business, 
     i.e., press releases, hearing schedules, or committee 
     documents.
     time of mailing

                    Processing by a postal facility

       Mass mailings as defined under 39 U.S.C. 3210 (a)(6)(E) may 
     not be mailed as franked mail by a member of or a Member-
     elect to the House of representatives when the same is mailed 
     at or delivered to any postal facility less than 60 days 
     immediately before the date of any primary or general 
     election (whether regular, special, or runoff) in which such 
     Member or Member-elect is a candidate for any public office.

       Processing by the House Publications Distribution Service

       Such mass mailings, if processed through the House 
     Publications Distribution Service, hereinafter referred to as 
     the House folding room, must be delivered to and received by 
     the House folding room, in enough time to ensure their 
     mailing by the 60-day cutoff date. The Commission urges 
     Members to contact the House folding room with further 
     questions regarding delivery of mass mailings to them for 
     processing.
       The House folding room will issue a receipt, which shall 
     specify the date and time of mailing and a brief description 
     of the matter to be processed.

                    1994 CONGRESSIONAL PRIMARY DATES                    
                      [Alphabetical list by State]                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Primary   60-Day 
                       State                            date     cutoff 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama.............................................  June 7..  Apr. 9. 
    Run-off.........................................  June 28.  Apr. 30.
Alaska..............................................  Aug. 23.  June 25.
Arizona.............................................  Sept. 13  July 16.
Arkansas............................................  May 24..  Mar. 26.
    Run-off.........................................  June 14.  Apr. 16.
California..........................................  June 7..  Apr. 9. 
Colorado............................................  Aug. 9..  June 11.
Connecticut.........................................  Sept. 13  July 16.
Delaware............................................  Sept. 13  July 16.
Florida\1\..........................................  Sept. 6.  July 9. 
    Run-off.........................................  Oct. 4..  Aug. 6. 
Georgia.............................................  July 19.  May 21. 
    Run-off.........................................  Aug. 9..  June 11.
Hawaii..............................................  Sept. 17  July 20.
Idaho...............................................  May 24..  Mar. 26.
Illinois............................................  Mar. 15.  Jan. 15.
Indiana.............................................  May 3...  Mar. 5. 
Iowa................................................  June 7..  Apr. 9. 
Kansas..............................................  Aug. 2..  June 4. 
Kentucky............................................  May 24..  Mar. 26.
Louisiana...........................................  Oct. 1..  Aug. 3. 
Maine...............................................  June 14.  Apr. 16.
Maryland............................................  Sept. 13  July 16.
Massachusetts.......................................  Sept. 20  July 23.
Michigan............................................  Aug. 2..  June 4. 
Minnesota...........................................  Sept. 13  July 16.
Mississippi.........................................  June 7..  Apr. 9. 
    Run-off.........................................  June 28.  Apr. 30.
Missouri............................................  Aug. 2..  June 4. 
Montana.............................................  June 7..  Apr. 9. 
Nebraska............................................  May 10..  Mar. 12.
Nevada..............................................  Sept. 6.  July 9. 
New Hampshire.......................................  Sept. 13  July 16.
New Jersey..........................................  June 7..  Apr. 9. 
New Mexico..........................................  June 7..  Apr. 9. 
New York\1\.........................................  Sept. 13  July 16.
North Carolina......................................  May 3...  Mar. 5. 
    Run-off.........................................  May 31..  Apr. 2. 
North Dakota........................................  June 14.  Apr. 16.
Ohio................................................  May 3...  Mar. 5. 
Oklahoma............................................  Aug. 23.  June 25.
    Run-off.........................................  Sept.     July 23 
                                                       20..             
Oregon..............................................  May 17..  Mar. 19.
Pennsylvania........................................  May 10..  Mar. 12.
Rhode Island........................................  Sept. 13  July 16.
South Carolina......................................  June 14.  Apr. 16.
    Run-off.........................................  June 28.  Apr. 30.
South Dakota........................................  June 7..  Apr. 9. 
    Run-off.........................................  June 21.  Apr. 23.
Tennessee...........................................  Aug. 4..  June 6. 
Texas...............................................  Mar. 8..  Jan. 8. 
    Run-off.........................................  Apr. 12.  Feb. 12.
Utah................................................  June 28.  Apr. 30.
Vermont.............................................  Sept. 13  July 16.
Virginia............................................  June 14.  Apr. 16.
Washington..........................................  Sept. 20  July 23.
West Virginia.......................................  May 10..  Mar. 12.
Wisconsin...........................................  Sept. 13  July 16.
Wyoming.............................................  Aug. 16.  June 18.
American Samoa......................................  Nov. 8..  Sept.   
                                                                 10.    
    Run-off.........................................  Nov. 22.  Sept.   
                                                                 24.    
District of Columbia................................  Sept. 13  July 16.
Guam................................................  Sept. 3.  July 6. 
    Run-off.........................................  Sept. 17  July 20.
Virgin Islands......................................  Sept. 13  July 16.
1994 General Election...............................  Nov. 8..  Sept.   
                                                                 10.    
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Unofficial.                                                          


                     1994 CONGRESIONAL PRIMARY DATES                    
                      [Chronological list by dates]                     
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Primary   60-day 
                        State                           date     cutoff 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Texas...............................................  Mar. 8..  Jan. 8. 
Illinois............................................  Mar. 15.  Jan. 15.
Texas (run-off).....................................  Apr. 12.  Feb. 12.
Indiana.............................................  May 3...  Mar. 5. 
North Carolina......................................  May 3...  Mar. 5. 
Ohio................................................  May 3...  Mar. 5. 
Nebraska............................................  May 10..  Mar. 12.
Pennsylvania........................................  May 10..  Mar. 12.
West Virginia.......................................  May 10..  Mar. 12.
Oregon..............................................  May 17..  Mar. 19.
Arkansas............................................  May 24..  Mar. 26.
Idaho...............................................  May 24..  Mar. 26.
Kentucky............................................  May 24..  Mar. 26.
North Carolina (run-off)............................  May 31..  Apr. 2. 
Alabama.............................................  June 7..  Apr. 9. 
California..........................................  June 7..  Apr. 9. 
Iowa................................................  June 7..  Apr. 9. 
Mississippi.........................................  June 7..  Apr. 9. 
Montana.............................................  June 7..  Apr. 9. 
New Jersey..........................................  June 7..  Apr. 9. 
New Mexico..........................................  June 7..  Apr. 9. 
South Dakota........................................  June 7..  Apr. 9. 
Arkansas (run-off)..................................  June 14.  Apr. 16.
Maine...............................................  June 14.  Apr. 16.
North Dakota........................................  June 14.  Apr. 16.
South Carolina......................................  June 14.  Apr. 16.
Virginia............................................  June 14.  Apr. 16.
South Dakota (run-off)..............................  June 21.  Apr. 23.
Alabama (run-off)...................................  June 28.  Apr. 30.
Mississippi (run-off)...............................  June 28.  Apr. 30.
South Carolina (run-off)............................  June 28.  Apr. 30.
Utah................................................  June 28.  Apr. 30.
Georgia.............................................  July 19.  May 21. 
Kansas..............................................  Aug. 2..  June 4. 
Michigan............................................  Aug. 2..  June 4. 
Missouri............................................  Aug. 2..  June 4. 
Tennessee...........................................  Aug. 4..  June 6. 
Colorado............................................  Aug. 9..  June 11.
Georgia (run-off)...................................  Aug. 9..  June 11.
Wyoming.............................................  Aug. 16.  June 18.
Alaska..............................................  Aug. 23.  June 25.
Oklahoma............................................  Aug. 23.  June 25.
Guam................................................  Sept. 3.  July 6. 
Florida\1\..........................................  Sept. 6.  July 9. 
Nevada..............................................  Sept. 6.  July 9. 
Delaware............................................  Sept. 13  July 16.
Arizona.............................................  Sept. 13  July 16.
Connecticut.........................................  Sept. 13  July 16.
Maryland............................................  Sept. 13  July 16.
Minnesota...........................................  Sept. 13  July 16.
New Hampshire.......................................  Sept. 13  July 16.
New York............................................  Sept. 13  July 16.
Rhode Island........................................  Sept. 13  July 16.
Vermont.............................................  Sept. 13  July 16.
Wisconsin...........................................  Sept. 13  July 16.
District of Columbia................................  Sept. 13  July 16.
Virgin Islands......................................  Sept. 13  July 16.
Hawaii..............................................  Sept. 17  July 20.
Guam (run-off)......................................  Sept. 17  July 20.
Massachusetts.......................................  Sept. 20  July 23.
Oklahoma (run-off)..................................  Sept. 20  July 23.
Washington..........................................  Sept. 20  July 23.
Louisiana...........................................  Oct. 1..  Aug. 3. 
Florida (run-off)...................................  Oct. 4..  Aug. 6. 
American Samoa......................................  Nov. 8..  Sept.   
                                                                 10.    
    (run-off).......................................  Nov. 22.  Sept.   
                                                                 24.    
1994 General Election...............................  Nov. 8..  Sept.   
                                                                 10.    
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Unofficial.                                                          



                          ____________________