[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 138 (Thursday, October 2, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12383-S12384]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. STABENOW:
  S. 1707. A bill to amend title 39, United States Code, to provide for 
free mailing privileges for personal correspondence and certain parcels 
sent from within the United States to members of the Armed Forces 
serving on active duty abroad who are engaged in military operations 
involving armed conflict against a hostile foreign force, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Providing 
Our Support to Troops or POST Act of 2003. This bill would provide free 
mailing privileges for letters and packages sent from within the United 
States to members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty abroad who 
are engaged in military operations involving armed conflict against a 
hostile foreign force. This bill is a companion bill to Representative 
Lucas's H.R. 2705, a bill with 31 bipartisan cosponsors in the House of 
Representatives.
  Our troops overseas can send mail and packages to their loved ones at 
no cost, but their families must pay postage to do the same. As the 
holidays approach, the families back here in the States are not only 
not able to give their Christmas or Hanukah presents to their loved 
ones in person, but they have to pay postage to do so.
  Two constituents of mine, both mothers of servicemen in Iraq, brought 
this inequity to my attention. Renee Walton from Lincoln Park, MI, 
mother of twins Jeremy and Joshua who are serving in the Marine Corps, 
writes, ``I believe this is something all the troops' families will 
benefit from and most especially the soldier who is waiting patiently 
for a package from home.''
  Suzann Sareini, a Dearborn resident, says, ``As a mother of one of 
the brave individuals in our armed forces fighting for this country, I 
believe this act exhibits a tremendous amount of patriotic gratitude 
for the sacrifices being made by members of the military and their 
families. This small gesture would be invaluable in its contribution to 
the morale of our soldiers waiting patiently for packages from back 
home.''
  I wholeheartedly agree with these two Michigan moms.
  Currently 2,500 Michigan Guard and Reserves are on active duty, many 
of whom are serving in Iraq or Afghanistan or fighting the war against 
terrorism around the globe. That means that there are thousands of 
families who will have an empty seat at the Thanksgiving table and will 
be missing a loved one during the holidays. But, by providing free 
postage for these families, we are making it easier for them to stay in 
touch with their loved ones and provide them with moral support. This 
is only fair since our service men and women have so unselfishly made 
great sacrifices to protect us and our country. This is a small 
gesture, but one that will speak loudly in the hearts of our troops and 
their families.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.

[[Page S12384]]

  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1707

       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 ``Providing Our Support to 
     Troops Act of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. FREE MAILING PRIVILEGES.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 34 of title 39, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``Sec. 3407. Free postage for personal correspondence and 
       certain parcels mailed to members of Armed Forces of the 
       United States

       ``(a) In General.--The matter described in subsection (b) 
     (other than matter described in subsection (c)) may be mailed 
     free of postage, if--
       ``(1) such matter is sent from within an area served by a 
     United States post office;
       ``(2) such matter is addressed to an individual who is a 
     member of the Armed Forces of the United States on active 
     duty, as defined in section 101 of title 10, or a civilian, 
     authorized to use postal services at Armed Forces 
     installations, who holds a position or performs one or more 
     functions in support of military operations, as designated by 
     the military theater commander; and
       ``(3)(A) such matter is addressed to the individual 
     referred to in paragraph (2) at an Armed Forces post office 
     established in an overseas area with respect to which a 
     designation under section 3401(a)(1)(A) is in effect; or
       ``(B) in the case of an individual who is hospitalized at a 
     facility under the jurisdiction of the Armed Forces of the 
     United States as a result of a disease or injury described in 
     section 3401(a)(1)(B), such matter is addressed to such 
     individual at an Armed Forces post office determined under 
     subsection (f).
       ``(b) Mail Matter Described.--The free mailing privilege 
     provided by subsection (a) is extended to--
       ``(1) letter mail or sound- or video-recorded 
     communications having the character of personal 
     correspondence; and
       ``(2) parcels not exceeding 10 pounds in weight and 60 
     inches in length and girth combined.
       ``(c) Limitation.--The free mailing privilege provided by 
     subsection (a) does not extend to mail matter that contains 
     any advertising.
       ``(d) Rate of Postage.--Any matter which is mailed under 
     this section shall be mailed at the equivalent rate of 
     postage which assures that the mail will be sent by the most 
     economical means practicable.
       ``(e) Marking.--All matter mailed under this section shall 
     bear, in the upper right-hand corner of the address area, the 
     words `Free Matter for Members of the Armed Forces of the 
     United States', or words to that effect specified by the 
     Postal Service.
       ``(f) Regulations.--This section shall be administered 
     under such conditions, and under such regulations, as the 
     Postal Service and the Secretary of Defense jointly may 
     prescribe.''.
       (b) Funding.--
       (1) Free postage.--Sections 2401(c) and 3627 of title 39, 
     United States Code, are amended by striking ``3406'' and 
     inserting ``3407''.
       (2) Air transportation.--
       (A) In general.--Section 2401 of title 39, United States 
     Code, is amended by redesignating subsections (d) through (g) 
     as subsections (e) through (h), respectively, and by 
     inserting after subsection (c) the following:
       ``(d) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Postal 
     Service each year a sum determined by the Postal Service to 
     be equal to the expenses incurred by the Postal Service in 
     providing air transportation for mail sent to members of the 
     Armed Forces of the United States free of postage under 
     section 3407, not including the expense of air transportation 
     that is provided by the Postal Service at the same postage 
     rate or charge for mail which is not addressed to an Armed 
     Forces post office.''.
       (B) Amendment to prevent duplicative funding.--Section 
     3401(e) of title 39, United States Code, is amended by 
     striking ``office.'' and inserting ``office or (3) for which 
     amounts are authorized to be appropriated to the Postal 
     Service under section 2401(d).''.
       (C) Technical and conforming amendments.--
       (i) Annual budget.--Section 2009 of title 39, United States 
     Code, is amended in the next to last sentence by striking 
     ``(b) and (c)'' and inserting ``(b), (c), and (d)''.
       (ii) Comprehensive plan references.--Sections 2803(a) and 
     2804(a) of such title 39 are amended by striking ``2401(g)'' 
     and inserting ``2401(f)''.
       (c) Chapter Analysis.--The analysis for chapter 34 of title 
     39, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

``3407. Free postage for personal correspondence and certain parcels 
              mailed to Members of the Armed Forces of the United 
              States.''.
                                 ______