[Senate Report 106-104]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                                       Calendar No. 201
106th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE
 1st Session                                                    106-104
_______________________________________________________________________






                   LOOK, LISTEN, AND LIVE STAMP ACT

                               __________

                              R E P O R T

                                 of the

                   COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

                          UNITED STATES SENATE

                             together with

                             MINORITY VIEWS

                              to accompany

                                 S. 712

TO AMEND TITLE 39, UNITED STATES CODE, TO ALLOW POSTAL PATRONS TO 
  CONTRIBUTE TO FUNDING FOR HIGHWAY-RAIL GRADE CROSSING SAFETY THROUGH 
  THE VOLUNTARY PURCHASE OF CERTAIN SPECIALLY ISSUED UNITED STATES 
  POSTAGE STAMPS




                      July 8, 1999.--to be printed

   Filed under authority of the order of the Senate of June 29, 1999

                               __________

                    U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
69-010                     WASHINGTON : 1999

                   COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

                   FRED THOMPSON, Tennessee, Chairman
WILLIAM V. ROTH, Jr., Delaware       JOSEPH I. LIEBERMAN, Connecticut
TED STEVENS, Alaska                  CARL LEVIN, Michigan
SUSAN M. COLLINS, Maine              DANIEL K. AKAKA, Hawaii
GEORGE V. VOINOVICH, Ohio            RICHARD J. DURBIN, Illinois
PETE V. DOMENICI, New Mexico         ROBERT G. TORRICELLI, New Jersey
THAD COCHRAN, Mississippi            MAX CLELAND, Georgia
ARLEN SPECTER, Pennsylvania          JOHN EDWARDS, North Carolina
JUDD GREGG, New Hampshire
             Hannah S. Sistare, Staff Director and Counsel
                      Dan G. Blair, Senior Counsel
          Michael L. Loesch, Counsel, International Security,
            Proliferation and Federal Services Subcommittee
      Joyce A. Rechtschaffen, Minority Staff Director and Counsel
          Peter A. Ludgin, Minority Professional Staff Member
    Nanci E. Langley, Minority Deputy Staff Director, International 
                               Security,
            Proliferation and Federal Services Subcommittee
                 Darla D. Cassell, Administrative Clerk
                                                       Calendar No. 201
106th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE
 1st Session                                                    106-104

======================================================================



 
                    LOOK, LISTEN, AND LIVE STAMP ACT

                                _______
                                

                 July  8, 1999.--Ordered to be printed

   Filed under authority of the order of the Senate of June 29, 1999

Mr. Thompson, from the Committee on Governmental Affairs, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 712]

    The Committee on Governmental Affairs, to which was 
referred the bill (S. 712) to amend title 39, United States 
Code, to allow postal patrons to contribute to funding for 
highway-rail grade crossing safety through the voluntary 
purchase of certain specially issued United States postage 
stamps.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
  I. Purpose..........................................................1
 II. Background.......................................................2
III. Legislative history..............................................3
 IV. Section-by-section analysis......................................3
  V. Regulatory Impact Statement......................................4
 VI. CBO cost estimate................................................4
VII. Executive Communications.........................................5
VIII.Minority Views...................................................8

 IX. Changes to existing law.........................................11

                               I. Purpose

    The purpose of S. 712, the ``Look, Listen, and Live Stamp 
Act'' is to direct the United States Postal Service to 
establish a specially-issued postage stamp to allow postal 
patrons the opportunity to contribute to funding for highway-
rail grade crossing safety through the voluntary purchase of 
these stamps.

                             II. Background

    S. 712 would authorize the U.S. Postal Service to establish 
a special-rate postage stamp, commonly known as a ``semi-
postal'' stamp, to promote highway-rail grade crossing safety.
    There are approximately 150,000 public crossings in the 
U.S. today, the majority of which are equipped with only 
passive warning devices. In 1998, there were 3,446 grade-
crossing collisions involving motor vehicles resulting in 1,950 
serious injuries and 422 deaths.
    These grade-crossing deaths are preventable. Unfortunately, 
the cost of separating or eliminating all of these crossings 
would impose tremendous costs on railways and railway users as 
well as Federal, state, and local governments. While all these 
entities are working to reduce the number of grade-crossings 
and improving safety features at others, the process will take 
decades to complete.
    The intent of this semi-postal stamp is to provide funding 
to enhance public safety by educating citizens on the hazards 
and proper methods for crossing a railroad track. The stamp and 
its display are intended to serve as a reminder and heighten 
public awareness for the need to exercise safety when crossing 
a railroad track. The proceeds from the revenues generated 
through the sale of the stamp would provide an additional 
source of revenue to the Department of Transportation to fund 
Operation Lifesaver programs. Operation Lifesaver is a non-
profit, nationwide public education program dedicated to 
reducing collisions, injuries, and fatalities at intersections 
where roadways meet railways and along railroad rights-of-way. 
Operation Lifesaver currently is authorized to receive federal 
funding in the amount of $500,000 annually through 2003.
    Specifically, the bill authorizes the U.S. Postal Service 
to sell this semi-postal stamp at a rate not to exceed 25 
percent above the regular rate of the first-class postage 
stamp. The purchase and use of these stamps would be voluntary. 
The amounts received by the Postal Service from the sale of 
such stamps, after the deduction of any additional 
administrative expenses associated with the production, sale, 
and purchase of these stamps, would be paid in semiannual 
payments to the Department of Transportation for Operation 
Lifesaver.
    The bill expresses the sense of Congress that the proceeds 
should not cause a decrease in other federal funding for 
Operation Lifesaver or affect regular postage rates. The semi-
postal stamps would be made available to the public within 12 
months of enactment. The Postal Service's annual report is to 
provide information concerning the amount of proceeds and 
administrative expenses. The stamp would be issued for a period 
of two years.
    The ``Look, Listen, and Live'' semi-postal stamp would be 
the second semi-postal stamp authorized by Congress. Currently, 
the Postal Service has available for public sale the ``Breast 
Cancer Research'' stamp. This stamp was authorized pursuant to 
P.L. 105-41 and directed the Postal Service to issue a special 
postage stamp at a rate not to exceed 25 percent of the price 
of the first-class stamp, with the additional revenues, less 
administrative costs, being contributed to the National 
Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense for breast 
cancer research. ThePostal Service reports that as of June 
1999, it had issued payments to the National Institutes of Health and 
the Department of Defense, totaling more than $6.9 million, after 
withholding nearly $200,000 for expenses. P.L. 105-41 requires the 
Postal Service to recoup its costs associated with the printing, sale 
and distribution of the ``Stamp Out Breast Cancer Stamp'' and the 
Committee expects the Postal Service to adhere to this requirement. 
This semi-postal stamp was issued in July 1998 for a period of two 
years. The legislation further required the General Accounting Office 
to report on the operations of the Postal Service in offering this 
semi-postal stamp by July 2000.
    The Committee is aware of the increased interest in semi-
postal stamps and their potential for fundraising for 
charitable purposes. However, the Committee hopes to defer 
further consideration of legislation authorizing semi-postal 
stamps until Congress has had the opportunity to evaluate the 
reports by the General Accounting Office on the operations of 
the ``Look, Listen, and Live Stamp'' and the ``Stamp Out Breast 
Cancer Act.''

                        III. Legislative History

    S. 712 was introduced on March 24, 1999 by Senator Lott, 
for himself, and Senators Hutchison, Breaux and Wyden and 
referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs. On April 2, 
1999, the bill was referred to the Subcommittee on 
International Security, Proliferation, and Federal Services.
    On May 10, 1999, the Subcommittee on International 
Security, Proliferation, and Federal Services reported S. 712 
to the Full committee by polling letter. On May 20, the 
Committee held a business meeting at which S. 712 was 
considered.
    During discussion on the bill, Senator Stevens stated his 
intention to offer modifications to the bill, but the text of 
his proposal was not available at the time of the markup. 
Senator Stevens 
stated he would offer his amendment when the legislation is 
brought up for consideration by the full Senate.
    Following further discussion on the bill, the Committee 
ordered S. 712 to be favorably reported without amendment by a 
vote of 14 Yeas (Senators Roth, Stevens, Collins, Voinovich, 
Domenici, Cochran, Specter, Gregg, Lieberman, Akaka, Durbin, 
Cleland, Edwards and Thompson) to 2 Nays (Senators Levin and 
Torricelli).

                    IV. Section-by-Section Analysis

    Section 1. Provides the citation, ``Look, Listen, and Live 
Stamp Act.''
    Section 2(a). Would add a new section 414a to title 39, 
United States Code, directing the Postal Service to issue 
special postage stamps to afford the public a convenient 
opportunity to contribute to funding for highway-rail grade 
crossing safety. The rate of first-class postage for such 
stamps would be not more than 25 percent above the regular 
rate, and the use of suchstamps would be voluntary. The amount 
received by the Postal Service from the sale of such stamps, after the 
deduction of expenses, would be paid in semiannual payments to the 
Department of Transportation for Operation Lifesaver. The bill 
expresses the sense of Congress that the proceeds should not cause a 
decrease in funding for Operation Lifesaver or affect regular postage 
rates. The special postage stamps would be made available to the public 
within 12 months of enactment. The Postal Service's annual report is to 
provide information on the amount of proceeds and administrative 
expenses. The new section 414a would cease to be effective two years 
after the special stamps first become available to the public.
    Section 2(b). Would require the Comptroller General to 
report to Congress no later than three months before the end of 
the two-year sale period regarding the effectiveness and 
appropriateness of this method of fundraising and regarding the 
monetary and other resources required of the Postal Service in 
carrying out this program.
    Section 2(c). Would update the table of sections of title 
39, United States Code, accordingly.

                     V. Regulatory Impact Statement

    Enactment of this legislation will have no significant 
regulatory impact. S. 712 contains no intergovernmental or 
private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates 
Reform Act and would impose no costs on the budgets of state, 
local, or tribal governments.

             VI. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                      Washington, DC, June 7, 1999.
Hon. Fred Thompson,
Chairman, Committee on Governmental Affairs,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 712, the Look, 
Listen, and Live Stamp Act.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Mark 
Grabowicz.
            Sincerely,
                                          Barry B. Anderson
                                    (For Dan L. Crippen, Director).
    Enclosure.

               congressional budget office cost estimate

S. 712--Look, Listen, and Live Stamp Act

    CBO estimates that enacting S. 712 would result in changes 
in direct spending of less than $1 million in each of fiscal 
years 2000 through 2003 and a net change of zero over the 2000-
2003 period. Because enactment of the bill would affect direct 
spending, pay-as-you-go procedures would apply. Implementing 
this legislation also would increase discretionary spending by 
about $250,000 over the 2001-2002 period, assuming 
appropriation of the necessary amounts. S. 712 contains no 
intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on the 
budgets of state, local, or tribal governments.
    S. 712 would direct the United States Postal Service to 
issue a special postage stamp for first-class mail that would 
cost participating customers up to 25 percent above the regular 
rate. Any amounts collected from the special stamp (called a 
semipostal), after accounting for the Postal Service's 
administrative costs, would be paid to the Department of 
Transportation (DOT) for safety programs for highway-rail grade 
crossings. The Postal Service would have 12 months after 
enactment to make the semipostal available to the public, and 
the program would terminate two years thereafter. In addition, 
the bill would direct the General Accounting Office (GAO) to 
prepare a report on this semipostal program.
    Payments of amounts above the regular first-class postage 
rate (currently 33 cents) would constitute a donation to the 
federal government and would normally be classified as 
governmental receipts. The surcharges on the breast cancer 
semipostal issued in 1998, however, were treated as offsetting 
collections, that is, negative outlays. Assuming enactment of 
S. 712 near the end of fiscal year 1999, CBO expects that the 
semipostal would not be available for sale until late in fiscal 
year 2000. Therefore, CBO estimates that any changes in 
offsetting collections would be less than $500,000, in fiscal 
year 2000. We estimate that the increase in such collections 
would be about $1 million in each of 2001 and 2002. Spending of 
such collections, including anticipated spending by the DOT, 
would be less than $500,000 in fiscal years 2000 and 2001, 
about $1 million in 2002, and less than $500,000 in2003. The 
changes in spending would equal the changes in collections over the 
2000-2003 period but generally would occur somewhat later. Net outlays 
over the 2000-2003 period would be zero.
    S. 712 would direct GAO to prepare a report on the 
semipostal's effectiveness as a fundraising tool and on its 
financial impact on the Postal Service. Based on information 
from GAO, we estimate that the report would cost about $250,000 
over the fiscal years 2001 and 2002, assuming appropriation of 
the necessary amounts.
    Because cash flows of the Postal Service are categorized as 
off-budget, only the spending by DOT under S. 712 would be 
subject to pay-as-you-go procedures. The only year in which 
such spending would not be less than $500,000 is fiscal year 
2002. The bill's pay-as-you-go effects are summarized in the 
following table.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                By fiscal year, in millions of dollars
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                        1999      2000      2001      2002      2003      2004
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Changes in outlays..................................         0         0         0         1         0         0
Changes in receipts.................................                         Not applicable
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Mark Grabowicz. 
This estimate was approved by Paul N. Van de Water, Assistant 
Director for Budget Analysis.

                     VII. Executive Communications

    In an effort to develop a full and complete record on semi-
postal stamps, the Committee requested the views of Postmaster 
General William Henderson on S. 712, as well as preliminary 
information on the revenues and costs associated with the sale 
and distribution of the ``Stamp Out Breast Cancer'' semi-postal 
stamp. The following letter by Postmaster General William 
Henderson is in response to this request.

                                       U.S. Postal Service,
                                     Washington, DC, June 25, 1999.
Hon. Fred Thompson,
Chairman, Committee on Governmental Affairs,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: This is in response to your June 11 
letter, cosigned by Senators Cochran, Lieberman, and Akaka, 
concerning information regarding the breast cancer research 
semipostal stamp.
    I appreciate your interest in the status of the breast 
cancer stamp. As you know, on August 13, 1997, the President 
signed into law the Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act that mandated 
the Postal Service to issue within 12 months a special first-
class postage stamp with a differential, not to exceed 25 
percent or 8 cents. To date, over 92 million of the breast 
cancer semipostal stamps have been sold.
    While the Postal Service has developed guidelines for 
tracking costs, we have not yet fully defined which incremental 
costs associated with the stamp will be offset against revenue. 
We have, however, issued payments to the National Institutes of 
Health (NIH) and the Department of Defense (DOD), as intended 
by the law, totaling over $6.9 million, after withholding 
nearly $200 thousand for expenses.
    In accordance with our memoranda of understanding with NIH 
and DOD, payments are made semi-annually. Two payments have 
been made to date, November 1998 and April 1999. Three 
additional payments are scheduled, on or before November 1999, 
on or before April 15, 2000, and a final payment within 120 
days subsequent to July 29, 2000.
    Total printing costs, to date, equal about $2.1 million. In 
addition, packaging costs for vending machines and other 
specialized sales venues was about $786,000. Further costs may 
be forthcoming.
    The Postal Service faced several challenges in meeting the 
legislatively mandated one-year lead time. Our Stamp Services 
Department normally completes the design and development of our 
annual program two to three years prior to the year in which it 
is issued. Accordingly, there were logistical issues associated 
with the shortened lead time.
    In addition, we had to determine to what extent the 
vehicles through which we would advertise this stamp, and what 
type of partnering/sponsorship opportunities were appropriate. 
Further, we needed to redesign and reprogram our accounting 
systems to track the sales of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp 
separate from the sales of other issues. It was also necessary 
to train clerk and carrier personnel regarding the purpose and 
special nature of the stamp.
    However, as the Congress expressed itself so strongly on 
this issue, the Postal Service has enthusiastically embraced 
the breast cancer semipostal stamp. To ensure the success of 
stamp sales, the Postal Service developed a comprehensive 
advertising and promotions plan to support the national launch 
of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp. The promotional 
initiatives include post office sales kits, television/radio 
interviews, a video news release featuring First-Day-of-Issue 
ceremony, postal communications to all our employees, and press 
kits to major media and health organizations.
    With regard to S. 712, the Stop, Listen and Live Stamp Act, 
the Postal Service would prefer that no additional semipostal 
stamps be authorized until the sales period of the Breast 
Cancer Research Stamp has expired and GAO has completed its 
audit. We are concerned that a competing semipostal stamp would 
have a negative effect on sales and ultimate success of the 
Breast Cancer Research Stamp. We believe the success and cost 
of the stamp should be fully evaluated before another 
semipostal stamp is authorized in order to determine the value 
this type of stamp brings to charitable fundraising.
    Thank you for the opportunity to clarify our position on 
this issue. If I may be of assistance in other postal matters, 
please let me know.
            Sincerely,
                                              William J. Henderson.

                 VIII. Minority Views of Senator Levin

    For over 40 years, the U.S. Postal Service has relied on 
the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) to review and 
select stamp subjects that are interesting and educational. 
CSAC chooses the subjects of U.S. stamps using as its criteria, 
12 major guidelines, established about the time of the Postal 
Reorganization Act. These 12 criteria for stamp subject 
selection have guided the CSAC in its decisionmaking function 
for decades.
    The tenth criteria guiding CSAC's subject selection makes 
reference to semi-postal stamps, the type of stamp that the 
Postal Service would be required to issue if the Look, Listen, 
Live Stamp Act were enacted. With respect to semi-postals, the 
guidelines state, ``Stamps or postal stationary items with 
added values, referred to as `semi-postals,' shall not be 
issued. Due to the vast number of worthy fund-raising 
organizations in existence, it would be difficult to single out 
specific ones to receive such revenue. There also is a strong 
U.S. tradition of private fund-raising for charities, and the 
administrative costs involved in accounting for sales would 
tend to negate the revenues derived.'' This position was also 
reflected in the June 15, 1999 letter from Postmaster General 
William Henderson. The Postmaster General stated that the 
Postal Service has made it a policy not to issue any stamp with 
a surtax on the regular postage rate with the extra revenue 
earmarked for a designated charity because it would be too 
difficult to choose one particular organization or cause over 
another and because it would be perceived as a public 
solicitation or intrusion.
    Congress has mandated the issuance of a semi-postal stamp 
only once before. The Breast Cancer Research semi-postal stamp, 
was authorized by Congress in 1997 and was issued by the Postal 
Service in July of 1998 for a two-year period. At the end of 
this period, the stamp will be subject to evaluation by GAO, 
for purposes of determining the effectiveness and the 
appropriateness of the stamp as a means of fundraising, and for 
identifying the costs incurred by the Postal Service in 
carrying out the Breast Cancer Research stamp.
    The Breast Cancer Research Stamp has not even completed its 
first year. Congress should, at minimum, wait until the two-
year period for the Breast Cancer Research Stamp has expired, 
and the GAO has prepared a tally of which costs associated with 
the stamp will be offset by revenue. In addition, even with 
information on the Breast Cancer stamp, the results of the two 
stamps may not be comparable, because it is very possible that 
the Look, Listen and Live Stamp will not generate the same 
amount of support. Breast cancer is an affliction that kills 
some 44,000 women a year and affects millions of women and 
their families. Although highway-rail grade crossing accidents 
are a serious transportation safety problem and tragically 
claim the lives of hundreds each year, they may not generate 
the same amount of public concern and support.
    In his June 15, 1999 letter, the Postmaster General stated, 
``With regard to S. 712, the Stop, Listen and Live Stamp Act, 
introduced by Senator Lott, the Postal Service would prefer 
that no additional semipostal stamps be authorized until the 
sales period of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp has expired 
and GAO has completed its audit. We are concerned that a 
competing semipostal stamp would have a negative effect on 
sales and ultimate success of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp. 
We believe the success and cost of the stamp should be fully 
evaluated before another semipostal stamp is authorized in 
order to determine the value this type of stamp brings to 
charitable fundraising.''
    There are additional concerns. There are already four semi-
postal bills pending, one that would generate funds for 
diabetes research, another for Alzheimer's research, and the 
third for AIDS research and education. If Congress passes S. 
712, there's no telling how many semi-postal stamps will be 
issued. Congress and the Postal Service should be careful 
before going down that path. Fundraising for charitable causes 
is a great American tradition, and one that Congress should and 
does support. However, the process for stamp selection, which 
was created as an effort to remove politics from stamp 
issuance, should remain separate.
    Finally, I am concerned that the proceeds under the bill 
are turned over to a private organization. As fine an 
organization as Operation Lifesaver no doubt is, it is unwise 
for the Postal Service to collect funds for a private 
organization, even a nonprofit one. In the battle against 
diseases and in many other causes, there are often competing 
nonprofit organizations. We should not be selecting private 
groups for the receipt of federal funds without some criteria.
                                                        Carl Levin.

                                       U.S. Postal Service,
                                     Washington, DC, June 15, 1999.
Hon. Carl Levin,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
    Dear Senator Levin: This is in response to your May 11 
letter concerning information regarding the breast cancer 
research semipostal stamp.
    As you know, on August 13, 1997, the President signed into 
law the Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act that mandated the Postal 
Service to issue within 12 months a special first-class postage 
stamp with a differential, not to exceed 25 percent or 8 cents. 
On July 29, 1998, the stamp was issued and will be available to 
the public for two years. The Act provides that before the end 
of the two-year period, the General Accounting Office will 
perform an audit on the Breast Cancer Research Stamp operation.
    The Postal Service historically believed that as America 
already has a philanthropic tradition unmatched by other 
nations, semipostals would be perceived as yet another 
solicitation and a public intrusion in an area where private 
initiative and generosity have had very beneficial results. We 
also believed that were the Postal Service to issue semipostal 
stamps, either we or the Congress would be placed in the very 
difficult position of determining which organizations should be 
funded and which should not.
    However, as the Congress expressed itself so strongly on 
this issue, the Postal Service has enthusiastically embraced 
the breast cancer semipostal stamp. To ensure the success of 
stamp sales, the Postal Service developed a comprehensive 
advertising and promotions plan to support the national launch 
of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp. The promotional 
initiatives include post office sales kits, television/radio 
interviews, a video news release featuring First Day of Issue 
ceremony, postal communications to all our employees, and press 
kits to major media and health organizations. To date, over 92 
million of the breast cancer semipostal stamps have been sold.
    While the Postal Service has developed guidelines for 
tracking costs, we have not yet fully defined which incremental 
costs associated with the stamp will be offset against revenue. 
We have, however, issued payments to the National Institutes of 
Health and Department of Defense, as intended by the law, 
totaling over $6.9 million, after expenses.
    With regard to S. 712, the Stop, Listen, and Live Stamp 
Act, introduced by Senator Lott, the Postal Service would 
prefer that no additional semipostal stamps be authorized until 
the sales period of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp has 
expired and GAO has completed its audit. We are concerned that 
a competing semipostal stamp would have a negative effect on 
sales and ultimate success of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp. 
We believe the success and cost of the stamp should be fully 
evaluated before another semipostal stamp is authorized in 
order to determine the value this type of stamp brings to 
charitable fundraising.
    Thank you for the opportunity to clarify our position on 
this issue. If I may be of assistance in other postal matters, 
please let me know.
            Sincerely,
                                              William J. Henderson.

                      IX. Changes to Existing Law

    In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by 
S. 712 as reported are shown as follows (existing law proposed 
to be omitted is enclosed in brackets, new matter is printed in 
italic, and existing law in which no change is proposed is 
shown in roman):

                        TITLE 39--POSTAL SERVICE

                            PART I--GENERAL

                      CHAPTER 4--GENERAL AUTHORITY

Sec. 414. Special postage stamps

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


Sec. 414a. Special Postage stamps for highway-rail grade crossing 
                    safety

    (a) In order to afford the public a convenient way to 
contribute to funding for highway-rail grade crossing safety, 
the Postal Service shall establish a special rate of postage 
for first-class mail under this section.
    (b) The rate of postage established under this section--
          (1) shall be equal to the regular first-class rate of 
        postage, plus a differential of not to exceed 25 
        percent;
          (2) shall be set by the Governors in accordance with 
        such procedures as the Governors shall by regulation 
        prescribe (in lieu of the procedures under chapter 36); 
        and
          (3) shall be offered as an alternative to the regular 
        first-class rate of postage.
    (c) The use of the special rate of postage established 
under this section shall be voluntary on the part of postal 
patrons.
    (d)(1) Amounts becoming available for highway-rail grade 
crossing safety under this section shall be paid by the Postal 
Service to the Department of Transportation for Operation 
Lifesaver. Payments under this section shall be made under such 
arrangements as the Postal Service shall by mutual agreement 
with the Department of Transportation establish in order to 
carry out the purposes of this section, except that, under 
those arrangements, payments to the Department of 
Transportation shall be made at least twice a year.
    (2) For purposes of this section, the term ``amounts 
becoming available for highway-rail grade crossing safety under 
this section'' means--
          (A) The total amounts received by the Postal Service 
        that the Postal Service would not have received but for 
        the enactment of this section, reduced by
          (B) an amount sufficient to cover reasonable costs 
        incurred by the Postal Service in carrying out this 
        section, including those attributable to the printing, 
        sale, and distribution of stamps under this section, as 
        determined by the Postal Service under regulations that 
        it shall prescribe.
    (e) It is the sense of Congress that nothing in this 
section should--
          (1) directly or indirectly cause a net decrease in 
        total funds received by the Department of 
        Transportation for Operation Lifesaver below the level 
        that would otherwise have been received but for the 
        enactment of this section; or
          (2) affect regular first-class rates of postage or 
        any other regular rates of postage.
    (f) Special postage stamps under this section shall be made 
available to the public beginning on such date as the Postal 
Service shall by regulation prescribe, but in no event later 
than 12 months after the enactment of this section.
    (g) The Postmaster General shall include in each report 
rendered under section 2402 with respect to any period during 
any portion of which this section is in effect information, 
concerning the operation of this section, except that, at a 
minimum, each report shall include--
          (1) the total amount described in subsection 
        (d)(2)(A) which was received by the Postal Service 
        during the period covered by such report; and
          (2) of the amount under paragraph (1), how much (in 
        the aggregate and by category) was required for the 
        purposes described in subsection (d)(2)(B).
    (h) This section shall cease to be effective at the end of 
the 2-year period beginning on the date on which special 
postage stamps under this section are first made available to 
the public.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                        TITLE 39--POSTAL SERVICE

                            PART I--GENERAL


                      CHAPTER 4--GENERAL AUTHORITY

Sec.
401. General Powers of the Postal Service.
402. Delegation of authority.
403. General duties.
404. Specific powers.
405. Printing of illustrations of United States postage stamps.
406. Postal Services at Armed Forces installations.
407. International money-order exchanges.
409. Suits by and against the Postal Service.
410. Application of other laws.
411. Cooperation with other Government agencies.
412. Nondisclosure of lists of names and addresses.
413. Postal services at diplomatic posts.
[414. Special postage stamps.]


                        TITLE 39--POSTAL SERVICE


                             PART I--GENERAL

                      CHAPTER 4--GENERAL AUTHORITY

Sec.
401. General Powers of the Postal Service.
402. Delegation of authority.
403. General duties.
404. Specific powers.
405. Printing of illustrations of United States postage stamps.
406. Postal Services at Armed Forces installations.
407. International money-order exchanges.
409. Suits by and against the Postal Service.
410. Application of other laws.
411. Cooperation with other Government agencies.
412. Nondisclosure of lists of names and addresses.
413. Postal services at diplomatic posts.
414. Special postage stamps for breast cancer research.
414a. Special postage stamps for highway-rail grade crossing safety.

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[Sec. 414. Special postage stamps]

Sec. 414. Special postage stamps for breast cancer research

                                  
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