[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 173 (Friday, September 4, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55192-55193]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18549]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 551


Semipostal Stamp Program

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is revising its discretionary Semipostal 
Stamp Program regulations to provide more flexibility to manage the 
program.

DATES: Effective October 5, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amity C. Kirby, Manager, Stamp 
Products & Exhibitions, 202-268-7998, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On June 10, 2020, the Postal Service published its proposed rule to 
revise its discretionary Semipostal Stamp Program regulations to 
provide more

[[Page 55193]]

flexibility to manage the program (85 FR 35404). The Postal Service 
received 63 comment letters from the public, associations, and members 
of Congress. All commenters were in favor of the revisions. Most noted 
that the revisions would permit resumption of sales of the Alzheimer's 
semipostal stamp.

Summary of Changes

    The regulations in effect before this final rule, promulgated April 
20, 2016, limited sales of discretionary semipostal stamps to one at a 
time and a two-year sales period, and contemplated five semipostal 
stamp offerings over the 10-year term of the Semipostal Stamp program. 
This proved impracticable. Further, the Postal Service encountered 
continued interest in the sale of a previously offered discretionary 
semipostal stamp for which the Postal Service possesses unsold 
inventory.
    The final rule eliminates the one at a time limitation and the two-
year sales period limitation, and provides more flexibility to the 
Postal Service. The immediate effect of this final rule is to permit 
resumption of sales of the Alzheimer's semipostal stamp.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 551

    Administrative practice and procedure.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Postal Service amends 
39 CFR part 551 as follows:

PART 551--SEMIPOSTAL STAMP PROGRAM


0
1. The authority citation for part 551 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 39 U.S.C. 101, 201, 203, 401, 403, 404, 410, 414, 
416.


0
2. Amend Sec.  551.3, by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  551.3  Procedure for selection of causes and recipient executive 
agencies.

* * * * *
    (a) The Office of Stamp Services will accept proposals from 
interested persons for future semipostal stamps beginning on May 20, 
2016. The Office of Stamp Services will begin considering proposals on 
July 5, 2016. This section should not be read to reflect the intention 
of the Postal Service to issue any particular number of semipostal 
stamps during the 10-year period of this part. Proposals may be 
submitted and will be considered on a rolling basis until seven years 
after May 20, 2016. The Office of Stamp Services may publicize this 
request for proposals in the Federal Register or through other means, 
as it determines in its discretion. Proposals for semipostal stamps 
made prior to May 20, 2016 will not be given further consideration. 
Nothing in this section should be construed as barring the resubmission 
of previously submitted causes and recipient executive agencies.
* * * * *


Sec.  551.5  [Amended]

0
3. In Sec.  551.5, remove and reserve paragraphs (b) and (c).

Joshua J. Hofer,
Attorney, Federal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2020-18549 Filed 9-3-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P