H.R. 5416: Contract Postal Unit Transparency Act

This bill, known as the Contract Postal Unit Transparency Act, aims to change how the United States Postal Service (USPS) manages the closure or consolidation of contract postal units. Here are the main points of the bill:

1. Public Reporting Requirements

After the bill is enacted, the USPS will need to follow new procedures when considering the closure or consolidation of any contract postal units. Specifically, they must:

• Publish a Report: The USPS is required to publish a report on their public website that details the expected impacts of the closure or consolidation on the local customers. This report should also outline the steps that the Postal Service will take to maintain access to postal services in the affected areas.
• Submit a Congressional Report: The USPS must provide Congress with a formal report explaining the reasons for the proposed closure or consolidation.
• Hold a Public Hearing: Before any closure or consolidation, the USPS must hold a public hearing. This hearing can be attended by individuals either in-person or virtually, allowing affected community members to participate and express their concerns.
• Publish a Hearing Summary: After the public hearing, the USPS is obligated to publish a summary on their website within seven days. This summary must include a description of the comments made during the hearing and indicate the percentage of feedback that was supportive or opposed to the proposed changes.

2. Delay in Closure or Consolidation

The bill stipulates a mandatory waiting period before a contract postal unit can be closed or consolidated. Specifically, no closure or consolidation can occur until at least 180 days after the summary of the public hearing is published. This is intended to give customers and communities sufficient time to prepare or respond to the proposed changes.

3. Purpose and Intent

The overall intent of this legislation is to increase transparency and public participation in the decision-making process regarding contract postal units. By requiring reports, hearings, and summaries, the bill aims to ensure that community voices are heard and considered prior to any significant changes to postal services in their area.

Relevant Companies

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