H.R. 9343: Easy Access to Mail Act

This bill would place new limits on when the U.S. Postal Service can switch residential neighborhoods from door-to-door mail delivery to centralized delivery, such as cluster mailboxes placed at one location.

What counts as centralized delivery

The bill defines centralized delivery as a method where mailboxes for multiple homes are grouped together at a single site. It applies to housing developments defined in the bill as single-family homes and townhouses, but not apartment buildings or condominiums.

Limits on changing existing mail delivery

If a housing development already receives any kind of mail delivery other than centralized delivery when the bill takes effect, the Postal Service would be barred from changing that neighborhood to centralized delivery later.

Rules for new housing developments

For housing developments built after the bill becomes law, the Postal Service could not require centralized delivery unless it first gets approval from the local legislative body. If there is no local legislative body, approval would have to come from the state legislature that has jurisdiction over the property.

Notice and public comment

If centralized delivery is approved for a new housing development, the local postmaster would have to give at least 60 days’ written notice before starting it. That notice would go to other local government units and planning commissions in the county. The bill would also require a 60-day public comment period for residents, property owners, and home builders in that county.

Postal policy review for vulnerable communities

The bill directs the Postal Regulatory Commission to make sure the Postal Service does not change any existing policy in a way that would have a disproportionate negative effect on rural, lower-income, elderly, disabled, or predominantly minority communities.

Relevant Companies

None found