Bill Details
View committees (1)
AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill gives the United States Postal Service stronger tools to investigate crimes that involve the mail. It lets the Postmaster General issue written administrative subpoenas when investigating certain offenses tied to the mail, including violations already in postal law, many federal crimes that used the mail, and drug crimes that used the mail. These subpoenas can demand records (like books, papers, documents, and other physical evidence) and can require the person who keeps those records to testify about what was produced and whether the items are authentic. One specific type of investigation identified in current law (section 3005(a)) is excluded from the testimony requirement, so subpoenas in those cases can still get records but not force the custodian to testify. The bill also narrows who inside the Postal Service can approve using this subpoena power: only the Postal Service’s General Counsel, a Deputy General Counsel, or the Chief Postal Inspector may be delegated that approval authority. In short, the bill expands and clarifies the Postal Service’s power to collect papers and evidence in mail-related investigations while limiting who can authorize that power inside the agency.
- Who is covered: subpoenas may be used for investigations of postal-law violations, federal crimes involving the use of the mails (including certain chapters of title 18), laws listed in section 3001(a), and mail-related Controlled Substances Act violations.
- What subpoenas can require: production of records and testimony from the records’ custodian about production and authenticity, except where testimony is barred for investigations under section 3005(a).
- Limits on testimony: in investigations under section 3005(a) the subpoena may seek records but cannot require the custodian’s testimony about those records.
- Who can approve subpoenas: delegation of the approval authority is limited to the Postal Service General Counsel, a Deputy General Counsel, or the Chief Postal Inspector.
Official Summaries
USPS Subpoena Authority Act
This bill expands the administrative subpoena authority of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).
Specifically, the bill authorizes subpoenas to investigate additional violations of law that involve the mail, including violations related to controlled substances and hazardous materials.
The bill also expands the senior USPS officials to whom subpoena approval authority may be delegated to include the Chief Postal Inspector.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 170 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 170
To amend title 39, United States Code, to enhance the administrative
subpoena authority of the United States Postal Service, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 3, 2025
Ms. Malliotakis (for herself, Ms. Meng, and Mr. Smith of New Jersey)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Oversight and Government Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 39, United States Code, to enhance the administrative
subpoena authority of the United States Postal Service, and for other
purposes.
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 ``USPS Subpoena Authority Act''.
SEC. 2. UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE ADMINISTRATIVE SUBPOENA AUTHORITY.
Section 3016(a)(1) of title 39, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (D);
(2) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the
following:
``(A) In general.--In any investigation relating to
a covered offense, the Postmaster General may issue in
writing and cause to be served a subpoena requiring the
production and testimony described in subparagraph (B).
In this subparagraph, the term `covered offense' means
a violation of--
``(i) any section in this chapter;
``(ii) any section of chapter 83 of title
18 insofar as such violation involves the use
of the mails;
``(iii) any other provision of law
enumerated in section 3001(a); or
``(iv) the Controlled Substances Act (21
U.S.C. 801 et seq.), insofar as such violation
involves the use of the mails.
``(B) Production and testimony.--Except as provided
in subparagraph (C), a subpoena issued under
subparagraph (A) may require--
``(i) the production of any records
(including books, papers, documents, and other
tangible things that constitute or contain
evidence) that the Postmaster General considers
relevant or material to such investigation; and
``(ii) testimony by the custodian of the
things required to be produced concerning the
production and authenticity of those things.
``(C) Application.--A subpoena issued in connection
with an investigation under section 3005(a) shall not
require testimony as set forth in subparagraph
(B)(ii).''; and
(3) in subparagraph (D), as redesignated by paragraph (1)
of this section, by amending clause (iii) to read as follows:
``(iii) delegation of subpoena approval
authority be limited to the Postal Service's
General Counsel, a Deputy General Counsel, or
the Chief Postal Inspector.''.
<all>