Bill Summary
The "Postal Contracting Financial Accountability Act" aims to amend Title 39 of the United States Code to allow contractors who operate contract postal units (CPUs) to continue their operations even if the United States Postal Service (USPS) decides to terminate or not renew their agreements.
Key provisions include:
1. **Election to Continue Operations**: If the USPS intends to terminate a CPU contract, the contractor can choose to keep the contract active, provided that the termination isn't primarily due to the contractor's breach of the agreement and other specific conditions are met.
2. **Terms of Continued Operation**: The terms of the contract will remain unchanged unless the contractor opts for amendments. However, the USPS will not be required to make any payments to the contractor for the duration of this continued operation unless the Postmaster General decides otherwise.
3. **Conditions for Termination**: The contract will remain in effect until the USPS terminates it for breach or the contractor decides to cease operations.
4. **Definitions**: The legislation clarifies terms such as "contract postal unit," "contract postal unit operation agreement," and "covered contractor" to ensure clarity in its application.
Overall, this act seeks to provide stability and options for contractors managing postal services in communities, helping prevent abrupt closures of these vital services.
Possible Impacts
The "Postal Contracting Financial Accountability Act" could have several implications for individuals and communities, particularly those that rely on contract postal units. Here are three examples of how this legislation could affect people:
1. **Continued Access to Postal Services**: If a contract postal unit is at risk of closure due to the Postal Service's decision, this legislation allows the covered contractor to keep the unit operating. For communities that rely on these facilities, especially in rural or underserved areas, this means continued access to essential postal services such as mailing letters, parcels, and accessing other postal services. This can be vital for local businesses and residents who depend on regular postal services for communication and commerce.
2. **Job Security for Contractors**: The bill enables covered contractors to maintain their operations even if the Postal Service chooses to terminate the contract. This provision can provide job security for individuals employed at contract postal units, preventing sudden job loss and economic instability for those workers and their families. It may also allow the contractors to negotiate new terms that could potentially lead to improved working conditions or compensation.
3. **Financial Implications for the Postal Service and Contractors**: The legislation stipulates that the Postal Service may not be obligated to make payments to contractors if they choose to keep the contract postal unit operating. This could lead to financial challenges for the Postal Service, particularly if many contractors opt to continue without compensation. For contractors, this could mean assuming financial risks or costs associated with operating the unit without guaranteed payments, which may affect their profitability and long-term sustainability.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5530 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5530
To amend section 404 of title 39, United States Code, to permit
contractors to independently continue operating contract postal units
that would otherwise be closed by the United States Postal Service, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 19, 2025
Mr. Schweikert introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend section 404 of title 39, United States Code, to permit
contractors to independently continue operating contract postal units
that would otherwise be closed by 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 ``Postal Contracting Financial
Accountability Act''.
SEC. 2. CONTINUED OPERATION OF CONTRACT POSTAL UNITS.
Section 404 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding
at the end the following new subsection:
``(f)(1) If the Postal Service makes a determination to terminate
or not renew a contract postal unit operation agreement with a covered
contractor for a contract postal unit, the covered contractor may, in
the sole discretion of the covered contractor, elect to have such
contract postal unit operation agreement remain in effect in accordance
with this subsection if--
``(A) such determination to terminate or not renew the
contract postal unit operation agreement is not primarily or
entirely based on the covered contractor breaching such
contract postal unit operation agreement;
``(B) the Postal Service has not entered into another
contract postal unit operation agreement with the covered
contractor for the contract postal unit;
``(C) the covered contractor submits to the Postal Service
a notice of such election by the covered contractor; and
``(D) the covered contractor agrees to amend the terms and
conditions of the contract postal unit operation agreement in
accordance with this subsection.
``(2)(A) Except as provided by subparagraph (B), a contract postal
unit operation agreement that remains in effect pursuant to an election
by a covered contractor under paragraph (1) shall have the same terms
and conditions as the terms and conditions in effect immediately prior
to the date on which, but for such election, the contract postal unit
operation agreement would have terminated or ended, and such terms and
conditions shall apply in the same manner as such terms and conditions
applied immediately prior to such date, except that, after such date,
the contract postal unit operation agreement shall--
``(i) not obligate the Postal Service to make any
payment to the covered contractor; and
``(ii) remain in effect until--
``(I) the Postal Service terminates the
contract postal unit operation agreement for a
breach of the contract postal unit operation
agreement by the covered contractor; or
``(II) the covered contractor--
``(aa) terminates the contract
postal unit operation agreement; or
``(bb) permanently ceases to
operate the contract postal unit with
respect to which the contract postal
unit operation agreement applies.
``(B)(i) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a contract
postal unit operation agreement that remains in effect pursuant
to an election by a covered contractor under paragraph (1)
shall, if determined appropriate by the Postmaster General,
require the Postal Service to make payments to the covered
contractor with respect to the operation of the contract postal
unit with respect to which the contract postal unit operation
agreement applies after the date on which, but for such
election, the contract postal unit operation agreement would
have terminated or ended.
``(ii) The Postmaster General shall determine terms and
conditions of any payments the Postal Service is required to
make to a covered contractor under a contract postal unit
operation agreement pursuant to clause (i).
``(3) If a covered contractor makes the election under paragraph
(1) with respect to a contract postal unit operation agreement, the
Postal Service shall agree to amend the terms and conditions of the
contract postal unit operation agreement in accordance with this
subsection.
``(4) In this subsection--
``(A) the term `contract postal unit' means a facility
operated by a covered contractor at which the covered
contractor provides retail postal services under a contract
postal unit operation agreement;
``(B) the term `contract postal unit operation agreement'
means a contract or other agreement between the Postal Service
and a covered contractor under which the covered contractor
operates a contract postal unit; and
``(C) the term `covered contractor' means an individual or
entity operating a contract postal unit under a contract postal
unit operation agreement.''.
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