108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2705
To amend title 39, United States Code, to provide for free mailing
privileges for personal correspondence and certain parcels sent from within
the United States to members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty abroad
who are engaged in military operations involving armed conflict against a
hostile foreign force, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 10, 2003
Mr. LUCAS of Kentucky introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Government Reform
A BILL
To amend title 39, United States Code, to provide for free mailing
privileges for personal correspondence and certain parcels sent from within
the United States to members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty abroad
who are engaged in military operations involving armed conflict against a
hostile foreign force, 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 `Providing Our Support to Troops Act of 2003'.
SEC. 2. FREE MAILING PRIVILEGES.
(a) IN GENERAL- Chapter 34 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following:
`Sec. 3407. Free postage for personal correspondence and certain parcels
mailed to members of Armed Forces of the United States
`(a) IN GENERAL- The matter described in subsection (b) (other than matter
described in subsection (c)) may be mailed free of postage, if--
`(1) such matter is sent from within an area served by a United States post
office;
`(2) such matter is addressed to an individual who is a member of the Armed
Forces of the United States on active duty, as defined in section 101 of
title 10, or a civilian, authorized to use postal services at Armed Forces
installations, who holds a position or performs one or more functions in
support of military operations, as designated by the military theater commander;
and
`(3)(A) such matter is addressed to the individual referred to in paragraph
(2) at an Armed Forces post office established in an overseas area with
respect to which a designation under section 3401(a)(1)(A) is in effect;
or
`(B) in the case of an individual who is hospitalized at a facility under
the jurisdiction of the Armed Forces of the United States as a result of
a disease or injury described in section 3401(a)(1)(B), such matter is addressed
to such individual at an Armed Forces post office determined under subsection
(f).
`(b) MAIL MATTER DESCRIBED- The free mailing privilege provided by subsection
(a) is extended to--
`(1) letter mail or sound- or video-recorded communications having the character
of personal correspondence; and
`(2) parcels not exceeding 10 pounds in weight and 60 inches in length and
girth combined.
`(c) LIMITATION- The free mailing privilege provided by subsection (a) does
not extend to mail matter that contains any advertising.
`(d) RATE OF POSTAGE- Any matter which is mailed under this section shall
be mailed at the equivalent rate of postage which assures that the mail will
be sent by the most economical means practicable.
`(e) MARKING- All matter mailed under this section shall bear, in the upper
right-hand corner of the address area, the words `Free Matter for Members
of the Armed Forces of the United States', or words to that effect specified
by the Postal Service.
`(f) REGULATIONS- This section shall be administered under such conditions,
and under such regulations, as the Postal Service and the Secretary of Defense
jointly may prescribe.'.
(1) FREE POSTAGE- Sections 2401(c) and 3627 of title 39, United States Code,
are amended by striking `3406' and inserting `3407'.
(A) IN GENERAL- Section 2401 of title 39, United States Code, is amended
by redesignating subsections (d) through (g) as subsections (e) through
(h), respectively, and by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
`(d) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Postal Service each year
a sum determined by the Postal Service to be equal to the expenses incurred
by the Postal Service in providing air transportation for mail sent to members
of the Armed Forces of the United States free of postage under section 3407,
not including the expense of air transportation that is provided by the Postal
Service at the same postage rate or charge for mail which is not addressed
to an Armed Forces post office.'.
(B) AMENDMENT TO PREVENT DUPLICATIVE FUNDING- Section 3401(e) of title
39, United States Code, is amended by striking `office.' and inserting
`office or (3) for which amounts are authorized to be appropriated to
the Postal Service under section 2401(d).'.
(C) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS-
(i) ANNUAL BUDGET- Section 2009 of title 39, United States Code, is
amended in the next to last sentence by striking `(b) and (c)' and inserting
`(b), (c), and (d)'.
(ii) COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REFERENCES- Sections 2803(a) and 2804(a) of
such title 39 are amended by striking `2401(g)' and inserting `2401(f)'.
(c) CHAPTER ANALYSIS- The analysis for chapter 34 of title 39, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
`3407. Free postage for personal correspondence and certain parcels mailed
to Members of the Armed Forces of the United States.'.
END
