Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Ending Special Mail Privileges for Congress Act of 2014”.
Ending Special Mail Privileges for Congress Act of 2014
A BILL
To eliminate the use of the frank for mail transmitted by Members of Congress and Congressional officials, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Repeal of frank; requirements relating to the use of Congressional mail
in paragraph (1), by striking “other than franked mail” and inserting “other than Congressional mail subject to section 3210 of this title”; and
by striking paragraphs (3) and (4).
Requirements for Mail Transmitted by Members of Congress and Congressional Officials—
Policy and intent of Congress in sending Congressional mail— Section 3210(a) of such title is amended as follows:
In paragraph (1), by striking “as franked mail” and inserting “as Congressional mail”.
In paragraph (3)—
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “which is frankable” and inserting “which may be sent as Congressional mail”; and
in subparagraph (I), by striking “under the franking privilege” and inserting “which is sent as Congressional mail”.
In paragraph (4)—
by striking “the franking privilege” and inserting “the privilege of sending Congressional mail”; and
by striking “franked mail” and inserting “Congressional mail”.
In paragraph (5)—
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “franked mail” and inserting “Congressional mail”; and
in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking “frankable mail” and inserting “Congressional mail”.
In paragraph (6), by striking “franked mail” each place it appears in subparagraphs (A) and (C) and inserting “Congressional mail”.
Authority to send Congressional mail— Section 3210(b) of such title is amended—
in paragraphs (1) and (3), by striking “franked mail” each place it appears and inserting “Congressional mail”; and
in paragraph (2), by striking “the franking privilege” and inserting “the privilege to send Congressional mail under paragraph (1)”.
Form of Congressional mail— Section 3210(c) of such title is amended—
by striking “Franked mail” the first place it appears and inserting “Congressional mail under this section”;
by striking “Franked mail” the second place it appears and inserting “Such Congressional mail”; and
in the second sentence, by striking “franked mail” and inserting “Congressional mail”.
Form of address; regulations for review of official status of mail— Section 3210(d) of such title is amended—
by striking “franked mail” each place it appears in paragraphs (1) through (6) and inserting “Congressional mail”; and
in paragraph (7), by striking “Franked mail” and inserting “Congressional mail”.
Determination of status of mail by type and content— Section 3210(e) of such title is amended by striking “The frankability of mail matter shall be determined under the provisions of this section” and inserting “The determination as to whether mail matter may be sent as Congressional mail under this section shall be determined”.
Source of funds for sending mail— Section 3210(f) of such title is amended—
by striking “franked mail” and inserting “Congressional mail”;
by striking “an otherwise frankable mass mailing” and inserting “a mass mailing which otherwise may be sent as Congressional mail”; and
by striking “is frankable” and inserting “may be sent as Congressional mail”.
Exclusion of payments for Congressional mail from treatment as campaign contribution or expenditure— Section 3210(g) of such title is amended—
by striking “franked mail mailed under the frank” and inserting “Congressional mail”;
by striking “Congress, and the cost” and inserting “Congress which is mailed under this section, and the cost”; and
by striking “such frankable matter for such mailing under the frank” and inserting “such Congressional mail for such mailing”.
Conforming amendment to heading— The heading of section 3210 of such title is amended to read as follows:
“3210. Mail transmitted by Members of Congress and congressional officials”
Payment for Congressional Mail—
Payments to Postal Service from amounts appropriated for Congressional mail costs— Section 3216(a) of such title is amended—
in paragraph (1)(A), by striking “under the franking privilege” and inserting “as Congressional mail”;
in paragraph (2), by striking “franked mail” and inserting “Congressional mail”; and
by striking the last sentence.
Exclusive source of payments— Section 3216(c) of such title is amended by striking “under the frank” and inserting “as Congressional mail which is subject to this section”.
Deposit of funds improperly collected— Section 3216(d) of such title is amended by striking “under the franking privilege” and inserting “as Congressional mail which is subject to this section”.
Quarterly reports on pieces and costs of Congressional mail— Section 3216(e)(1) of such title is amended by striking “franked mail, as defined in section 3201 of this title,” and inserting “Congressional mail which is subject to this section”.
Conforming amendment to heading— The heading of section 3216 of such title is amended to read as follows:
“3216. Payment for Congressional mail”
Repeal of Mailing Privileges of Survivors of Members of Congress—
Repeal— Section 3218 of such title is repealed.
Conforming amendment relating to payment— Section 3216(a)(1) of such title is amended—
by striking “through the mails—” and all that follows through “under the” and inserting “through the mails under the”; and
by striking subparagraph (B).
Conforming amendment relating to role of House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards— Section 5(d) of Public Law 93–191 (2 U.S.C. 501(d)) is amended—
by striking “3218,”; and
by striking “(or any individual designated by the Clerk of the House under section 3218 of title 39)”.
Conforming amendment relating to role of Select Committee on Standards and Conduct of the Senate— Section 6 of Public Law 93–191 (2 U.S.C. 502(a)) is amended—
by striking “3218,”; and
by striking “, surviving spouse of any of the foregoing,”.
Miscellaneous Conforming Amendments—
Shipment by most economical means— Section 3208 of such title is amended by striking “other than franked mail”.
Mailing of public documents after expiration of terms— Section 3211 of such title is amended by striking “franked mail” and inserting “Congressional mail”.
Congressional Record as Congressional mail— Section 3212 of such title is amended—
by striking “franked mail” each place it appears and inserting “Congressional mail”; and
by amending the heading to read as follows:
“3212. Congressional Record as Congressional mail”
Mailing of seeds and reports from the Department of Agriculture after expiration of terms— Section 3213(2) of such title is amended by striking “franked mail” and inserting “Congressional mail”.
Mailing privilege of former President and surviving spouse— Section 3214 of such title is amended by striking “franked mail” and inserting “Congressional mail”.
Lending or permitting use of frank— Section 3215 of such title is amended—
in the heading, by striking “Lending or permitting use of frank” and inserting “Permitting others to send Congressional mail”; and
by amending the first sentence to read as follows: “A person entitled to send Congressional mail under this chapter may not permit the sending of such mail by any committee, organization, or association, or permit the sending of such mail by any person for the benefit or use of any committee, organization, or association.”.
Treatment of certain mailgrams as Congressional mail— Section 3219 of such title is amended by striking “franked mail” both places it appears and inserting “Congressional mail”.
Use of Congressional mail in the location and recovery of missing children— Section 3220 of such title is amended—
in the heading, by striking “official” and inserting “Congressional”; and
in subsection (b), by striking “franked mail” and inserting “Congressional mail”.
Clerical Amendments—
The chapter heading and table of sections at the beginning of chapter 32 of such title are amended to read as follows:
“32 PENALTY AND CONGRESSIONAL MAIL”
The item in the table of chapters at the beginning of part IV of such title is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 3 Conforming Amendments Relating to Operation of Congress
Standards for Mass Mailings by Senators—
Requiring mass mailings to meet standards for Congressional mail— Section 5 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1995 (39 U.S.C. 3210 note) is amended by striking “under the frank” and inserting “mailed as Congressional mail under chapter 32 of title 39, United States Code”.
in subsection (a), by striking “the franking privilege” and inserting “Congressional mail”; and
in subsection (c), by striking “under the frank” and inserting “as Congressional mail under chapter 32 of title 39, United States Code”.
Congressional Regulations Regarding Use of Funds for Congressional Mail— Section 311 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1991 (2 U.S.C. 503) is amended—
in subsection (a), by striking “entitled to use the congressional frank” each place it appears and inserting “entitled to send Congressional mail”;
in subsection (a)(3), by striking “the frank” and inserting “Congressional mail under chapter 32 of title 39, United States Code”;
in subsection (b)(1), by striking “entitled to use the congressional frank” and inserting “entitled to send Congressional mail”;
in subsection (b)(3), by striking “official mail” and inserting “Congressional mail under chapter 32 of title 39, United States Code,”;
in subsection (c), by striking “official mail” and inserting “Congressional mail under chapter 32 of title 39, United States Code,”;
in subsection (d), by striking “franked mail” and inserting “Congressional mail under chapter 32 of title 39, United States Code,”;
in subsection (e)—
by striking “official mail” each place it appears and inserting “Congressional mail under chapter 32 of title 39, United States Code,”; and
by striking “entitled to use the congressional frank” each place it appears and inserting “entitled to send Congressional mail”; and
by amending subsection (g)(2) to read as follows:
“(2) the term “person entitled to send Congressional mail” means a Senator, Member of the House of Representatives, or other person authorized to send Congressional mail under section 3210(b) of title 39, United States Code.”
Guidance on Appropriate Use of Congressional Mail—
House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards— Section 5 of Public Law 93–191 (2 U.S.C. 501) is amended—
in subsection (d)—
by striking “franked mail” each place it appears and inserting “Congressional mail”; and
by striking “the franking privilege” and inserting “the privilege to send Congressional mail”; and
in subsection (e)—
in the first sentence, by striking “franked mail” and inserting “Congressional mail”; and
in the tenth sentence, by striking “franking laws” and all that follows through “franked mail” and inserting “or abuse of the Congressional mailing laws by any person listed under subsection (d) of this section as entitled to send mail as Congressional mail”.
Select Committee on Standards and Conduct of the Senate— Section 6 of Public Law 93–191 (2 U.S.C. 502) is amended—
in subsection (a)—
by striking “franked mail” both places it appears and inserting “Congressional mail”; and
by striking “the franking privilege” and inserting “Congressional mail”; and
in subsection (c), by striking “franking laws” and all that follows through “franked mail” and inserting “or abuse of the Congressional mailing laws by any person listed under subsection (a) of this section as entitled to send mail as Congressional mail”.
Miscellaneous Conforming Amendments Relating to House of Representatives—
Mail privileges of former Speakers— Section 4 of House Resolution 1238, Ninety-first Congress, as enacted into permanent law by chapter VIII of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1971 (2 U.S.C. 5127), is amended by striking “franked mail” each place it appears and inserting “Congressional mail”.
Transportation of official records and papers to House Member’s district— Section 2(2) of House Resolution 1297, Ninety-fifth Congress, as enacted into permanent law by section 111(1) of the Congressional Operations Appropriations Act, 1984 (2 U.S.C. 5346(b)(2)), is amended by striking “franked mail” and inserting “Congressional mail under chapter 32 of title 39, United States Code”.
Mail privileges of House Legislative Counsel— Section 525 of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 (2 U.S.C. 282d) is amended by striking “franked mail” and inserting “Congressional mail”.
Miscellaneous Conforming Amendments Relating to Senate—
Senators’ Official Personnel and Office Expense Account— Subsection (a)(6) of the first section of Public Law 100–137 (2 U.S.C. 6313(6)) is amended by striking “the payment of franked mail expenses of Senators” and inserting “the payment of expenses of Senators for Congressional mail under chapter 32 of title 39, United States Code”.
Contingent Fund of the Senate— Section 506(a)(3) of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1973 (2 U.S.C. 6314(a)(3)) is amended by striking “(B) postage on” and all that follows through “and (C)”.
Transportation of official records and papers to a Senator’s State— Section 7(d) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2005 (2 U.S.C. 6319(d)) is amended by striking “franked mail” and inserting “Congressional mail under chapter 32 of title 39, United States Code”.
Mass mailing information by Senators— Section 320 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1991 (2 U.S.C. 505) is amended by striking “under the frank” and inserting “as Congressional mail”.
Inquiries and investigations by Senate Committees— Section 6(b) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1998 (2 U.S.C. 4334) is amended by striking “franked mail expenses” and inserting “expenses for Congressional mail under chapter 32 of title 39, United States Code”.
Sec. 4 Conforming Amendments Relating to Responsibilities of Government Printing Office
Time for distribution of documents by Members of Congress— Section 732 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by striking “to frank documents” and inserting “to send documents as Congressional mail under chapter 32 of title 39”.
Documents and reports ordered by Members of Congress— Section 733 of such title is amended—
in the heading, by striking “franks and”; and
by striking the second and third undesignated paragraphs.
Mailing Congressional Record— Section 907 of such title is amended by striking “franked mail” and inserting “Congressional mail”.
Clerical amendment— The table of sections for chapter 7 of such title is amended by amending the item relating to section 733 to read as follows:
Sec. 5 Effective date; regulations
Effective Date— The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to matter mailed during the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress and each succeeding Congress.
Regulations— In consultation with the United States Postal Service, the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate shall each revise the regulations governing the treatment of official mail of the House or Senate (as the case may be) to take into account the amendments made by this Act.