1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “U.S. Postal Service Opioid and Illicit Drug Strategy Act of 2019”.
U.S. Postal Service Opioid and Illicit Drug Strategy Act of 2019
A BILL
To require the Postmaster General to establish a comprehensive organizational strategy to combat the use of the mail in the distribution of illicit drugs.
2. Comprehensive strategy to combat illicit drug distribution
Definitions— In this section:
Appropriate congressional committees— The term appropriate congressional committees means—
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives; and
the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives.
Covered recipients— The term covered recipients means—
the appropriate congressional committees; and
the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Postal Service— The term Postal Service means the United States Postal Service.
Strategy— The term Strategy means the strategy established by the Postmaster General under subsection (b)(1).
Strategy required—
Establishment, publication, and submission—
In general— Not later than 90 days after the enactment of this Act, the Postmaster General shall establish, publish online, and submit to the covered recipients a comprehensive organizational strategy to combat the use of the mail in the distribution of illicit drugs.
Sensitive and proprietary information— If the Strategy includes sensitive or proprietary information, the Postmaster General—
may exclude that information from the version of the Strategy published online; and
shall submit that information to the covered recipients, in a classified annex if necessary.
Requirements— The Strategy shall—
support the Postal Service in coordinating, evaluating, and improving its ongoing efforts to prevent use of the mail in the distribution of illicit drugs through domestic and international channels; and
prioritize an effective response to the opioid crisis and any other public health concern involving illicit drugs that emerges after the date of enactment of this Act.
Periodic updates— Not later than 180 days before the date on which the President is required to submit to Congress a National Drug Control Strategy under section 706(a)(2) of the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 1998 (21 U.S.C. 1705(a)(2)), the Postmaster General shall update the Strategy, publish the updated Strategy online, and submit the updated Strategy to the covered recipients.
Congressional briefings— Upon the submission of the Strategy to the covered recipients under subsection (b)(1), and annually thereafter, the Postal Service shall provide a briefing to the appropriate congressional committees on the status of initiatives implemented under the Strategy.
Elements— The Strategy shall include the following elements:
A description of the goals and objectives of the Postal Service for combating the use of the mail in the distribution of illicit drugs, including fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.
A description of the organizational structure the Postal Service uses to efficiently carry out the objectives described in paragraph (1).
A discussion of emerging trends regarding the use of the mail in the distribution of illicit drugs, including—
trends regarding the relative magnitudes and threats of illicit drugs distributed through the mail versus illicit drugs distributed through other channels, which the Postal Service shall assess in consultation with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy;
the relative roles of domestic and international mail; and
any new drug threats the Postal Service has observed.
An inventory and assessment of the existing programs, initiatives, strategies, plans, and policies of the Postal Service related to combating the use of the mail in the distribution of illicit drugs, which shall include—
with respect to each program, initiative, strategy, plan, or policy—
an evaluation of performance;
areas identified for improvement;
potential barriers to improvement; and
recommended changes to more effectively accomplish the goals and objectives;
an analysis of any constraints on resources, including workforce and technology resources, that hinder the ability of the Postal Service to efficiently and adequately carry out the objectives described in paragraph (1) and address emerging trends; and
a description of future initiatives that the Postal Service is considering in response to emerging trends.