Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Mail Accessibility and Inclusion for Low-Income Families Act” or the “MAIL Act”.
Mail Accessibility and Inclusion for Low-Income Families Act
A BILL
To provide free post office boxes to individuals who are unhoused or experiencing housing instability, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Post office boxes for individuals who are unhoused or experiencing housing instability
In general— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the United States Postal Service shall issue regulations providing that an unhoused or housing unstable individual is eligible for a post office box without any fees if such unhoused or housing unstable individual submits to the Postmaster General, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Postmaster General determines appropriate, proof that the annual income of such unhoused or housing unstable individual does not exceed the poverty line, as established by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and revised by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in accordance with section 9902(2) of title 42, United States Code, or that such unhoused or housing unstable individual is one of the following:
An individual receiving assistance under a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).
Receiving housing assistance or benefits under any Federal program for assistance for rental housing, including—
the programs for rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f), including the housing choice voucher program and the program for project-based voucher assistance;
the public housing program under such Act;
the program for supportive housing for elderly persons under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q);
the program for supportive housing for persons with disabilities under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013); and
the programs for rural housing under title V of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.).
Enrolled in the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).
A member of a household receiving assistance under the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.).
Enrolled in the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children established under section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786).
Unhoused or housing unstable individual defined— In this section, the term unhoused or housing unstable individual means an individual who is—
homeless (as defined in section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302)); or
at risk of homelessness (as defined in section 401 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 11360)).
Reimbursement of forgone revenue— Section 2401(c) of title 39, United States Code, is amended by inserting “and section 2 of the MAIL Act” after “3406”.
Sec. 3 Implementation plan and reports
Implementation plan— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Postmaster General shall submit to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate a plan for carrying out this Act.
Progress reports— Not later five years after the date on which Postmaster General submits the plan required under subsection (a), and every five years thereafter, the Postmaster General shall submit to the committees described in such subsection a report on the provision of post office boxes to unhoused or housing unstable individuals (as defined in section 2) pursuant to this Act.