119th Congress (2025-2026)

HR 4633

USPS Act

Introduced

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Official source

Chamber

House

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Bill overview

This bill, the USPS Act, aims to improve transparency and procedures when post offices temporarily close due to emergencies. It requires the Postal Service to notify affected officials and the public about closures, including the reasons and interim delivery plans. For longer suspensions, it mandates a public review period and, if the suspension exceeds 60 days, a review by the Postal Regulatory Commission and potentially a relocation process.

Key provisions

Requires the Postal Service to notify the public and relevant officials of post office closures due to emergencies.
Establishes a 30-day public review period for suspensions lasting 30 days.
Mandates a review by the Postal Regulatory Commission for suspensions lasting 60 days.
Requires the Postal Service to consider relocation options for prolonged suspensions.
Requires the Postal Service to solicit input from local governments during relocation efforts.
Requires the Postal Service to submit an annual report to Congress detailing emergency suspensions.
Defines ‘emergency’ as a range of circumstances including natural disasters, staffing issues, and damage.
Requires the Postmaster to establish an action plan for emergency suspensions.

Who is affected

United States Postal Service (USPS)
Postal Workers
Residents served by affected post offices
Members of Congress
State Senators

Notable changes

Positions across the country

No public positions recorded for this legislation.

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Legislative history

2025-07-23House

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

2025-07-23

Introduced in House

2025-07-23

Introduced in House

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Jul 23, 2025XMLView source

119th CONGRESS — 1st Session

H. R. 4633

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

A BILL

To amend title 39, United States Code, to establish procedures for post offices that suspend operations due to an emergency, and for other purposes.

1.Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Upending Secret Postal Shutdowns Act

or the

USPS Act

2.Post office emergency closure procedures

Section 404 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(f)

(1)If any post office temporarily suspends operations due to an emergency—

(A)on the first day of such suspension, the Postal Service shall place a sign or other physical notice of the suspension at the post office and publish a notice of the suspension on the Postal Service public website; and

(B)not later than 5 days after the first date of such suspension, the Postal Service shall notify relevant public officials.

(2)

For purposes of paragraph (1)(B)—

(A)

the notice required under such paragraph shall include the reasons for the suspension, the interim solution for mail delivery, and expected end date of the suspension; and

(B)the term relevant public officials means, with respect to a post office—

(i)each Member of the House of Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to Congress) representing a congressional district which includes all or part of the geographic area served by such post office;

(ii)each Senator representing a State which includes all or part of the geographic area served by such post office; and

(iii)the head of each unit of local government with jurisdiction over all or part of the geographic area served by such post office.

(3)

(A)If a suspension of operations due to an emergency lasts for 30 days, the Postal Service shall open a 30-day public review period under which individuals served by the post office and or relevant public officials may provide comments to the Postal Service.

(B)

If a suspension of operations due to an emergency lasts for 60 days—

(i)

the Postal Regulatory Commission shall conduct a review of the suspension; and

(ii)

the Postal Service shall begin the process to relocate the operations of the suspended post office, consistent with the procedures for post office relocation under this title.

(C)

In carrying out any relocation under subparagraph (A)(ii), the Postal Service shall—

(i)solicit input from the head of each unit local government with jurisdiction over all or part of the geographic area served by such post office; and

(ii)

open a 30-day public comment review period for a new proposed location.

(4)In consultation with the Postmaster General, the postmaster for each post office shall promulgate and establish an action plan in the case of an emergency suspension of post office operations.

(5)Not later than January 1 of each calendar year beginning with calendar year 2026 the Postal Service shall submit a report to Congress on emergency suspensions of operations of post offices during the most recently ended calendar year. Such report shall include, for each instance of an emergency suspension of operations of a post office, the location of the post office, the duration of the emergency suspension, and the reason for the emergency suspension.

(6)In this subsection, the term emergency means a natural disaster, termination of a lease or rental agreement, lack of qualified personnel to operate the office, irreparable damage when no suitable alternate quarters are available in the community, severe damage to, or destruction of a post office, health and safety concerns, mold, challenges to the sanctity of the mail, or the lack of adequate measures to safeguard the post office or its revenue.

HR 4633

Bill overview

Key provisions

Who is affected

Notable changes

Sponsors

Primary sponsor

Cosponsors

Positions across the country

Arguments in favor

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Bill text

Fiscal impact

Positions across the country