Postal Service Transparency and Review Act
The Postal Service Transparency and Review Act would add a formal, regulatory oversight process to major changes proposed by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Before implementing changes that affect nationwide or large-scale service, the USPS must present the proposal to the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) at least 180 days before the proposed effective date. The PRC would have up to 180 days to issue an advisory opinion on the proposal. The USPS could not implement or fund the change before the PRC issues that opinion. If the PRC finds the USPS did not seek an advisory opinion as required, it can suspend implementation, and service levels would revert to the prior level until an advisory opinion is issued. The bill also applies a Congressional disapproval mechanism (Chapter 8 of Title 5, i.e., CRA-like procedure) to these proposals, giving Congress a 60-legislative-day window after the PRC opinion to pass a joint resolution disapproving the change. The opinion date is treated as the key “submission or publication date” for these purposes, and the joint-resolution text would disapprove the proposal with no force or effect. In short, major USPS changes would face mandatory regulatory review, potential suspensive effects, and a congressional disapproval option, creating a structured, multi-stage oversight pathway before such changes can take effect.
Key Points
- 1Oversight trigger and timeline: For changes that affect nationwide or substantially nationwide USPS service (or significantly affect a district), USPS must submit the proposal to the PRC no later than 180 days before the proposed effective date.
- 2PRC advisory opinion requirement: The PRC must issue an advisory opinion within 180 days after receiving the proposal. The USPS may not take actions to implement or fund the change before the PRC issues this opinion.
- 3Suspension and reverting if oversight fails: If the PRC determines the USPS failed to seek an advisory opinion, it can suspend implementation, and mail service levels must be returned to the prior level until an advisory opinion is issued.
- 4Congressional disapproval window (CRA mechanism): Chapter 8 of Title 5 applies to these proposals, with a specific 60 legislative-day window after the PRC’s advisory opinion to consider a joint resolution disapproving the proposal. The joint resolution would state that Congress disapproves the proposal and that it shall have no force or effect.
- 5Defined timing for the disapproval process: The act defines “submission or publication date” as the date the PRC issued its advisory opinion, and the window runs for 60 legislative days thereafter.
- 6Scope of applicability: The requirements apply to “significant changes to postal services” that affect nationwide or substantially nationwide service, or significant changes within a postal district, creating a high-threshold oversight trigger.