Mobile Post Office Relief Act | ChamberLight

IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS

House BillHR 287Retail and wholesale tradesPostal service

Mobile Post Office Relief Act

INTRO JAN 9· LAST ACTION JAN 9

READING

4MIN

COSPONSORS

READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL

NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST

Introduced only

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 2 / 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed House

Passed Senate

Conference

To President

Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

This bill addresses a common problem many communities face when their local post office unexpectedly closes for an extended period, often due to repairs, staffing issues, or disaster damage. Without a local branch, residents, especially the elderly, those without reliable transportation, or small businesses, can struggle to send and receive mail, pick up packages, or conduct other essential postal business.

If this bill becomes law, it would provide a guaranteed stopgap solution, ensuring continuity of vital services and preventing communities from being cut off. If it doesn't pass, communities might continue to experience prolonged disruptions in postal service, potentially leading to inconvenience, economic hardship for local businesses, and reduced access to critical communications. It matters because it seeks to uphold reliable mail service as a fundamental public good, even in challenging circumstances.

KEY PROVISIONS

4AI-extracted

PROVISION 01

Requires the Postal Service to station a mobile unit in areas where a local post office has been closed for at least 60 days and is at least half a mile from another operating post office.

This ensures communities retain access to basic postal services during extended branch closures.

PROVISION 02

Mandates that the mobile units provide essential retail postal services, including mail pickup for P.O. box holders, sale of packaging materials, and processing change of address forms.

It specifies the critical services that must be maintained, ensuring functional continuity for residents.

PROVISION 03

Sets a deadline of three business days for the Postal Service to deploy a mobile unit once a facility meets the criteria for being a "covered postal retail facility."

This creates a swift response mechanism to minimize service disruption in affected communities.

PROVISION 04

Provides special initial deployment rules for post offices that are already closed when the bill becomes law, giving the Postal Service 30 days to deploy mobile units for those specific cases.

This addresses existing long-term closures immediately upon the bill's enactment.

SPONSORSHIP

1 + 0

ACTION TIMELINE

2 EVENTS

JAN 9

Introduced in House

INTROREFERRAL

JAN 9

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

HOUSE · INTROREFERRAL

BILL INFO

TypeHouse Bill

NumberHR 287

Congress119th

StatusIn Committee

IntroducedJan 9, 2025

Last actionJan 9, 2025

READER REACTIONS

OVERALL SENTIMENT

No reactions yet. Be the first to weigh in.

Discussion

Loading comments...

Call my reps

IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED JAN 9, 2025

House BillHR 287Retail and wholesale tradesPostal service

Mobile Post Office Relief Act

INTRODUCED JAN 9, 2025· LAST ACTION JAN 9, 2025

PASSAGE CHANCES

—%

READING

4 min

COSPONSORS

COMPLEXITY

Moderate

Call my reps

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 2 OF 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed House

Passed Senate

Conference

To President

Became Law

Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

KEY PROVISIONS

AI-extracted

high

Requires the Postal Service to station a mobile unit in areas where a local post office has been closed for at least 60 days and is at least half a mile from another operating post office.

This ensures communities retain access to basic postal services during extended branch closures.

high

Mandates that the mobile units provide essential retail postal services, including mail pickup for P.O. box holders, sale of packaging materials, and processing change of address forms.

It specifies the critical services that must be maintained, ensuring functional continuity for residents.

med

Sets a deadline of three business days for the Postal Service to deploy a mobile unit once a facility meets the criteria for being a "covered postal retail facility."

This creates a swift response mechanism to minimize service disruption in affected communities.

med

Provides special initial deployment rules for post offices that are already closed when the bill becomes law, giving the Postal Service 30 days to deploy mobile units for those specific cases.

This addresses existing long-term closures immediately upon the bill's enactment.

DEADLINES & DATES

AI-extracted

An AI model extracted this from the bill’s official record and can make mistakes. Check the official text ↗ (opens in new tab)

Not later than three business days after the date on which a postal retail facility becomes a covered postal retail facility.

Postal Service must station a mobile unit after a postal retail facility becomes a covered postal retail facility.

Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Postal Service must station a mobile unit for facilities already covered on the date of enactment.

GLOSSARY

AI-written

Postal retail facility: A regular, non-moving building, either run by the U.S. Postal Service or by a company under contract with the Postal Service, where people can go to send mail or access other postal services.
Covered postal retail facility: A postal retail facility that is currently closed and not providing services, has been closed for at least 60 days, and is not within half a mile of another open postal facility. If run by a contractor, the contractor must have stopped services prematurely.
Mobile retail unit: A vehicle or other movable facility used by the Postal Service to offer mail services on the go, similar to a small, portable post office.
Retail postal services: Common services offered by a post office, such as selling stamps, envelopes, and boxes, allowing people to pick up mail from P.O. boxes, and providing forms for changing addresses.
Chapter 4 of title 39, United States Code: A specific section of federal law that deals with the general authority and responsibilities of the U.S. Postal Service.

ACTION TIMELINE

2 EVENTS

JAN 9, 25

Introduced in House

INTROREFERRAL

JAN 9, 25

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

INTROREFERRAL

READER REACTIONS

0 COMMENTS

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What do you think?

0 votes

Discussion

Loading comments...

MORE INFORMATION

Committee Referrals

Oversight and Government Reform CommitteeReferred

Jan 9, 2025

house

Search

Mobile Post Office Relief Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

SPONSORSHIP

ACTION TIMELINE

BILL INFO

READER REACTIONS

Discussion

Mobile Post Office Relief Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

DEADLINES & DATES

GLOSSARY

ACTION TIMELINE

SPONSORS

READER REACTIONS

What do you think?

Discussion

MORE INFORMATION

Committee Referrals