H.R. 2098 — Deliver for Democracy Act

This section directs the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), not later than one year after enactment, to amend its regulations at 39 C.F.R. § 3030.222 to condition any additional rate authority for periodicals on the United States Postal Service (USPS) achieving, in the prior fiscal year (as measured by service standards in effect on enactment)—(1) 95% on-time delivery performance for periodicals; or (2) at least a 2 percentage point increase in such performance compared to the highest on-time delivery percentage in any fiscal year before, on, or after enactment. (Thus, absent these performance thresholds, USPS receives no additional rate authority for periodicals in the subsequent fiscal year.)

This section requires the Postmaster General to submit to the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) and publicly release an annual report—soliciting stakeholder input—on United States Postal Service (USPS) progress in incorporating on-time performance data for in-county and out-of-county newspaper mail, entered and accepted at each delivery unit, into periodical service performance measurements. If piece-level data is unavailable, the PRC and Postmaster General must develop a bundle-based digital reporting system; if identifying newspaper mail is impracticable, they may jointly approve proxy data from the closest relevant mail category (with a public report detailing costs, accuracy challenges, and rationale); and the requirement terminates upon PRC determination that the data (or proxy) is incorporated into existing measurements.

This section directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study on alternative pricing schemes and other options for the United States Postal Service (USPS) to improve the financial position of periodicals and other products that do not cover their costs, including an evaluation of potential impacts. GAO must submit a report on the study to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability not later than two years after enactment.