H.R. 431 — Pony Up Act

This section requires the United States Postal Service (USPS) to reimburse citizens the full amount of fees or penalties assessed for late bill payments if USPS delivers the relevant bill, notice, or payment late. "Delivered late" means (1) for a bill or notice, USPS received the mail at least 12 days before the payment due date but delivered it less than 6 days before that date; or (2) for a payment, USPS received the mail at least 5 days before the due date but delivered it after the due date (with exceptions for uncontrollable causes, such as a declared presidential disaster or emergency). Citizens may apply for reimbursement via USPS website, mail, or post office; appeal denials within 30 days to the Judicial Officer (appointed under 39 U.S.C. 204, who performs quasi-judicial duties), whose decision is final; and USPS must issue implementing regulations within 60 days of enactment.

This section requires the United States Postal Service (USPS), not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, to submit to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs a report on mail delivery delays by class of mail (as defined in the section to include items under specified paragraphs of 39 U.S.C. §§3621(a) and 3631(a)). For each class, the report must detail (1) average delivery time and average delay time for mail delivered under agreements with certain senders (i.e., other than those primarily engaged in parcel or letter transport or delivery) and for all other USPS mail; (2) volumes of presorted mail under such agreements and presorting's effect on those times; and (3) volumes of presorted other mail and presorting's effect on those times. The section further requires the USPS Inspector General, not later than one year after enactment, to assess USPS policies and practices on prioritizing delivery of mail under such agreements over same-class mail not under such agreements and to report findings to the same committees.