H.R. 765 — MAILS Act

This section defines, for purposes of the Act, the following terms: (1) post office, as a facility owned or leased by the Postal Service, managed by a Postmaster, responsible for customer services, local delivery, and receipt and dispatch of all classes of mail (and possibly processing and distribution for surrounding facilities), including remotely managed, part-time, and administrative post offices; (2) Postal Service, as the United States Postal Service; and (3) temporary relocation, as a temporary relocation of retail services from a post office to support Postal Service business for a holiday, special event, or overflow business, as described in 39 C.F.R. § 241.4(a)(2)(i).

This section directs the Postal Service to establish, by regulation and not later than 90 days after the date of enactment, a formal process for a local government official to request a new post office within the locality.

This section directs the Postal Service to amend its regulations on post office relocations (39 CFR § 241.4) to impose new requirements for temporary relocations—including for commemorative events—as follows: (1) prohibiting implementation for longer than two days without collecting and considering community input under paragraph (c) of that section; (2) requiring written notice to local elected officials at least 30 days prior, an offer to discuss the proposal, public notice at least 15 days prior, and a public presentation under paragraph (c) no later than 15 days after notice to officials; and (3) requiring status updates to relevant local government officials no later than 60 days after the initial 30-day comment period under paragraph (c) and every 60 days thereafter until 60 days after the relocation ends.

This section requires the Postal Service, for any temporary post office relocation exceeding 180 days (whether originally projected or due to extension), to submit a report within 30 days after the relocation begins (or the extension causing it to exceed 180 days) to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and Members of Congress representing the affected congressional district or state. The report must address (1) compliance with applicable communication requirements within required timelines (with an explanation for any noncompliance), and (2) any extension of the relocation period (with an explanation for the extension).