To amend title 39, United States Code, to require public disclosure of the costs of congressional mass mailings, and for other purposes.

Requires Members of Congress and Members-elect to file semiannual statements with the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration or the House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards detailing mass mailing costs during the preceding six months. Requires such congressional committees to make such statements available to the public and to publish a summary of information contained in such statements.

Provides for the appropriation of separate sums for the House and the Senate for franked mailings.

Requires repayment of franked mailing expenses which exceed a Member's postage allowance based on such sum from the Member's office payroll account.

Increases from 60 to 90 days the period before an election during which a Member may not send franked mass mailings.

 
HR 3117 IH
101st CONGRESS
1st Session
 H. R. 3117
To amend title 39, United States Code, to require public disclosure of the
costs of congressional mass mailings, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 3, 1989
Mr. HILER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Post Office and Civil Service
A BILL
To amend title 39, United States Code, to require public disclosure of the
costs of congressional mass mailings, and for other purposes.
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
  States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DISCLOSURE OF COSTS OF CONGRESSIONAL MASS MAILINGS.
  Section 3210 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding at the
  end the following new subsection:
  `(h)(1) Each Member of Congress or Member-elect to Congress shall submit
  to the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, or the House
  Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards, as applicable, semiannual
  statements detailing the cost of each mass mailing by such Member of
  Congress or Member-elect of Congress during the preceding 6 calendar
  months. The Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, or the
  House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards, as applicable--
  `(A) shall make such statements available to the public upon request; and
  `(B) not later than 30 days after the submission of the statements, shall
  publish a summary of the information from such statements.
  `(2) The Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the House
  Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards shall prescribe regulations
  to carry out this subsection with respect to the Senate and the House of
  Representatives, respectively.'.
SEC. 2. PAYMENT FOR EXCESSIVE USE OF THE FRANK.
  Section 3216 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding at the
  end the following new subsection:
  `(e)(1) The lump sum appropriation referred to in subsection (a) shall
  provide for separate sums for the Senate and the House of Representatives.
  `(2) If the franked mail expenses of any person referred to in subsection
  (a)(1)(A) exceed the allowance for such expenses, based on the sum
  appropriated for the Senate or the House of Representatives, as described
  in paragraph (1), the excess amount shall be paid from the the office
  payroll account of such person.'.
SEC. 3. INCREASED PERIOD BEFORE AN ELECTION DURING WHICH A MEMBER OF THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY NOT SEND FRANKED MASS MAILINGS.
  Section 3210(a)(6)(A)(i) and section 3210(a)(6)(A)(ii)(II) of title 39,
  United States Code, are each amended by striking out `60 days' and inserting
  in lieu thereof `90 days'.