Overview

Title

To amend title 39, United States Code, to enhance the administrative subpoena authority of the United States Postal Service, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

H.R. 170 lets the leader of the Post Office use special letters called subpoenas to help catch people breaking the law using the mail. Only important Post Office lawyers can say yes to these letters, but some people worry this might give them too much power.

Summary AI

H.R. 170, known as the "USPS Subpoena Authority Act," proposes amendments to title 39 of the United States Code. The bill aims to enhance the authority of the United States Postal Service (USPS) by allowing the Postmaster General to issue subpoenas during investigations of crimes that involve the use of mail. These investigations could involve violations of certain U.S. laws, including the Controlled Substances Act. The bill also specifies that only senior legal officials within the USPS, like the General Counsel, can approve these subpoenas.

Published

2025-01-03
Congress: 119
Session: 1
Chamber: HOUSE
Status: Introduced in House
Date: 2025-01-03
Package ID: BILLS-119hr170ih

Keywords AI

usps subpoena authority act united states postal service administrative subpoena postmaster general controlled substances act legal authority transparency accountability title 39 covered offenses

Sources

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
2
Words:
546
Pages:
3
Sentences:
10

Language

Nouns: 172
Verbs: 44
Adjectives: 16
Adverbs: 2
Numbers: 17
Entities: 28

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.06
Average Sentence Length:
54.60
Token Entropy:
4.69
Readability (ARI):
28.13

AnalysisAI

General Summary of the Bill

The proposed bill, H.R. 170, titled the "USPS Subpoena Authority Act," aims to amend title 39 of the United States Code to enhance the United States Postal Service's (USPS) administrative subpoena authority. Essentially, it grants the Postmaster General the ability to issue subpoenas in investigations linked to certain offenses involving mail. This bill intends to shore up the USPS's ability to investigate crimes that utilize the mail system, ranging from mail fraud to drug trafficking.

Summary of Significant Issues

There are several significant issues identified in the bill:

  1. Authority and Oversight: The bill endows the Postmaster General with substantial power to issue subpoenas, but it falls short in establishing checks and balances. This has raised legal and ethical concerns regarding the potential for this power to be misused, as there are no clear accountability mechanisms detailed in the bill.

  2. Broad Definition of 'Covered Offense': The bill broadly defines 'covered offenses', which include violations of laws where the mail system is used, potentially leading to expansive interpretations. This could inadvertently affect a larger group of individuals and organizations than intended.

  3. Delegation of Subpoena Approval: Although the bill restricts the delegation of subpoena approval to high-ranking officials within the USPS, it does not discuss accountability for these individuals, which could result in mismanagement or misuse of this authority.

  4. Lack of Clarity: There is ambiguity regarding certain stipulations, such as the conditions under which testimony is not required in specific investigations, which can cause confusion in interpreting the law.

Impact on the Public

The general public could be impacted by this bill in several ways. On one hand, by strengthening the USPS's investigative capabilities, it might lead to more effective enforcement against crimes using the postal system, potentially reducing fraudulent or illegal activities. On the other hand, the broad interpretation of 'covered offenses' and the substantial power granted without robust oversight could lead to privacy concerns and the risk of infringing on civil liberties.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

Positive impacts could include:

  • Victims of Mail Fraud or Crime: Enhanced investigative powers could mean quicker resolution of cases involving mail fraud or illegal uses of the mail.

  • Law Enforcement: The USPS and other law enforcement agencies could benefit from streamlined investigative processes.

Negative impacts may be felt by:

  • Individuals and Organizations: The broad scope of 'covered offenses' could lead to unintended legal scrutiny of individuals and legitimate businesses if the powers are not carefully managed and checked.

  • Civil Liberties Advocates: There might be concerns over potential overreach and invasion of privacy, given the power granted to issue subpoenas without clear limitations.

Overall, while the intention behind the bill to combat crime is clearly articulated, the lack of detailed oversight and the broad language used in defining offenses may necessitate revisions to mitigate possible adverse effects on privacy and civil liberties.

Issues

  • The bill grants the Postmaster General significant authority to issue subpoenas in investigations related to 'covered offenses' without providing sufficient checks and balances to ensure this power is not abused. This raises legal and ethical concerns about potential overreach. (Section 2)

  • The definition of 'covered offense' includes broad categories, such as any violation involving the use of mails under the Controlled Substances Act or any section of chapter 83 of title 18, which might lead to overly broad interpretations and unintended applications, affecting a wide range of individuals and organizations. (Section 2)

  • The delegation of subpoena approval is limited to senior figures within the Postal Service, such as the General Counsel and Chief Postal Inspector, but lacks accountability measures for these individuals, which might lead to issues of transparency and misuse of power. (Section 2)

  • The section describing the restriction on requiring testimony in connection with an investigation under section 3005(a) does not clarify the rationale or specific conditions under which this applies, potentially leading to confusion or misinterpretation in practical applications. (Section 2)

  • The short title section of the bill lacks detailed information about the content and implications of the USPS Subpoena Authority Act, including how it would be implemented or funded, which may lead to ambiguity regarding its purpose and potential financial implications. (Section 1)

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The first section of the Act states that it can be referred to as the "USPS Subpoena Authority Act."

2. United States Postal Service administrative subpoena authority Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The bill section modifies the United States Postal Service's authority to issue subpoenas during investigations of certain offenses, including illegal use of the mail system. It specifies that the Postmaster General can require relevant records and testimony, and limits who can approve these subpoenas to top legal officials within the Postal Service.