Summary#
This Act (the MAIL Act) lets certain unhoused or housing-unstable people get a post office box for no fee. The bill defines who is eligible, requires the United States Postal Service (USPS) to issue rules within one year, and allows USPS to get more boxes if needed. The bill also changes federal law to authorize Congress to appropriate money to make up for lost box rental revenue and to pay costs for buying, installing, and maintaining additional boxes. The Postmaster General must send an implementation plan to several congressional committees within 180 days and must report on progress every 5 years.
What it means for you#
- If you are unhoused or at risk of homelessness and meet one of the eligibility tests (for example, income at or below the poverty line, or enrollment in certain federal programs such as Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, or specified housing programs), you can request a free post office box.
- To get a free box, you must show proof of eligibility to the local or regional Postmaster in the way the USPS requires.
- Free boxes are provided when boxes are available; USPS may add boxes or change retail space to make room.
- USPS must publish rules about how to apply within one year and must prepare an implementation plan within 180 days.
Expenses#
- The bill adds a new subsection to 39 U.S.C. 2401 that authorizes appropriations each year for two things: (1) an amount equal to the difference between the revenues USPS would have received without this Act and the estimated revenues from post office box fees under the Act; and (2) a sum equal to additional funds spent to acquire, install, maintain, and provide post office boxes under the Act.
- For each fiscal year starting in 2027, the Postmaster General must determine and request from Congress the amount needed to cover (A) the lost rental revenues for boxes provided under the Act and (B) costs of acquiring, installing, maintaining, and provisioning boxes. The listed costs include reconfiguring or obtaining retail space, purchasing equipment, and any extra staffing or labor costs.
Proponents' View#
No publicly available information.
Opponents' View#
No publicly available information.