[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2974 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2974
To require the Postmaster General to establish a comprehensive
organizational strategy to combat the use of the mail in the
distribution of illicit drugs.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 4, 2019
Mr. Peters (for himself and Mr. Romney) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Postmaster General to establish a comprehensive
organizational strategy to combat the use of the mail in the
distribution of illicit drugs.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``U.S. Postal Service Opioid and
Illicit Drug Strategy Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY TO COMBAT ILLICIT DRUG DISTRIBUTION.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the
House of Representatives; and
(C) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House
of Representatives.
(2) Covered recipients.--The term ``covered recipients''
means--
(A) the appropriate congressional committees; and
(B) the Director of the Office of National Drug
Control Policy.
(3) Postal service.--The term ``Postal Service'' means the
United States Postal Service.
(4) Strategy.--The term ``Strategy'' means the strategy
established by the Postmaster General under subsection (b)(1).
(b) Strategy Required.--
(1) Establishment, publication, and submission.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the
enactment of this Act, the Postmaster General shall
establish, publish online, and submit to the covered
recipients a comprehensive organizational strategy to
combat the use of the mail in the distribution of
illicit drugs.
(B) Sensitive and proprietary information.--If the
Strategy includes sensitive or proprietary information,
the Postmaster General--
(i) may exclude that information from the
version of the Strategy published online; and
(ii) shall submit that information to the
covered recipients, in a classified annex if
necessary.
(2) Requirements.--The Strategy shall--
(A) support the Postal Service in coordinating,
evaluating, and improving its ongoing efforts to
prevent use of the mail in the distribution of illicit
drugs through domestic and international channels; and
(B) prioritize an effective response to the opioid
crisis and any other public health concern involving
illicit drugs that emerges after the date of enactment
of this Act.
(3) Periodic updates.--Not later than 180 days before the
date on which the President is required to submit to Congress a
National Drug Control Strategy under section 706(a)(2) of the
Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of
1998 (21 U.S.C. 1705(a)(2)), the Postmaster General shall
update the Strategy, publish the updated Strategy online, and
submit the updated Strategy to the covered recipients.
(c) Congressional Briefings.--Upon the submission of the Strategy
to the covered recipients under subsection (b)(1), and annually
thereafter, the Postal Service shall provide a briefing to the
appropriate congressional committees on the status of initiatives
implemented under the Strategy.
(d) Elements.--The Strategy shall include the following elements:
(1) A description of the goals and objectives of the Postal
Service for combating the use of the mail in the distribution
of illicit drugs, including fentanyl and other synthetic
opioids.
(2) A description of the organizational structure the
Postal Service uses to efficiently carry out the objectives
described in paragraph (1).
(3) A discussion of emerging trends regarding the use of
the mail in the distribution of illicit drugs, including--
(A) trends regarding the relative magnitudes and
threats of illicit drugs distributed through the mail
versus illicit drugs distributed through other
channels, which the Postal Service shall assess in
consultation with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection and the Director of the Office of
National Drug Control Policy;
(B) the relative roles of domestic and
international mail; and
(C) any new drug threats the Postal Service has
observed.
(4) An inventory and assessment of the existing programs,
initiatives, strategies, plans, and policies of the Postal
Service related to combating the use of the mail in the
distribution of illicit drugs, which shall include--
(A) with respect to each program, initiative,
strategy, plan, or policy--
(i) an evaluation of performance;
(ii) areas identified for improvement;
(iii) potential barriers to improvement;
and
(iv) recommended changes to more
effectively accomplish the goals and
objectives;
(B) an analysis of any constraints on resources,
including workforce and technology resources, that
hinder the ability of the Postal Service to efficiently
and adequately carry out the objectives described in
paragraph (1) and address emerging trends; and
(C) a description of future initiatives that the
Postal Service is considering in response to emerging
trends.
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