[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2825 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2825
To amend title 39, United States Code, to require the United States
Postal Service to continue maintaining cluster mailboxes that the
Postal Service has historically maintained, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 10, 2025
Mr. Castro of Texas (for himself and Mr. Johnson of Georgia) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight
and Government Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 39, United States Code, to require the United States
Postal Service to continue maintaining cluster mailboxes that the
Postal Service has historically maintained, 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. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Postal Service Clusterbox
Responsibility Act''.
SEC. 2. HISTORICALLY MAINTAINED CLUSTER BOX UNITS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 29 of title 39, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 2904. Historically maintained cluster box units
``(a) In General.--The Postal Service shall, in accordance with
this section, maintain covered cluster box units, including--
``(1) repairing and replacing covered cluster box units;
and
``(2) adding mailboxes to covered cluster box units in
accordance with subsection (c)(1).
``(b) Maintenance Determination.--
``(1) In general.--The Postal Service shall determine
whether a cluster box unit is a covered cluster box unit.
``(2) Application.--A covered person for a cluster box unit
seeking a determination that such cluster box unit is a covered
cluster box unit shall submit to Postal Service an application
at such time and in such manner as the Postal Service
determines, and containing--
``(A) documentation evidencing that the Postal
Service has primarily maintained such cluster box unit
for a period of not less than 20 years;
``(B) written permission for the Postal Service to
maintain such cluster box unit; and
``(C) such other information as the Postal Service
determines appropriate.
``(3) Postal service documentation.--In making the
determination under paragraph (1), the Postal Service shall--
``(A) undertake a reasonable investigation to
identify any documents and other information of the
Postal Service or reasonably available to the Postal
Service that are relevant to such determination; and
``(B) consider such documents and other
information.
``(4) Deadline.--The Postal Service shall make the
determination under paragraph (1) with respect to a cluster box
unit and notify the covered person who submitted the
application under paragraph (2) with respect to such cluster
box unit not later than one month after the date on which such
covered person submitted such application.
``(c) Additional Mail Receptacles.--
``(1) Postal service additions.--
``(A) In general.--The Postal Service shall add a
mailbox to a covered cluster box unit if a covered
person for such covered cluster box unit submits to the
Postal Service a notice under subparagraph (B) and the
Postal Service determines that such an additional
mailbox is necessary.
``(B) Notice.--A covered person for a covered
cluster box unit seeking the addition of a mailbox to
such covered cluster box unit shall submit to the
Postal Service a notice at such time, in such manner,
and containing such information as the Postal Service
determines appropriate, including evidence of the need
for such additional mailbox.
``(2) Additions by others.--If a covered person for a
covered cluster box unit adds a mailbox to such covered cluster
box unit in accordance with all other laws and regulations, the
Postal Service shall maintain such covered cluster box unit,
including any such additional mailboxes, in accordance with
this section.
``(d) Maintenance by Others.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to prohibit or otherwise limit a covered person for a covered
cluster box unit from maintaining such covered cluster box unit.
``(e) Limits.--The Postal Service shall not perform any maintenance
under this section that--
``(1) is not necessary for the function of a covered
cluster box unit, except that the Postal Service shall make
repairs to the extent that such repairs are incident to
maintenance that is necessary for the function of the covered
cluster box unit;
``(2) is required as a result of a covered person for a
covered cluster box unit or any individual residing at an
address served by such covered cluster box unit--
``(A) intentionally or willfully damaging such
covered cluster box unit, as determined by the Postal
Service; or
``(B) making any change to such covered cluster box
unit that is not necessary for the function of such
covered cluster box unit; or
``(3) pertains to the structure of a building.
``(f) Reimbursement.--If the Postal Service incurs or will incur
costs to perform maintenance under this section on or for a covered
cluster box unit that is required by circumstances creating a legal
liability on an individual or entity (other than the United States) to
pay damages with respect to such maintenance, the Postal Service may
request the beneficiary to--
``(1) if the beneficiary enforces such liability, assign to
the Postal Service any right of the beneficiary to share in
money or property received in satisfaction of such liability to
the extent of such costs; or
``(2) if the beneficiary does not enforce such liability--
``(A) assign to the Postal Service any right of
action such beneficiary may have to enforce such
liability; or
``(B) enforce such liability and comply with
paragraph (1).
``(g) Termination.--
``(1) In general.--A covered cluster box unit shall cease
to be a covered cluster box unit if--
``(A) a covered person for a covered cluster box
unit withdraws permission for the Postal Service to
maintain such covered cluster box unit;
``(B) a beneficiary that is a covered person
refuses a request from the Postal Service described in
subsection (f) with respect to maintenance for such
covered cluster box unit; or
``(C) the Postal Service permanently ceases
delivery and collection of mail to all addresses served
by a mailbox in such covered cluster box unit or any
associated receptacle for parcels.
``(2) Withdrawal of permission.--The owner of a covered
cluster box unit may withdraw permission for the Postal Service
to maintain such covered cluster box unit only by submitting to
the Postal Service a written notice.
``(h) Cluster Box Unit Maintenance Fund.--
``(1) In general.--There is established in the Treasury of
the United States a revolving fund to be called the Cluster Box
Unit Maintenance Fund, which shall be available to the Postal
Service without fiscal-year limitation to carry out this
section.
``(2) Deposits.--Notwithstanding section 2003(b), there
shall be deposited in the Fund, subject to withdrawal by check
by the Postal Service, amounts appropriated for the use of the
Postal Service to carry out this section.
``(i) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Cluster box unit.--The term `cluster box unit' means
a centralized unit of individually locked compartments for the
delivery and collection of mail.
``(2) Covered cluster box unit.--The term `covered cluster
box unit' means a cluster box unit that--
``(A) is owned by an individual or entity, other
than a public entity; and
``(B) the Postal Service has primarily maintained
for a period of not less than 20 years.
``(3) Covered person.--The term `covered person' means,
with respect to a cluster box unit, an individual or entity
that may give to and withdraw from the Postal Service
permission to maintain such cluster box unit.
``(4) Primarily maintained.--The term `primarily
maintained', with respect to a cluster box unit, means paid for
or performed the majority of the maintenance necessary for the
function of the cluster box unit, including repairs and
replacing the cluster box unit when necessary.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 29 of
title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new item:
``2904. Historically maintained cluster box units.''.
(c) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the United States Postal Service shall issue
regulations carrying out the amendments made by this Act.
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