Home > 108th Congressional Bills > H.R. 5262 (ih) To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction from gross income for uncompensated education costs incurred by veterans' survivors and dependents who are in receipt of educational assistance under chapter 35 of title 38, Un...H.R. 5262 (ih) To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction from gross income for uncompensated education costs incurred by veterans' survivors and dependents who are in receipt of educational assistance under chapter 35 of title 38, Un...
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5261
To amend title 39, United States Code, to provide for free mailing
privileges for personal correspondence and parcels sent by family
members from within the United States to members of the Armed Forces
serving on active duty in Iraq or Afghanistan.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 7, 2004
Mr. Fossella introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Government Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 39, United States Code, to provide for free mailing
privileges for personal correspondence and parcels sent by family
members from within the United States to members of the Armed Forces
serving on active duty in Iraq or Afghanistan.
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 ``Mailing Support to Troops Act of
2004''.
SEC. 2. FREE MAILING PRIVILEGES.
Chapter 34 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``Sec. 3407. Free postage for personal correspondence and parcels sent
by family members to members of the Armed Forces of the
United States serving in Iraq or Afghanistan
``(a) In General.--Any mail matter to which this section applies
may be mailed free of postage if such mail matter--
``(1) is addressed to an individual who--
``(A) is a member of the Armed Forces of the United
States on active duty (as defined in section 101 of
title 10); and
``(B)(i) is serving in Iraq or Afghanistan; or
``(ii) is hospitalized at a facility under the
jurisdiction of the Armed Forces of the United States
as a result of a disease or injury incurred as a result
of service in Iraq or Afghanistan; and
``(2) is sent--
``(A) by a family member (as defined in section
411h of title 37) of the individual referred to in
paragraph (1); and
``(B) from within an area served by a United States
post office.
``(b) Applicability.--The free mailing privilege made available by
this section--
``(1) shall apply with respect to--
``(A) letter mail or sound- or video-recorded
communications having the character of personal
correspondence; and
``(B) parcels not exceeding the maximum size
allowed by the Postal Service and the Department of
Defense for parcels sent to members of the Armed Forces
serving in Iraq or Afghanistan; and
``(2) shall not apply with respect to mail matter that
contains any advertising.
``(c) Rate of Postage.--Any mail matter mailed under this section
shall be mailed at the equivalent rate of postage which assures that
such mail matter will be sent by the most economical means practicable.
``(d) Marking.--All mail matter mailed under this section shall
bear, in the upper right-hand corner of the address area, the words
`Free Matter for Member of the Armed Forces of the United States' or
words to that effect specified by the Postal Service.
``(e) Regulations.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the
enactment of this section, the Postal Service shall, in consultation
with the Secretary of Defense, prescribe any regulations necessary to
carry out this section.
``(f) Duration.--The free mailing privilege made available by this
section shall apply with respect to mail matter sent during the 1-year
period beginning on the date on which the regulations under subsection
(e) take effect.''.
SEC. 3. FUNDING.
(a) In General.--Sections 2401(c) and 3627 of title 39, United
States Code, are amended by striking ``3406'' and inserting ``3407''.
(b) Air Transportation.--
(1) In general.--Section 2401 of title 39, United States
Code, is amended by redesignating subsections (d) through (g)
as subsections (e) through (h), respectively, and by inserting
after subsection (c) the following:
``(d) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Postal Service
each year a sum determined by the Postal Service to be equal to the
expenses incurred by the Postal Service in providing air transportation
for mail sent to members of the Armed Forces of the United States free
of postage under section 3407, not including the expense of air
transportation that is provided by the Postal Service at the same
postage rate or charge for mail which is not addressed to an Armed
Forces post office.''.
(2) Amendment to prevent duplicative funding.--Section
3401(e) of title 39, United States Code, is amended--
(A) by striking ``transportation or (2)'' and
inserting ``transportation, (2)''; and
(B) by striking ``office.'' and inserting ``office,
or (3) for which amounts are authorized to be
appropriated to the Postal Service under section
2401(d).''.
SEC. 4. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
(a) Annual Budget.--Section 2009 of title 39, United States Code,
is amended in the next to last sentence by striking ``(b) and (c)'' and
inserting ``(b), (c), and (d)''.
(b) Comprehensive Plan References.--Sections 2803(a) and 2804(a) of
title 39, United States Code, are amended by striking ``2401(g)'' and
inserting ``2401(f)''.
(c) Chapter Analysis.--The analysis for chapter 34 of title 39,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``3407. Free postage for personal correspondence and parcels sent by
family members to members of the Armed
Forces of the United States serving in Iraq
or Afghanistan.''.
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