Pony Up Act

Summary

Requires the U.S. Postal Service to reimburse customers for late‑payment fees or penalties when mailed bills, notices, or payments were received or delivered late because of USPS delivery delays (with limited exceptions). It creates an application and appeals process, requires USPS to issue implementing rules quickly, and mandates annual congressional reporting plus an Office of Inspector General review of whether USPS gives priority to certain agreement‑based mail.

• USPS must reimburse customers for late‑payment fees when mailed bills/notices or mailed payments are late due to USPS delivery delays (subject to limited exceptions).
• Customers must apply for reimbursement using forms and timelines set by USPS; USPS must publish implementing rules within 60 days of enactment.
• Applicants can appeal USPS denials to the Postal Service Judicial Officer within 30 days; that decision is final.
• The law sets specific timing rules that trigger reimbursement: received >=12 days but delivered <6 days before due date for bills/notices; received >=5 days but delivered after due date for mailed payments.
• USPS must deliver an annual report to two congressional committees with class‑of‑mail data separating agreement‑based mail from other mail and reporting average delivery/delay times and presorting effects.
• The USPS Office of Inspector General must assess and report on whether USPS prioritizes agreement‑based mail over otherwise identical mail classes within one year.
• No explicit new appropriation is included; the bill directs USPS operations, rulemaking, reimbursements, reporting, and OIG review.
• Reimbursement covers the full amount of assessed fees or penalties for late payment caused by qualifying USPS delays.