H.R. 431

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To require the United States Postal Service to reimburse fees charged for the late payment of bills that were delayed in the mail, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · January 15, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Graves · Committee: Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Table of contents

• H.R. 431
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Payment of fees resulting from delayed delivery
  • SEC. 3. Report on mail delivery delays

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the Pony Up Act.

SEC. 2. Payment of fees resulting from delayed delivery

• (a) In general
  • Except as otherwise provided in this section, the United States Postal Service shall pay to a citizen assessed any fee or penalty for the late payment of a bill an amount determined under subsection (b) if such bill, notice of such bill, or payment is delivered late.
• (b) Payment calculation
  • The amount to which a citizen is entitled under subsection (a) is the amount that is equal to the total amount of the fees and penalties described in such subsection that such citizen is obligated to pay.
• (c) Application
  • (1) In general
    • A citizen seeking a payment under this section shall submit to the United States Postal Service an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the United States Postal Service determines appropriate.
  • (2) Application submission
    • The United States Postal Service shall allow citizens to submit the application required by paragraph (1) on a publicly available website of the United States Postal Service, by mail, and at any post office.
• (d) Unforeseen circumstances exception
  • For the purposes of this section, a bill, notice of bill, or payment is not delivered late if a cause not reasonably within the control of the United States Postal Service delayed the delivery of such bill or notice, including a major disaster or emergency declared by the President.
• (e) Appeals
  • (1) In general
    • A citizen may appeal a determination made by the United States Postal Service under this section to the Judicial Officer by submitting such appeal in writing within 30 days after receiving notice of such determination.
  • (2) Procedure
    • The Judicial Officer shall issue a decision with respect to an appeal under paragraph (1) as soon as practicable, and such decision shall be final.
• (f) Regulations
  • Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the United States Postal Service shall issue rules implementing this section.
• (g) Definitions
  • In this section:
    • The term , with respect to a bill, notice of bill, or payment, means that— delivered late
    • The term Judicial Officer means the Judicial Officer appointed under section 204 of title 39, United States Code.

SEC. 3. Report on mail delivery delays

• (a) Annual report
  • Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the United States Postal Service shall submit to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on delays in delivering mail, including, for each class of mail—
    • the average delivery time and average delay time for—
      • mail delivered under an agreement between the sender, other than a sender primarily engaged in the transportation or delivery of parcels or letters carried out of the mails, and the United States Postal Service; and
      • all other mail delivered by the United States Postal Service;
    • the volume of mail described in paragraph (1)(A) that is presorted and an explanation of the effect of presorting such mail on the average delivery time and average delay time for such mail; and
    • the volume of mail described in paragraph (1)(B) that is presorted and an explanation of the effect of presorting such mail on the average delivery time and average delay time for such mail.
• (b) Prioritization audit
  • (1) In general
    • The Inspector General of the United States Postal Service shall conduct an assessment of the policies and practices of the United States Postal Service to determine if the United States Postal Service prioritizes the delivery of mail described in subsection (a)(1)(A) over mail that is the same class of mail and is not described in such subsection.
  • (2) Report
    • Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the United States Postal Service shall submit to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the findings of the assessment required by paragraph (1).
• (c) Class of mail defined
  • For the purposes of this section, the term class of mail means the items described in paragraphs (1) through (10) of section 3621(a) of title 5, United States Code, and the items described in paragraphs (1) through (5) of section 3631(a) of such title.