Sponsor
Seth Moulton
Representative · D-MA
Representative · D-MA
The bill speeds and reduces the cost of care-package shipments for service members and eases the burden on nonprofits, at the trade‑off of reduced customs data and oversight (and some revenue), which raises traceability, compliance, and diplomatic risks.
Deployed service members will receive donated care packages more quickly and more reliably, improving morale and ensuring timely access to needed personal items.
Nonprofit troop‑support and veteran organizations will face lower paperwork and shipping costs, freeing donated funds and volunteer time for direct assistance to service members.
Customs and defense agencies retain screening and inspection authority for these shipments, preserving an official security check on parcels sent to personnel overseas.
Reduced reporting and manifest requirements (including origin/HS data) for qualifying nonprofit shipments will weaken traceability and customs oversight, raising the risk that prohibited or dangerous items could reach deployed personnel.
U.S. Customs and postal operators may lose tariff/customs revenue and incur additional verification workloads to confirm exemption eligibility, shifting costs or operational burden to taxpayers and postal systems.
Simplified documentation and exemptions could create compliance ambiguity and inconsistent implementation across agencies and ports, producing delays, confusion, or uneven treatment for nonprofits and shippers.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Exempts qualifying U.S. nonprofit care-package shipments to service members overseas from tariffs and detailed customs reporting and directs USPS/CBP to accept simplified manifests.
Creates a narrow customs and postal exemption so qualifying U.S. nonprofit organizations can send humanitarian care packages to U.S. service members overseas without paying tariffs or supplying detailed commercial trade data. It directs USPS and Customs and Border Protection to treat these shipments like domestic mail and accept simplified manifests, while preserving security screening and allowing agencies 180 days to write implementing rules.
Official title: To exempt nonprofit organizations sending humanitarian care packages to members of the Armed Forces stationed overseas from certain tariff and postal reporting requirements, and for other purposes.
Introduced November 20, 2025 by Seth Moulton · Last progress November 20, 2025