Sponsors
The bill provides voluntary, targeted funding and public outreach for manatee conservation without raising taxes, while imposing modest USPS costs and reducing some funding flexibility for agencies.
Manatees and people who enjoy coastal waters: Directs proceeds from a voluntary manatee semipostal stamp to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for conservation programs, supporting manatee and habitat protection.
Taxpayers and stamp buyers: Creates a predictable, dedicated funding source for manatee conservation through voluntary semipostal purchases, avoiding the need for new general-tax revenue.
General public: Raises awareness about manatee conservation via a widely distributed stamp campaign (at least two years), increasing public engagement and education on the issue.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and USPS: Redirecting semipostal proceeds to a specific manatee program reduces agency flexibility to allocate funds to other priorities.
United States Postal Service: Requires modest administrative expenses to design, produce, and market the stamp, imposing operational costs likely covered from stamp revenues.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Introduced January 23, 2025 by Darren Michael Soto · Last progress January 23, 2025
Requires the U.S. Postal Service to issue a Manatee semipostal stamp and directs that the extra proceeds from its sale be transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to fund manatee and manatee-habitat conservation in the United States. The stamp must be issued within 12 months of enactment and remain available to the public for at least two years.