MAIL Act

Key Points

• This bill would allow people who are homeless or do not have a steady place to live to get a post office box for free. Having a reliable mailing address is often necessary for getting a job, receiving government benefits, or keeping in touch with doctors.
• To qualify, a person must have an income below the poverty line or be enrolled in programs like Medicaid, food stamps, or rental assistance. They would need to show proof of their situation to their local post office to get the fee waived.
• The Postal Service would have one year to set up the rules for this program. They would also be allowed to buy more mailboxes and hire more staff if they need to handle the extra demand.
• The federal government would pay the Postal Service back for the money they lose by not charging fees. This includes the cost of the boxes themselves and the labor needed to maintain them.
• Every five years, the Postmaster General would have to report to Congress on how the program is working and how many people are using it.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.