,i #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ecgg ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #ca1 #bjad ,mr4 ,serrano 7for himself and ,ms4 ,lee of ,california7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,oversight and ,government ,reform ,a ,,bill ,to provide for certain safeguards with respect to the sale of historic postal facilities1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,postal ,facilities ,preservation and ,sales ,reform ,act4 #b4 ,amendments to title #ci1 ,united ,states ,code1 with respect to the closure and consolidation of postal facilities 7a7 ,in general ,section #djd7;d7 of title #ci1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking subsection 7d77#a7 and inserting the following3 7d7 7#a7 ,prior to making a determination under subsection 7a77#c7 of this section as to the necessity for the closing or consolidation of any postal facility1 the ,postal ,service shall-- 7,a7 hold at least #c public meetings1 located within the area affected by the closing or consolidation1 at least #abj days prior to such determination2 and 7,b7 provide adequate notice of its intention to close or consolidate such facility at least #ahj days prior to the proposed date of such closing or consolidation to persons served by such facility to ensure that such persons will have an opportunity to present their views4 7#b7 ,for purposes of paragraph 7#a71 adequate notice with respect to a closure or consolidation of a post office means written notification to-- 7,a7 each person served by such post office2 7,b7 each officer or employee who is employed at such post office2 and 7,c7 each ,federal1 ,state1 and local elected official who represents the ,,zip code in which such post office is located4 2 7#b7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#b7 through 7#f7 as paragraphs 7#c7 through 7#g71 respectively2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7#h7 ,the following entities shall have a right of first refusal1 in descending order of priority1 to purchase any postal facility offered for sale by the ,postal ,service under this section3 7,a7 ,a ,federal agency 7as that term is defined in section #bfga of title #bh74 7,b7 ,the ,state in which such facility is located4 7,c7 ,the city1 town1 or local unit of government with jurisdiction over the area in which such facility is located4 7#i7 ,the ,postal ,service may not enter into any contract or agreement with a person where such contract permits such person to represent1 with respect to a sale of a postal facility under this section1 the ,postal ,service and the proposed buyer of the facility4 4 7b7 ,technical and conforming amendments ,section #djd7;d7 of title #ci1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraphs 7#c7 through 7#g7 7as redesignated by subsection 7a77#b771 by striking post office in each instance it appears and inserting postal facility2 7#b7 in paragraph 7#c7 7as so redesignated71 by striking post offices and inserting postal facilities2 in each instance it appears 7#c7 in paragraph 7#d7 7as so redesignated71 by striking paragraph 7#b7 and inserting paragraph 7#c72 7#d7 in paragraph 7#f7 7as so redesignated71 by striking paragraph 7#c7 and inserting paragraph 7#d72 and 7#e7 in paragraph 7#g7 7as so redesignated71 by striking paragraph 7#e7 and inserting paragraph 7#f74 #c4 ,amendments to title #ci1 ,united ,states ,code1 with respect to historic postal facilities 7a7 ,sale of postal facilities ,section #djd7;d7 of title #ci1 ,united ,states ,code1 is further amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#aj7 ,with respect to any historic postal facility 7as that term is defined in section #dag7 offered for sale or proposed for relocation or cessation of services by the ,postal ,service under this section1 the ,postal ,service may not enter into any contract or agreement to sell the facility or relocate or cease services at such facility until the proposed decision to sell or relocate such facility is reviewed pursuant to section #ajf of the ,national ,historic ,preservation ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #dgj;f74 4 7b7 ,general historic postal facility requirements ,chapter #d of title #ci1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #dag4 ,historic postal facilities 7a7 ,historic ,surplus ,property ,program ,if the ,postal ,service makes a determination to sell a historic postal facility under section #djd1 and the preservation of such facility has been determined by the ,state ,historic ,preservation ,officer or the ,keeper of the ,national ,register of ,historic ,places to be of national significance1 the ,postal ,service shall use the ,historic ,surplus ,property ,program 7administered by the ,national ,park ,service and the ,general ,services ,administration7 to dispose of such facility4 7b7 ,federal preservation officer duties ,the ,federal preservation officer at the ,postal ,service shall be consulted in any decision with respect to the sale or lease of any historic postal facility or any historic art at such facility4 7c7 ,list of historic postal facilities2 budget ,the ,postmaster ,general shall maintain-- 7#a7 a list of historic postal facilities and publish such list on the ,postal ,service ,web site2 and 7#b7 a separate preservation budget to track obligations and expenditures by the ,postal ,service with respect to historic preservation activities4 7d7 ,new ,deal art 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,federal preservation officer at the ,postal ,service shall promptly notify the ,national ,museum of ,american ,art in any instance where ,new ,deal art owned by the ,postal ,service is loaned or relocated4 7#b7 ,availability of policies ,the ,postmaster ,general shall make all ,postal ,service policies relating to historic preservation and ,new ,deal art available to the public4 7e7 ,definitions ,in this section-- 7#a7 the term historic postal facility means any postal facility listed1 or eligible to be listed1 in the ,national ,register of ,historic ,places2 and 7#b7 the term ,new ,deal art means any work of art located at a postal facility that-- 7,a7 was commissioned by the ,federal ,government between #aicc and #aicf2 and 7,b7 is owned by the ,postal ,service4 4 7c7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections for title #ci1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #daf the following new item3 #dag4 ,historic postal facilities4 4 #d4 ,additional requirements with respect to historic postal facilities 7a7 ,moratorium on sale of historic postal facilities ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 the ,postmaster ,general of the ,united ,states ,postal ,service may not enter into any agreement to sell a postal facility that is listed1 or eligible to be listed1 in the ,national ,register of ,historic ,places unless the sale is conducted pursuant to the procedures established under section #djd7;d7 of title #ci1 ,united ,states ,code1 as amended by sections #b and #c4 7b7 ,application of ,national ,historic ,preservation ,act ,congress reaffirms that sections #ajf1 #aaj1 and #aaa of the ,national ,historic ,preservation ,act apply to the ,united ,states ,postal ,service4 7c7 ,development of ,postal ,service policies and procedures with respect to historic postal facilities 7#a7 ,model ,historic property covenant 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,postmaster ,general shall1 in consultation with the ,advisory ,council on ,historic ,preservation1 the ,national ,conference of ,state ,historic ,preservation ,officers1 and the ,national ,trust for ,historic ,preservation1 develop a model covenant1 to be used and applied with respect to any historic postal facility offered for sale by the ,postal ,service4 7,b7 ,covenant requirements ,such covenant shall provide that-- 7i7 the purchaser of such a facility shall allow public access to any historic artwork located within such facility2 7ii7 the ,postal ,service shall contribute sufficient funds to the maintenance of any such artwork2 and 7iii7 the purchaser of such a facility shall not demolish the historic postal facility or alter it in any way that is incompatible with the historic character of such facility4 7,c7 ,covenant guidance ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,postmaster ,general shall1 in consultation with the ,advisory ,council on ,historic ,preservation1 the ,national ,conference of ,state ,historic ,preservation ,officers1 and the ,national ,trust for ,historic ,preservation1 develop and implement guidelines with respect to notifying any private entity of the responsibilities of such entity under the covenant developed under subsection 7a71 including stewardship requirements and any pertinent information on ,federal or ,state tax incentive programs4 7#b7 ,training ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,postmaster ,general shall1 in consultation with the ,advisory ,council on ,historic ,preservation1 develop guidance and training procedures for officers and employees of the ,postal ,service on the processes1 requirements1 and special considerations with respect to the sale of any historic postal facility1 including-- 7,a7 the application of section #ajf of the ,national ,historic ,preservation ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #dgj;f7 to such sale2 and 7,b7 consultation with stakeholders with respect to such sale4 7#c7 ,leasing ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,postmaster ,general shall develop and implement a policy with respect to1 as an alternative to selling any historical postal facility1 leasing such facility1 as permitted under section #aaa of the ,national ,historic ,preservation ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #dgj;h-#c74 7#d7 ,report on use of ,,gsa for sale of property ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,postmaster ,general shall publish a report on whether the ,postal ,service should use the ,office of ,real ,property ,disposal of the ,general ,services ,administration with respect to selling any historic postal facility4 #e4 ,proposed ,postal ,service rule under the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act ,the proposed rule published by the ,postal ,service in the ,federal ,register on ,january #ac1 #bjad 7#gi ,fed4 ,reg4 #bajb et seq471 and any subsequent rule that is substantially the same shall have no force or effect4