,,ii #aadth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cdeb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #bh1 #bjaf ,mrs4 ,mc,caskill 7for herself and ,mr4 ,moran7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to authorize the ,united ,states ,postal ,service to carry out emergency suspensions of post offices in accordance with certain procedures1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,post ,office ,discontinuance ,accountability ,act of #bjaf4 #b4 ,emergency suspensions of post offices ,section #djd of title #ci1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7f7 ,emergency suspensions 7#a7 ,definitions ,in this subsection-- 7,a7 the terms alternate service and temporary location include a location at which customers affected by an emergency suspension may send and receive mail1 which may include the provision and regular servicing of a ,cluster ,box ,unit 7commonly known as a ,,cbu7 by the ,postal ,service2 7,b7 the term discontinuance means a closing or consolidation2 7,c7 the term discontinuance procedures means the procedures required for the discontinuance of a post office under subsection 7d7 and any regulations promulgated under that subsection2 7,d7 the term discontinue means close or consolidate2 7,e7 the term emergency suspension means the temporary discontinuance of a post office1 without following discontinuance procedures for the post office1 because of-- 7i7 a natural disaster2 7ii7 the early1 sudden1 or unexpected termination of a lease or rental agreement by the lessor when suitable alternate quarters are not immediately available in the same community2 7iii7 lack of qualified personnel to operate the post office2 7iv7 severe or irreparable damage to1 or destruction of1 the post office when suitable alternate quarters are not immediately available in the community2 7v7 a challenge to the sanctity of the mail2 or 7vi7 a lack of adequate measures to safeguard the post office or its revenues2 and 7,f7 the term post office-- 7i7 means a ,post ,office1 as that term is defined in section #bda4a of title #ci1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or any successor regulation2 and 7ii7 does not include a post office branch or station4 7#b7 ,authority ,a ,district ,manager may implement an emergency suspension of a post office in accordance with the requirements under paragraphs 7#c7 through 7#g74 7#c7 ,notification ,if a ,district ,manager implements an emergency suspension of a post office1 the ,district ,manager shall provide immediate notice of the suspension to-- 7,a7 the ,headquarters ,review ,coordinator or the ,field ,performance office2 7,b7 local officials of the ,postal ,service1 including-- 7i7 all direct reports to the ,district ,manager2 7ii7 the ,vice ,president1 ,area ,operations2 7iii7 ,state and national postmaster organizations2 7iv7 relevant local transportation and logistics officials of the ,postal ,service2 7v7 accounting services of the ,postal ,service and ,postmaster accounts2 7vi7 each upstream ,processing and ,distributions ,center responsible for processing mail to and from the relevant post office2 7vii7 the ,address ,management division of the ,postal ,service2 7viii7 the ,shared ,human ,resources ,center of the ,postal ,service2 7ix7 the ,discontinuance ,coordinator of the ,postal ,service2 7x7 the ,facilities ,service ,office of the ,postal ,service2 7xi7 local political officials2 7xii7 the ,vice ,president1 ,facilities2 and 7xiii7 the ,customer ,relationship ,manager2 and 7,c7 customers1 notification to whom shall include-- 7i7 the effective date of the suspension2 7ii7 the reason for the suspension2 7iii7 any alternate service available1 including how to request curbside delivery2 7iv7 the nearest post offices and hours of service2 and 7v7 the name1 telephone number1 and email address of an individual to contact for more information4 7#d7 ,alternate service 7,a7 ,in general ,if a ,district ,manager implements an emergency suspension of a post office1 the ,district ,manager shall establish alternate service as quickly as possible4 7,b7 ,determination to discontinue ,if the ,postal ,service appears likely to make a determination under subsection 7a77#c7 to discontinue a post office that is under an emergency suspension1 the ,district ,manager shall make every effort to provide the alternate service under subparagraph 7,a7 of this paragraph that is most likely to be recommended in the determination to discontinue the post office4 7#e7 ,employee reassignment ,if a ,district ,manager implements an emergency suspension of a post office1 the ,district ,manager shall temporarily reassign each employee of the post office in accordance with each applicable statute1 regulation1 and collective bargaining agreement4 7#f7 ,suspension review team 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #aj days after the date on which a ,district ,manager implements an emergency suspension of a post office1 the ,district ,manager shall form a suspension review team to review the decision to implement the emergency suspension4 7,b7 ,members ,the members of a suspension review team shall include-- 7i7 the ,discontinuance ,coordinator2 7ii7 the ,manager of ,post ,office ,operations or a designee2 7iii7 a representative from the ,facility ,services ,office2 and 7iv7 in the case of the suspension of a post office staffed by a postmaster1 ,state presidents of each postmaster organization or their designees4 7,c7 ,decisions ,all decisions of the suspension review team shall be by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the suspension review team4 7,d7 ,site visit ,the suspension review team for a post office shall conduct a site visit to the post office4 7,e7 ,recommendation 7i7 ,in general ,not later than #aj business days after the site visit under subparagraph 7,d71 the suspension review team shall notify the ,district ,manager and the ,vice ,president1 ,delivery ,operations1 of its recommendation to-- 7,i7 continue the emergency suspension2 or 7,,ii7 reopen the post office4 7ii7 ,postmaster organizations ,in the case of the suspension of a post office staffed by a postmaster1 the suspension review team shall also notify the national postmaster organizations of its recommendation under clause 7i74 7,f7 ,continued suspension 7i7 ,in general ,if the suspension review team recommends under subparagraph 7,e7 that the emergency suspension of a post office continue1 the ,district ,manager shall-- 7,i7 not later than #aj days after being notified of that recommendation1 initiate discontinuance procedures for the post office2 or 7,,ii7 not later than #cj days after being notified of that recommendation1 publish and submit to the ,vice ,president1 ,delivery ,operations1 a plan of action to restore service to the affected community-- 7aa7 within a reasonable period of time2 and 7bb7 in any event1 not later than #ahj days after the date on which the emergency suspension was implemented4 7ii7 ,delay in restoration of service ,if a ,district ,manager publishes and submits a plan of action to restore service to an affected community under clause 7i77,,ii7 and service to the affected community is not restored within #ahj days of the date on which the emergency suspension was implemented1 the ,district ,manager shall-- 7,i7 7aa7 publish notice of the delay1 including-- 7,,aa7 a reason for the delay2 and 7,,bb7 an anticipated date of restoration of service2 and 7bb7 not later than #aj days after publishing the notice1 host a live1 in-person question-and-answer forum in the affected community2 or 7,,ii7 initiate discontinuance procedures for the post office4 7iii7 ,further delays in restoration of service ,upon the expiration of each #cj-;day period after the date that is #ahj days after the date on which the emergency suspension of a post office was implemented1 if service has not been restored to the affected community1 the ,district ,manager shall publish an updated notice of the delay that includes the anticipated date of restoration of service4 7iv7 #a-year delay ,if #a year has elapsed since the implementation of an emergency suspension of a post office and service has not been restored to the affected community1 the ,district ,manager-- 7,i7 shall host-- 7aa7 a second live1 in-person question-and-answer forum in the affected community2 and 7bb7 additional live1 in-person question-and-answer fora in the affected community every subsequent #ahj days until-- 7,,aa7 service is restored2 or 7,,bb7 the ,district ,manager initiates discontinuance procedures for the post office2 and 7,,ii7 if no alternate services are located within #aj miles of the post office1 not later than #fj days after the date that is #a year after the date on which the emergency suspension was implemented1 shall develop and publish a plan to establish a temporary location from which to provide service within #aj miles of the suspended facility4 7,g7 ,reopening of post office ,if the suspension review team recommends under subparagraph 7,e7 that a post office be reopened-- 7i7 not later than #e business days after the date on which the suspension review team provides notice of the recommendation under clause 7i7 of that subparagraph1 the ,district ,manager shall reopen the post office2 and 7ii7 the ,inspector ,general shall conduct an investigation to determine the legitimacy of the concerns that resulted in the emergency suspension4 7#g7 ,restoration of service ,upon restoration of service under paragraph 7#f77;,f7 or the reopening of a post office under paragraph 7#f77;,g71 the ,district ,manager shall immediately notify-- 7,a7 the affected community2 7,b7 the ,headquarters ,review ,coordinator2 and 7,c7 the local ,facilities ,database ,coordinator4 7#h7 ,lease or rental agreement expiration 7,a7 ,in general 7i7 ,prohibition on emergency suspensions ,a ,district ,manager may not implement an emergency suspension of a post office based on the expiration of the lease or rental agreement for the post office4 7ii7 ,alternative process ,the ,postal ,service may establish an alternative process for the suspension of postal services to a community based on the expiration of a lease or rental agreement for a post office in accordance with subparagraphs 7,b7 through 7,i7 of this paragraph4 7,b7 ,preparation for expiration ,before the expiration of a lease or rental agreement for a post office1 the ,district ,manager shall-- 7i7 initiate or attempt to initiate negotiations for an extension of the lease or rental agreement1 or sale of the property to the ,postal ,service1 with a sufficient amount of time1 which shall be not less than #ah months1 to allow for the likely completion of negotiations before the expiration of the lease or rental agreement2 or 7ii7 initiate discontinuance procedures for the post office with a sufficient amount of time1 which shall be not less than #ah months1 to allow for likely completion of the procedures before the expiration of the lease or rental agreement4 7,c7 ,discontinuance ,if the ,district ,manager does not initiate or attempt to initiate negotiations described in subparagraph 7,b77i7 with a sufficient amount of time 7as defined in that subparagraph7 to allow for likely completion of negotiations before the expiration of the lease or rental agreement1 discontinuance procedures may not be initiated for the post office earlier than the date that is #c years after the date on which the lease or rental agreement expires4 7,d7 ,failure to reach agreement ,if1 as of #cj days before the expiration of a lease or rental agreement for a post office1 the ,district ,manager has not reached an agreement with the lessor or renter to extend the lease or rental agreement or to sell the property to the ,postal ,service1 the ,district ,manager shall-- 7i7 notify the affected community of a possible disruption in service due to the possible expiration of the lease or rental agreement2 and 7ii7 include in the notification under clause 7i7-- 7,i7 the expiration date of the lease or rental agreement2 7,,ii7 alternate services available if the lease or rental agreement expires1 including how to request curbside delivery2 7,,iii7 the nearest post offices and hours of service2 and 7,,iv7 the name1 telephone number1 and email address of an individual to contact for more information4 7,e7 ,new lease or rental agreement ,not later than #cj days after the date on which a lease or rental agreement for a post office expires1 the ,district ,manager shall make best efforts to enter into a new lease or rental agreement for a post office in1 or within a reasonable distance of1 the community in which the post office that was the subject of the expired lease or rental agreement is located4 7,f7 ,failure to enter into new lease or rental agreement ,if1 within #cj days after the expiration of a lease or rental agreement for a post office1 the ,district ,manager is unable to execute a new lease or rental agreement at the same location or another location within the affected community1 the ,district ,manager shall-- 7i7 publish notice of intent to submit to the ,vice ,president1 ,delivery ,operations1 a plan of action to restore service to the affected community-- 7,i7 within a reasonable period of time2 and 7,,ii7 in any event1 not later than #ahj days after the date on which the lease or rental agreement expired2 or 7ii7 if no suitable alternate quarters are available in the community-- 7,i7 publish notice of intent to initiate discontinuance procedures for the post office2 and 7,,ii7 initiate discontinuance procedures4 7,g7 ,delay in restoration of service ,if a ,district ,manager publishes and submits a plan of action to restore service to an affected community under subparagraph 7,f77i7 and service to the affected community is not restored within #ahj days of the date on which the lease or rental agreement for the post office expired1 the ,district ,manager shall-- 7i7 7,i7 publish notice of the delay1 including-- 7aa7 a reason for the delay2 and 7bb7 an anticipated date of restoration of service2 and 7ii7 not later than #aj days after publishing the notice1 host a live1 in-person question-and-answer forum in the affected community4 7,h7 ,further delays in restoration of service ,upon the expiration of each #cj-;day period after the date on which the ,district ,manager publishes notice under subparagraph 7,g77i71 if service has not been restored to the affected community1 the ,district ,manager shall publish an updated notice of the delay that includes the anticipated date of restoration of service4 7,i7 #a-year delay ,if service to the affected community is not restored within #a year of the date on which the lease or rental agreement for the post office expired1 the ,district ,manager-- 7i7 shall host-- 7,i7 a second live1 in-person question-and-answer forum in the affected community2 and 7,,ii7 additional live1 in-person question-and-answer fora in the affected community every subsequent #ahj days until-- 7aa7 service is restored2 or 7bb7 the ,district ,manager initiates discontinuance procedures for the post office2 and 7ii7 if no alternate services are located within #aj miles of the post office1 not later than #fj days after the date that is #a year after the date on which the lease or rental agreement for the post office expired1 shall develop and publish a plan to establish a temporary location from which to provide service within #aj miles of the post office4 7#i7 ,delegation ,a ,district ,manager may delegate any authority or responsibility under this subsection except under paragraph 7#b71 7#d77;,b71 or 7#f77;,a74 7#aj7 ,applicability ,this subsection shall apply to any emergency suspension of a post office that is implemented on or after the date of enactment of the ,post ,office ,discontinuance ,accountability ,act of #bjaf4 4