,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #affc ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #ag1 #bjba,mr4 ,merkley introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code1 and title #ci1 ,united ,states ,code1 to provide the ,united ,states ,postal ,service the authority to mail alcoholic beverages1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,united ,states ,postal ,service ,shipping ,equity ,act4 #b4 ,shipping of alcoholic beverages 7a7 ,mailability 7#a7 ,nonmailable articles ,section #agaf7;f7 of title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by striking mails and inserting mails1 except to the extent that the mailing is allowable under section #cjja7p7 of title #ci4 7#b7 ,alcoholic beverages ,section #aaed7;a7 of title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting or1 with respect to the mailing of alcoholic beverages to the extent allowed under section #cjja7p7 of title #ci after mechanical purposes4 7b7 ,regulations ,section #cjja of title #ci1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7p7 ,shipping of alcoholic beverages 7#a7 ,in general ,alcoholic beverages shall be considered mailable if mailed-- 7,a7 by a covered entity in accordance with applicable regulations under paragraph 7#b72 and 7,b7 in accordance with the delivery requirements otherwise applicable to a privately carried shipment of an alcoholic beverage in the ,state1 territory1 or district of the ,united ,states where the addressee or duly authorized agent takes delivery4 7#b7 ,regulations ,the ,postal ,service shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this subsection1 including regulations providing that-- 7,a7 the mailing shall be by a means established by the ,postal ,service to ensure direct delivery to the addressee or a duly authorized agent at a postal facility2 7,b7 the addressee 7and any duly authorized agent7 shall be an individual at least #ba years of age1 and shall present a valid1 government-issued photo identification at the time of delivery2 7,c7 the alcoholic beverage may not be for resale or other commercial purpose2 and 7,d7 the covered entity involved shall-- 7i7 certify in writing to the satisfaction of the ,postal ,service1 through a registration process administered by the ,postal ,service1 that the mailing is not in violation of any provision of this subsection or regulation prescribed under this subsection2 and 7ii7 provide any other information or affirmation that the ,postal ,service may require1 including with respect to the prepayment of ,state alcoholic beverage taxes4 7#c7 ,definitions ,for purposes of this subsection-- 7,a7 the term alcoholic beverage has the meaning given the term in section #bjc of the ,federal ,alcohol ,administration ,act 7#bg ,u4,s4,c4 #bad72 and 7,b7 the term covered entity means an entity 7including a winery1 brewery1 or beverage distilled spirits plant1 or other wholesaler1 distributer1 importer1 or retailer of alcoholic beverages7 that has registered with1 obtained a permit from1 or obtained approval of a notice or an application from1 the ,secretary of the ,treasury pursuant to-- 7i7 the ,federal ,alcohol ,administration ,act 7#bg ,u4,s4,c4 #bja et seq472 or 7ii7 chapter #ea of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf 7#bf ,u4,s4,c4 #ejja et seq474 4 7c7 ,effective date ,the amendments made by this section shall take effect on the earlier of-- 7#a7 the date on which the ,united ,states ,postal ,service prescribes regulations under section #cjja7p7 of title #ci1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by this section2 or 7#b7 the date that is #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act4 7d7 ,relation to ,state1 local1 and ,tribal laws 7#a7 ,definitions ,in this subsection-- 7,a7 the term alcoholic beverage has the meaning given the term in section #bjc of the ,federal ,alcohol ,administration ,act 7#bg ,u4,s4,c4 #bad72 7,b7 the term ,postal ,service means the ,united ,states ,postal ,service2 and 7,c7 the term ,state means each of the several ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 and any other territory or possession of the ,united ,states4 7#b7 ,no preemption of ,state1 local1 or ,tribal laws prohibiting deliveries1 shipments1 or sales ,nothing in this section1 the amendments made by this section1 or any regulation promulgated under this section or the amendments made by this section1 shall be construed to preempt1 supersede1 or otherwise limit or restrict any ,state1 local1 or ,tribal law that prohibits or regulates the delivery1 shipment1 or sale of alcoholic beverages4 7#c7 ,liability of ,postal ,service 7,a7 ,cause of action ,a ,state1 local1 or ,tribal government may bring a civil action against the ,postal ,service in an appropriate district court of the ,united ,states for a violation of a law of the ,state1 locality1 or ,indian ,tribe1 respectively1 regarding the sale1 mailing1 transportation1 or importation of alcoholic beverages4 7,b7 ,liability ,in an action brought under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,postal ,service-- 7i7 except as provided in clause 7ii71 shall be liable in the same manner and to the same extent as a private individual under like circumstances2 and 7ii7 shall not be liable for-- 7,i7 interest prior to judgment2 or 7,,ii7 punitive damages4