S.Amdt. 2046

1. Adds SEC. 683. POSTAL BENEFITS PROGRAM FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES SERVING IN IRAQ OR AFGHANISTAN at the end of subtitle F of title VI

   Adds a section

   Inserted: SEC. 683. POSTAL BENEFITS PROGRAM FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES SERVING IN IRAQ OR AFGHANISTAN.

   Inserted: (a) Availability of Postal Benefits.--The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the United States Postal Service, shall provide for a program under which postal benefits are provided to qualified individuals in accordance with this section.

   Inserted: (b) Qualified Individual.--In this section, the term "qualified individual" means a member of the Armed Forces on active duty (as defined in section 101 of title 10, United States Code) who--

   Inserted: (1) is serving in Iraq or Afghanistan; or

   Inserted: (2) is hospitalized at a facility under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense as a result of a disease or injury incurred as a result of service in Iraq or Afghanistan.

   Inserted: (c) Postal Benefits Described.--

   Inserted: (1) Vouchers.--The postal benefits provided under the program shall consist of such coupons or other similar evidence of credit, whether in printed, electronic, or other format (in this section referred to as a "voucher"), as the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Postal Service, shall determine, which entitle the bearer or user to make qualified mailings free of postage.

   Inserted: (2) Qualified mailing.--In this section, the term "qualified mailing" means the mailing of a single mail piece which--

   Inserted: (A) is first-class mail (including any sound- or video-recorded communication) not exceeding 13 ounces in weight and having the character of personal correspondence or parcel post not exceeding 10 pounds in weight;

   Inserted: (B) is sent from within an area served by a United States post office; and

   Inserted: (C) is addressed to a qualified individual.

   Inserted: (3) Coordination rule.--Postal benefits under the program are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any reduced rates of postage or other similar benefits which might otherwise be available by or under law, including any rates of postage resulting from the application of section 3401(b) of title 39, United States Code.

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   Inserted: (d) Number of Vouchers.--A member of the Armed Forces shall be eligible for one voucher for every second month in which the member is a qualified individual.

   Inserted: (e) Limitations on Use; Duration.--A voucher may not be used--

   Inserted: (1) for more than a single qualified mailing; or

   Inserted: (2) after the earlier of--

   Inserted: (A) the expiration date of the voucher, as designated by the Secretary of Defense; or

   Inserted: (B) the end of the one-year period beginning on the date on which the regulations prescribed under subsection (f) take effect.

   Inserted: (f) Regulations.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense (in consultation with the Postal Service) shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the program, including--

   Inserted: (1) procedures by which vouchers will be provided or made available in timely manner to qualified individuals; and

   Inserted: (2) procedures to ensure that the number of vouchers provided or made available with respect to any qualified individual complies with subsection (d).

   Inserted: (g) Transfers to Postal Service.--

   Inserted: (1) Based on estimates.--The Secretary of Defense shall transfer to the Postal Service, out of amounts available to carry out the program and in advance of each calendar quarter during which postal benefits may be used under the program, an amount equal to the amount of postal benefits that the Secretary estimates will be used during such quarter, reduced or increased (as the case may be) by any amounts by which the Secretary finds that a determination under this section for a prior quarter was greater than or less than the amount finally determined for such quarter.

   Inserted: (2) Based on final determination.--A final determination of the amount necessary to correct any previous determination under this section, and any transfer of amounts between the Postal Service and the Department of Defense based on that final determination, shall be made not later than six months after the end of the one-year period referred to in subsection (e)(2)(B).

   Inserted: (3) Consultation required.--All estimates and determinations under this subsection of the amount of postal benefits under the program used in any period shall be made by the Secretary of Defense in consultation with the Postal Service.

   Inserted: (h) Funding.--

   Inserted: (1) Additional amount for military personnel.--The aggregate amount authorized to be appropriated by section 421 for military personnel is hereby increased by $10,000,000.

   Inserted: (2) Availability.--Of the amount authorized to be appropriated by section 421 for military personnel, as increased by paragraph (1), $10,000,000 may be available for postal benefits as provided in this section.

   Inserted: (3) Offset.--The aggregate amount authorized to be appropriated by titles I, II, III, IV (other than the amounts authorized to be appropriated and made available by this subsection), XV, XXI, XXII, XXIII, XXIV, XXV, XXVI, XXVII, and XXVIII is hereby reduced by $10,000,000, with the amount of the reduction to be allocated among such titles in a manner determined appropriate by the Secretary of Defense.

   Original wording

   At the end subtitle F of title VI, add the following new section:

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As printed