To establish citizen's service protection advocates, to require the Strategic Advisory Commission on Postal Service Solvency and Innovation to study the advisability of the Postal Service entering into inter-agency agreements with respect to post offices, and to require the Postal Service to develop a strategic plan for entering into such inter-agency agreements.

SA 2047. Mr. BENNET (for himself and Mr. Blunt) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1789, to
improve, sustain, and transform the United States Postal Service; which
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the appropriate place, insert the following:

SEC. __. CITIZEN'S SERVICE PROTECTION ADVOCATES.

(a) In General.--Chapter 4 of title 39, United States Code,
is amended by adding at the end the following:

``Sec.  417. Citizen's service protection advocates

``(a) Appointment of Advocate.--
``(1) In general.--The chief executive of a State affected
by the closing or consolidation of a rural post office or
postal facility (as defined in section 404(f)) may appoint a
citizen's service protection advocate to represent the
interests of postal customers affected the closing or
consolidation.
``(2) Consultation.--In making an appointment under this
subsection, the chief executive of a State shall consult
with--
``(A) the mayor (or equivalent official) of any city
affected by the closing or consolidation; and
``(B) the commissioner (or equivalent official) of any
county or parish affected by the closing or consolidation.
``(b) Notice.--The Postal Service shall transmit to the
chief executive of a State notice of any determination by the
Postal Service to close or consolidate a rural post office or
postal facility that affects postal customers in the State.
``(c) Access to Information and Assistance.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), upon the
request of any citizen's service protection advocate
appointed under this section, the Postal Service shall
provide to the citizen's service protection advocate--
``(A) access to any records, reports, audits, reviews,
documents, papers, recommendations, or other materials of the
Postal Service relating to the closing or consolidation of
the relevant post office or postal facility; and
``(B) assistance in carrying out the duties of the
citizen's service protection advocate.
``(2) Privacy protections.--The Postal Service may not
provide to a citizen's service protection advocate any
information, or compilation of information, that is a means
of identification, as defined in section 1028(d)(7) of title
18, United States Code.
``(d) Communication and Consultation.--The Postal Service
shall--
``(1) provide for regular and efficient communication
between a citizen's service protection advocate and the
officer or employee of the Postal Service responsible for the
closing or consolidation of the relevant post office or
postal facility; and
``(2) consult with the citizen's service protection
advocate in developing and implementing service changes that
affect postal customers affected by the closing or
consolidation of the relevant post office or postal facility.
``(e) Termination of Service.--An individual may not serve
as a citizen's service protection advocate with respect to
the closing or consolidation of a rural post office or postal
facility after the later of--
``(1) the date on which the Postal Service determines not
to close or consolidate the rural post office or postal
facility; and
``(2) the date on which the Postal Service determines to
close or consolidate the rural post office or postal
facility.''.
(b) Table of Sections.--The table of sections for chapter 4
of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding at the
end the following:

``417. Citizen's service protection advocate.''.

(c) Appeal to the Postal Regulatory Commission.--
(1) Postal facilities.--Section 404(f)(7) of title 39,
United States Code, as added by this Act, is amended by
inserting ``or with the requirements of section 417 of this
title'' after ``2012'' each place that term appears.
(2) Post offices.--Section 404(d)(5)(C) of title 39, United
States Code, as amended by this Act, is amended by inserting
``or with the requirements of section 417 of this title''
after ``2012''.
(d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section
shall take effect on the date on which the Postal Service
establishes retail service standards under section 203.
______