To require the Postal Rate Commission to evaluate area mail processing studies.

SA 2080. Ms. SNOWE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
her 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:

On page 28, strike line 13 and all that follows through
page 30, line 8, and insert the following:
``(2) Area mail processing study.--
``(A) New area mail processing studies.--After the date of
enactment of this subsection, before making a determination
under subsection (a)(3) as to the necessity for the closing
or consolidation of any postal facility, the Postal Service
shall--
``(i) conduct an area mail processing study relating to
that postal facility that includes a plan to reduce the
capacity of the postal facility, but not close the postal
facility;
``(ii) publish the study on the Postal Service website; and
``(iii) publish a notice that the study is complete and
available to the public, including on the Postal Service
website.
``(B) Completed or ongoing area mail processing studies.--
``(i) In general.--In the case of a postal facility
described in clause (ii), the Postal Service shall--

``(I) consider a plan to reduce the capacity of the postal
facility without closing the postal facility; and
``(II) publish the results of the consideration under
subclause (I) with or as an amendment to the area mail
processing study relating to the postal facility.

``(ii) Postal facilities.--A postal facility described in
this clause is a postal facility for which, on or before the
date of enactment of this subsection--

``(I) an area mail processing study--

``(aa) that does not include a plan to reduce the capacity
of the postal facility without closing the postal facility
has been completed; or
``(bb) is in progress; and

``(II) a determination as to the necessity for the closing
or consolidation of the postal facility has not been made.

``(C) PRC review.--
``(i) In general.--For each area mail processing study
conducted under subparagraph (A) or relating to a postal
facility described in subparagraph (B)(ii), the Postal
Regulatory Commission shall determine whether--

``(I) the area mail processing study used an appropriate
methodology; and
``(II) the cost savings identified in the area mail
processing study relating to that postal facility are
accurate.

[[Page S2555]]

``(ii) Report.--The Postal Regulatory Commission shall
submit to the Postal Service a report regarding each
determination made under clause (i).
``(D) Limitation on closing or consolidation.--
``(i) In general.--The Postal Service may not make a
determination under subsection (a)(3) to close or consolidate
a postal facility if the Postal Regulatory Commission
determines under subparagraph (C) that--

``(I) the area mail processing study relating to that
postal facility did not use an appropriate methodology; or
``(II) the cost savings identified in the area mail
processing study relating to that postal facility are
inaccurate.

``(ii) Subsequent area mail processing studies.--If the
Postal Regulatory Commission makes a determination described
in clause (i) regarding to an area mail processing study
relating to a postal facility, the Postal Service may conduct
a subsequent area mail processing study relating to that
postal facility in accordance with this paragraph.
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