Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act

Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act - Title I: Definitions; Postal Services - (Sec. 101) Amends Federal postal law to add definitions.

(Sec. 102) States that nothing in this Act shall be considered to: (1) permit or require the Postal Service to provide any special nonpostal or similar services; or (2) prevent the Postal Service from providing any such services provided as of January 4, 2005.

(Sec. 103) Requires that the Postal Service be subject to a high degree of transparency, including in its finances and operations.

Title II: Modern Rate Regulation - (Sec. 201) Directs the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) (established by this Act) to establish a modern system for regulating rates and classes for market-dominant products (all first-class mail and special services, periodicals, non-parcel post standard mail, media mail, library mail, and bound printed matter). Prohibits the PRC from allowing the average rate in any subclass of mail to increase at an annual rate greater than the comparable increase in the Consumer Price Index, unless it has determined that such increase is reasonable and necessary to enable the Postal Service to maintain and continue the development of U.S. postal services.

(Sec. 202) Directs the Postal Service Board of Governors to establish rates and classes for products in the competitive category of mail (priority mail, expedited mail, mailgrams, international mail, and parcel post).

Directs the PRC to promulgate (and from time to time revise) regulations to: (1) prohibit the subsidization of competitive products by market-dominant products; (2) ensure that each competitive product covers its attributable costs; and (3) ensure that all competitive products collectively make a reasonable contribution to Postal Service institutional costs.

(Sec. 203) Authorizes the Postal Service, under specified conditions, to conduct market tests of experimental products, requiring notification of the PRC of the nature and scope of each test. Prohibits a market test from exceeding 24 months, but allows the PRC to extend such period up to 12 additional months when determined necessary.

Authorizes the PRC, following specified criteria, to change the lists of market-dominant products and competitive products by adding or removing products, or transferring products between lists. Prohibits the transfer from the market-dominant category of products covered by the postal monopoly. Requires the Postal Service to notify the PRC whenever it requests to add a product or transfer a product to a different category. Prohibits a product that involves the carriage of letters, printed matter, or mailable packages from being offered by the Postal Service unless it has been assigned to the market-dominant or competitive category of mail.

(Sec. 204) Requires the PRC to report annually to the President and Congress.

Requires annual reports from the Postal Service to the PRC which: (1) analyze Postal Service costs, revenues, and rates; and (2) provide market information and measures of quality of service with respect to market-dominant products provided. Requires such reports to: (1) be audited by the Postal Service Inspector General; and (2) include information relating to workshare discounts (discounts provided to mailers for presorting, prebarcoding, handling, or transporting mail). Requires the PRC to make annual determinations of Postal Service compliance with regulatory requirements.

(Sec. 205) Repeals current provisions concerning postal service and rate complaints procedures and an annual report on international services provided by the Postal Service. Establishes new complaint procedures which require the PRC to: (1) begin proceedings on complaints or dismiss them within 90 days; (2) treat as dismissed complaints not acted on within such period; and (3) order the Postal Service to take appropriate corrective actions with respect to determined violations. Authorizes the PRC to: (1) temporarily suspend rates or classifications; and (2) order fines in cases of deliberate noncompliance.

Authorizes appellate review for persons adversely affected by any PRC final order or decision.

(Sec. 206) Directs the PRC to establish rules for workshare discounts to ensure that such discounts do not exceed the cost that the Postal Service avoids as the result of private sector workshare activity (with exceptions). Requires the Postal Service to notify the PRC whenever it establishes a workshare discount rate.

Title III: Provisions Relating to Fair Competition - (Sec. 301) Establishes in the Treasury a revolving Postal Service Competitive Products Fund to be available to the Postal Service without fiscal year limitation for the payment of: (1) costs attributable to competitive products; and (2) all other costs incurred by the Postal Service, to the extent allocable to competitive products. Provides for deposits into, and administration of, the Fund. Requires Postal Service reports to the Secretary of the Treasury and the PRC with respect to Fund administration and uses.

(Sec. 302) Requires the Postal Service to compute its assumed Federal income tax on competitive products income for each year and transfer from the above Fund to the Postal Service Fund the amount of the assumed tax.

(Sec. 303) Prohibits the Postal Service from: (1) establishing anti-competitive rules or regulations; (2) compelling the disclosure, transfer, or licensing of intellectual property to any third party; or (3) obtaining information from a person that provides any product, and then offering any product or service that uses or is based in whole or part on such information, without the person's consent.

(Sec. 304) Subjects all Postal Service: (1) activities to Federal laws prohibiting the conduct of business in a fraudulent manner; and (2) conduct with respect to competitive products to Federal antitrust laws and unfair competition standards. Eliminates Postal Service sovereign immunity protection. Requires the Postal Service to: (1) consider local zoning or land use regulations and building codes when constructing or altering buildings; and (2) represent itself in most legal proceedings (currently, representation is provided through the Department of Justice).

(Sec. 305) Makes the Secretary of State responsible for foreign policy related to international postal services and other international delivery services. Provides for the application of customs laws with respect to such services.

Title IV: General Provisions - (Sec. 401) Revises qualification requirements with respect to members of the Postal Service Board of Governors. Requires the President to: (1) consult with specified congressional leaders in selecting individuals for Board nomination; and (2) select at least four Governors based solely on their demonstrated ability in managing substantial organizations or corporations.

(Sec. 402) Maintains the annual $3 billion cap on Postal Service borrowing for capital investments and operating expenses, while eliminating individual caps on each.

(Sec. 403) Revises provisions concerning the private carriage of letters (letters carried outside of normal mail service by a private carrier) to allow such private carriage in three new circumstances: (1) when the amount paid to a private carrier is at least six times the rate then currently charged for the first ounce of a single-piece first-class letter; (2) when the letter weighs at least 12 and a half ounces; and (3) when private carriage is within the scope of current Postal Service regulations that purport to suspend the operation of current law.

(Sec. 404) Amends Postal Service rulemaking provisions.

(Sec. 405) Prohibits any amendment made by or under this Act from: (1) restricting, expanding, or otherwise affecting any rights, privileges, or benefits under collective bargaining agreements, except for mediation cases; and (2) affecting existing free mail privileges.

(Sec. 406) Authorizes the Postal Service to establish one or more programs to provide bonuses and other rewards to Postal Service officers and employees. Requires bonus or reward information to be included in currently-required annual Postal Service comprehensive statements.

(Sec. 407) Requires the Director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, in Postal Service collective bargaining disputes and in lieu of a current fact-finding panel, to appoint a national mediator who is a member of the National Academy of Arbitrators.

Title V: Enhanced Regulatory Commission - (Sec. 501) Replaces the Postal Rate Commission with the PRC. Sets forth the terms and required qualifications of the five Commissioners. Authorizes and directs the PRC to issue rules and regulations.

(Sec. 502) Provides PRC authority to administer oaths, examine witnesses, receive evidence, issue subpoenas, and order the taking of depositions and responses to written interrogatories.

(Sec. 503) Repeals Federal provisions which subjects the annual PRC budget to disapproval by the Board of Governors.

(Sec. 505) Requires the PRC to designate a PRC officer to represent the public interest in all PRC public proceedings.

Title VI: Inspectors General - (Sec. 601) Amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 to provide for a PRC Inspector General.

(Sec. 602) Requires the Postal Service Inspector General to be appointed by the President with Senate confirmation. Subjects the Postal Service to provisions of the Anti-Kickback Act of 1986 (protections against contractor kickbacks).

Authorizes the appropriation of amounts from the Postal Service Fund for the Inspector General.

Title VII: Evaluations - (Sec. 701) Directs the Postal Service to report to the President, Congress, and the PRC on universal postal service in the United States. Requires the PRC to submit an evaluation of such report to the President and Congress.

(Sec. 702) Directs the PRC to report to the President and Congress, at least every five years, concerning: (1) the operation of amendments made by this Act; and (2) recommendations for improving U.S. postal laws.

(Sec. 703) Directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report to the President, Congress, and the PRC identifying Federal and State laws that apply differently to the Postal Service with respect to the competitive category of mail and private companies providing similar products.

(Sec. 704) Directs the Board of Governors to report to the President and Congress concerning women and minority representation in Postal Service supervisory and management positions.

(Sec. 705) Directs the Postal Service to: (1) develop, and be prepared to implement, a plan for providing reemployment assistance to displaced employees; and (2) submit to Congress and the Board of Governors a written report describing such plan.

(Sec. 706) Directs the Board of Governors to report to the President and Congress on the number and value of Postal service contracts and subcontracts with women, minorities, and small businesses.

(Sec. 707) Directs the Postal Service to report to the President and Congress on information used in determining postal costs attributable to periodicals, as well as improvements in their collection, handling, transportation, and delivery.

(Sec. 708) Directs the Postal Service Inspector General to report to the President, Congress, and Postal Service on the process by which postal rate assessments are determined and appealed.

(Sec. 709) Directs the Postal Service to report to the President, Congress, and Board of Governors on the postal processing and distribution network.

(Sec. 710) Requires a two-year independent study to assess the costs, benefits, effects, and future strategies for maintaining the Postal Service as wholly part of the Executive Branch, or transforming it into a private corporation in whole or in part.

(Sec. 711) Directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study proposals as put forth in sections 805 and 807 of this Act as introduced, that would move to a market-based rate system for the carriage of international mail.

(Sec. 712) Defines Board of Governors for purposes of this title.

Title VIII: Miscellaneous; Technical and Conforming Amendments - (Sec. 801) Makes permanent (currently, only for the current fiscal year) Postal Service authority to employ postal police officers to protect postal property and persons on such property.

(Sec. 802) Considers an appeal to the PRC of a post office closing as timely if postmarked within 30 days after notification of such closure.

(Sec. 803) Ensures the continuity of benefits through the Postal Service for employees of the former Post Office Department.

(Sec. 804) Repeals obsolete Federal postal laws. Eliminates the four-year limit on postal transportation contracts.

(Sec. 805) Prohibits the use of Postal Service Fund amounts to invest in commercial obligations or securities.

(Sec. 806) Reduces postal rates for "within county publications" (such as local newspapers or weeklies).

(Sec. 807) Provides prohibitions and penalties for the illegal use of the mails to transport hazardous matter. Requires opportunity for a violation hearing before the Postal Service.

(Sec. 808) Directs the PRC to examine the Domestic Mail Manual to determine whether it contains adequate safeguards to protect against: (1) abuses of rates for nonprofit mail; and (2) deception of consumers.

Title IX: Postal Pension Funding Reform Amendments - (Sec. 901) Transfers from the Postal Service to the Treasury Department responsibility for paying retirement costs of former postal employees that are related to military service. Directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), because of such change, to determine necessary adjustments in Postal Service contributions to the Civil Service Retirement System. Makes any OPM changes subject to PRC review.

(Sec. 902) Establishes in the Treasury a Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund, to be administered by OPM, to cover the unfunded Postal Service liability for health care costs of current and future postal retirees. Requires the Postal Service, beginning in 2006, to make payments to such Fund equal to the unfunded liability attributable to current employees, along with interest thereon. Directs OPM to compute the required prefunding and interest payments. Subjects OPM computations to PRC review.

(Sec. 903) Repeals a provision of the Postal Civil Service Retirement System Funding Reform Act related to the disposition of savings accruing to the Postal Service.

(Sec. 904) Requires specified OPM calculations, for FY2006-2015, with respect to Postal Service savings achieved as the result of funding changes made under sections 901 and 902, above. Directs that such savings be used to address the Postal Service's prefunding of retiree health benefits and to pay down Postal Service debt. Limits to $3 billion the amount authorized to be used to reduce debt over such fiscal years. Requires a calculation results report from OPM to the Postal Service, the PRC, and Congress.