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S 1208 115th Congress Senate Government Operations and Politics Administrative law and regulatory procedures Congressional oversight Immigration status and procedures Postal service Public contracts and procurement U.S. Postal Service User charges and fees

Strengthening the Department of Homeland Security Secure Mail Initiative Act

Introduced: May 23, 2017 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 10 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 22, 2017
Held at the desk.
Dec 22, 2017
Received in the House.
Dec 22, 2017
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 21, 2017
Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8270-8271; text: CR S8270-8271)
Dec 21, 2017
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S8270-8271; text: CR S8270-8271)
Oct 16, 2017
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 241.
Oct 16, 2017
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with amendments. With written report No. 115-171.
Jul 26, 2017
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
May 23, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
May 23, 2017
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on October 16, 2017. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Strengthening the Department of Homeland Security Secure Mail Initiative Act

(Sec. 3) This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide for an option under which a person to whom a document is sent under the Secure Mail Initiative may elect to have the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) use the Hold for Pickup service or the Signature Confirmation service in delivering the document.

DHS shall require payment of a fee for such services, which shall be deposited into the Immigration Examinations Fee Account and used to cover DHS and USPS costs of providing such services. The USPS: (1) may promulgate regulations that minimize such costs and do not require it to incur additional expenses that are not recoverable, and (2) shall notify DHS of any changes to such services.

If DHS determines that substantially similar services offered by a private carrier would provide better service and value than the USPS services, it may discontinue use of the USPS services and enter into a contract with the private carrier.

(Sec. 4) DHS must report to Congress within two years of this bill's enactment describing the implementation of requirements under this bill, the fee imposed, and the number of times during the previous year that a person used a service under this bill.

What's happening now December 22, 2017

Held at the desk.

 Related & companion bills 2
 Bill text 3 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1208: Strengthening the Department of Homeland Security Secure Mail Initiative Act. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-1208/
MLA
"S. 1208: Strengthening the Department of Homeland Security Secure Mail Initiative Act." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-1208/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1208, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-1208/.
Markdown link
[S. 1208: Strengthening the Department of Homeland Security Secure Mail Initiative Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-1208/)
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