§ 101. — Postal policy.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 39USC101]
TITLE 39--POSTAL SERVICE
PART I--GENERAL
CHAPTER 1--POSTAL POLICY AND DEFINITIONS
Sec. 101. Postal policy
(a) The United States Postal Service shall be operated as a basic
and fundamental service provided to the people by the Government of the
United States, authorized by the Constitution, created by Act of
Congress, and supported by the people. The Postal Service shall have as
its basic function the obligation to provide postal services to bind the
Nation together through the personal, educational, literary, and
business correspondence of the people. It shall provide prompt,
reliable, and efficient services to patrons in all areas and shall
render postal services to all communities. The costs of establishing and
maintaining the Postal Service shall not be apportioned to impair the
overall value of such service to the people.
(b) The Postal Service shall provide a maximum degree of effective
and regular postal services to rural areas, communities, and small towns
where post offices are not self-sustaining. No small post office shall
be closed solely for operating at a deficit, it being the specific
intent of the Congress that effective postal services be insured to
residents of both urban and rural communities.
(c) As an employer, the Postal Service shall achieve and maintain
compensation for its officers and employees comparable to the rates and
types of compensation paid in the private sector of the economy of the
United States. It shall place particular emphasis upon opportunities for
career advancements of all officers and employees and the achievement of
worthwhile and satisfying careers in the service of the United States.
(d) Postal rates shall be established to apportion the costs of all
postal operations to all users of the mail on a fair and equitable
basis.
(e) In determining all policies for postal services, the Postal
Service shall give the highest consideration to the requirement for the
most expeditious collection, transportation, and delivery of important
letter mail.
(f) In selecting modes of transportation, the Postal Service shall
give highest consideration to the prompt and economical delivery of all
mail and shall make a fair and equitable distribution of mail business
to carriers providing similar modes of transportation services to the
Postal Service. Modern methods of transporting mail by containerization
and programs designed to achieve overnight transportation to the
destination of important letter mail to all parts of the Nation shall be
a primary goal of postal operations.
(g) In planning and building new postal facilities, the Postal
Service shall emphasize the need for facilities and equipment designed
to create desirable working conditions for its officers and employees, a
maximum degree of convenience for efficient postal services, proper
access to existing and future air and surface transportation facilities,
and control of costs to the Postal Service.
(Pub. L. 91-375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 719.)
Effective Date
Section effective Jan. 20, 1971, pursuant to Resolution No. 71-10 of
the Board of Governors. See section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91-375, set out as
a note preceding this section.
Short Title of 2002 Amendment
Pub. L. 107-206, title III, Sec. 3002(a), Aug. 2, 2002, 116 Stat.
910, provided that: ``This title [amending section 5402 of this title,
section 2703 of Title 19, Customs Duties, section 1626 of Title 43,
Public Lands, and section 41901 of Title 49, Transportation, and
enacting provisions set out as notes under section 5402 of this title,
section 112 of Title 1, General Provisions, and sections 2703 and 3203
of Title 19] may be cited as the `Rural Service Improvement Act of
2002'.''
Short Title of 2001 Amendment
Pub. L. 107-67, title VI, Sec. 650(a), Nov. 12, 2001, 115 Stat. 556,
provided that: ``This section [amending section 414 of this title and
enacting provisions set out as a note under section 414 of this title]
may be cited as the `Breast Cancer Research Stamp Act of 2001'.''
Short Title of 2000 Amendment
Pub. L. 106-253, Sec. 1, July 28, 2000, 114 Stat. 634, provided
that: ``This Act [enacting section 416 of this title, amending section
414 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under
sections 414 and 416 of this title] may be cited as the `Semipostal
Authorization Act'.''
Short Title of 1998 Amendment
Pub. L. 105-241, Sec. 1, Sept. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 1572, provided
that: ``This Act [enacting section 415 of this title and amending
sections 404 and 3622 of this title, section 7902 of Title 5, Government
Organization and Employees, and sections 652 and 668 of Title 29, Labor]
may be cited as the `Postal Employees Safety Enhancement Act'.''
Short Title of 1997 Amendment
Pub. L. 105-41, Sec. 1, Aug. 13, 1997, 111 Stat. 1119, provided
that: ``This Act [enacting section 414 of this title and provisions set
out as a note under section 414 of this title] may be cited as the
`Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act'.''
Short Title of 1993 Amendment
Pub. L. 103-123, title VII, Sec. 701(a), Oct. 28, 1993, 107 Stat.
1267, provided that: ``This title [enacting section 3642 of this title,
amending sections 410, 2401, 3202, 3601, 3625 to 3627, and 3683 of this
title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 2401,
3621, 3626, and 3683 of this title] may be cited as the `Revenue Forgone
Reform Act'.''
Short Title of 1976 Amendment
Pub. L. 94-421, Sec. 1, Sept. 24, 1976, 90 Stat. 1303, provided:
``That this Act [amending sections 404, 2003, 2401, 3601, 3604, 3622,
3623, 3624, 3626, 3641, and 3683 of this title, and enacting provisions
set out as notes under sections 404, 3601, 3624, 3641, and 3661 of this
title] may be cited as the `Postal Reorganization Act Amendments of
1976'.''
Short Title
Pub. L. 91-375, Sec. 1, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 719, provided:
``That this Act [revising this title, enacting sections 1735 to 1737 of
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, amending section 356 of Title
2, The Congress, section 19 of Title 3, The President, sections 101,
104, 2104, 2105, 3104, 3304a, 4301, 5102, 5303, 5304, 5312, 5314 to
5316, 5541, 6301, 6323, 7101, and 8344 of Title 5, Government
Organization and Employees, sections 24 seventh par., 1701d-3, and 1701e
of Title 12, Banks and Banking, section 637 of Title 15, Commerce and
Trade, section 460l-1 of Title 16, Conservation, section 8 of former
Title 17, Copyrights, sections 12, 440, 441, 500, 501, 612, 876, 877,
1114, 1303, 1341, 1342, 1463, 1696, 1699, 1703, 1704, 1707, 1709 to
1713, 1715, 1716, 1716A, 1717, 1718, 1721 to 1725, 1729, 1730, 1733, and
3061 of Title 18, section 611 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and
Intercourse, sections 72 fifth par., 129, and 724a of former Title 31,
Money and Finance, sections 356, 474, 615, 723, and 724 of former Title
40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works, and section 2942 of Title 42,
The Public Health and Welfare, repealing section 3327 of Title 5 and
section 1028 of former Title 31, and enacting provisions set out as
notes under this section and sections 201, 601, 1001, 1003, 1201, 2002,
2004, 3010, and 3621 of this title] may be cited as the `Postal
Reorganization Act'.''
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 404, 1003, 2401, 5001 of
this title.
