A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 8 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Deliver for Democracy Act" aims to ensure the United States Postal Service delivers periodicals on time. It requires the Postal Regulatory Commission to withhold additional rate authority for periodicals unless specific on-time delivery performance goals are met. The bill also mandates an annual progress report from the Postmaster General regarding on-time performance for in-county and out-of-county newspaper mail. This report must include stakeholder feedback and continue until these categories are integrated into existing performance measurements. Finally, the Comptroller General is tasked with studying alternative pricing schemes to improve the financial standing of periodicals and other products that do not cover their costs.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +2
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
Mandating public annual reports and stakeholder feedback improves transparency regarding postal service performance.
- Scored +2
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
Improving mail delivery reliability functions as a form of consumer protection for periodical subscribers.
- Scored +2
Does this protect what people are allowed to say in public life?
Ensuring timely delivery of newspapers supports the accessibility of news and information essential for a democracy.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Delivery Reliability: The bill requires the Postal Regulatory Commission to ensure the United States Postal Service achieves either a 95 percent on-time delivery performance or a 2 percentage point increase in performance before authorizing additional rate authority for periodicals. This could lead to more reliable mail service for people receiving periodicals (Section 2).
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Improved Data Tracking: The Postmaster General is required to submit an annual report on the progress of including on-time performance data for in-county and out-of-county newspaper mail. This ensures there is more visibility into how local and distant news mail is being delivered (Section 3(a)).
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Stakeholder Engagement: The bill requires the Postmaster General to solicit feedback from relevant stakeholders when carrying out the annual progress report, giving interested parties a voice in the process (Section 3(a)).
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Financial Improvement of Certain Products: The Comptroller General is directed to study alternative pricing schemes that could improve the financial position of periodicals and other products that currently do not cover their costs (Section 4(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Potential Costs of Reporting: If the Postmaster General and the Postal Regulatory Commission determine that identifying specific newspaper mail is not practicable, they must report on the potential costs resulting from the report requirement for the United States Postal Service and applicable businesses (Section 3(d)(1)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill may improve service reliability for businesses that rely on periodical mailings. Would retired people be better off under this? — Retirees frequently utilize periodical mail for news and informational purposes. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Reliable delivery of periodicals is particularly important for rural inhabitants. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Seniors often rely heavily on physical periodicals and mail for information and connection.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Mandating public annual reports and stakeholder feedback improves transparency regarding postal service performance. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill increases federal oversight of the USPS regarding service standards and rate authority.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — Improving mail delivery reliability functions as a form of consumer protection for periodical subscribers.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this protect what people are allowed to say in public life? — Ensuring timely delivery of newspapers supports the accessibility of news and information essential for a democracy.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Improving postal service reliability for periodicals can benefit rural areas that rely on physical mail for information.
- 3/12/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 8 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat · Wisconsin
John HoevenRepublican · North Dakota
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Mike RoundsRepublican · South Dakota
Bernie SandersIndependent · Vermont
Tina SmithDemocrat · Minnesota
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon