H.R. 8491

119 HR 8491 IH: Postal Alert and Weather Preparedness Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-04-23
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 EN
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 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 8491  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   April 23, 2026   Ms. Scholten  introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Oversight and Government Reform    A BILL
To direct the United States Postal Service to conduct a study on the feasibility of carrying out a program to provide electronic notifications to Postal Service customers regarding weather and mail delivery, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Postal Alert and Weather Preparedness Act  .
2.
Feasibility study on program to send electronic notifications regarding weather and mail delivery to Postal Service customers
(a)
Study and report
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Postmaster General shall—
(1)
conduct a study to evaluate the feasibility of carrying out a program, using the United States Postal Service’s informed delivery platform, under which the Postal Service may send electronic notifications to Postal Service customers regarding weather and mail delivery, including notifications—
(A)
with respect to a delay in the delivery of mail as a result of inclement weather or natural disasters;
(B)
that post offices and other Postal Service locations may be closed or operating with limited hours and staffing as a result of inclement weather or natural disasters; and
(C)
that property owners and renters should clear walkways to their doors and mailboxes for mail carriers in the event of the accumulation of snow, sleet, ice, or debris; and
(2)
submit a report on such study to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate.
(b)
Requirements
In the study under subsection (a), the Postmaster General shall evaluate the following with respect to carrying out the program:
(1)
Methods of how the Postal Service would expand the ability of Postal Service customers to be enrolled in the informed delivery platform.
(2)
How electronic messages will be sent under the program, the criteria for sending messages and appropriate content of messages, and who will receive the message.
(c)
Contact information
For purposes of subsection (b)(1)(B), the term  contact information  shall only include the name, mailing address, email address, or phone number of any Postal Service Customer.
(d)
Program
On or after the date the report is submitted to Congress under subsection (a)(2), the Postal Service may carry out the program described in such study.
(e)
Application
The Postal Service may carry out this Act notwithstanding section 552a of title 5, United States Code, (commonly known as the  Privacy Act of 1974 ).