Title 39 — Postal ServiceRelease 119-73
§5006 Lien on compensation of contractor
Title 39 › Part PART V— - TRANSPORTATION OF MAIL › Chapter CHAPTER 50— - GENERAL › § 5006
Summary
The Postal Service may pay a person who worked for a contractor or subcontractor transporting mail if that person filed the service contract and proof they did the work, and the contractor still hasn’t paid within 2 months after the month the work was done. The Postal Service will charge that payment to the contract, and it cannot be more than the contractor’s annual pay.
Full Legal Text
Title 39, §5006
Postal Service — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)A person who—
(1)performs service for a contractor or subcontractor in the transportation of mail;
(2)files his contract for service with the Postal Service; and
(3)files satisfactory evidence of performance with the Postal Service;
(b)The Postal Service may pay the person establishing a lien under subsection (a) of this section the sum due him, when the contractor or subcontractor fails to pay the person the amount of his lien within 2 months after the expiration of the month in which the service was performed. It shall charge the amount so paid to the contract. The payments may not exceed the annual rate of pay of the contractor or subcontractor.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective July 1, 1971, pursuant to Resolution No. 71–9 of the Board of Governors. See section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as a note preceding section 101 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
39 U.S.C. § 5006
Title 39 — Postal Service
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73