Mail Theft and Postal Key Crime Prevention Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
Introduced
Summary
Federal coordination and tougher penalties for organized mail theft. This bill would create district-level Mail Theft Coordinators, require annual reports on organized mail theft for five years, and direct the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and increase penalties for crimes involving postal keys, large-scale mail-theft schemes, identity or financial fraud enabled by stolen mail, and violence against postal workers.
Show full summary
- Postal workers: It targets crimes that threaten Postal Service employees and contractors and calls for sentencing enhancements for offenses involving violence or threats.
- Consumers and small businesses: Requires annual reports for 5 years to track trends in mail theft, stolen postal keys, and related fraud, and to recommend improvements to prevention, investigation, and prosecution.
- Prosecutors and law enforcement: Establishes an assistant U.S. attorney in each federal judicial district as a Mail Theft Coordinator to lead investigations and coordinate with the Postal Inspection Service, FBI, DHS, Treasury, and state and local partners.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New district mail theft coordinators
This bill would require the Attorney General to name an assistant U.S. attorney in every federal judicial district as a Mail Theft Coordinator. Each coordinator would lead investigations and prosecutions of postal key theft (18 U.S.C. § 1704), stolen mail (18 U.S.C. § 1708), and organized schemes that use stolen mail for identity, check, bank, or access-device fraud. Coordinators would be required to coordinate with the Postal Inspection Service, FBI, DHS, Treasury, and state and local law enforcement. This would take effect upon enactment.
Clarify federal law enforcement powers
This bill would make clear that nothing in it limits any authority otherwise available to the Department of Justice, the Postal Inspection Service, or any other federal law enforcement agency. This is a rule-of-construction legal clarification and would take effect upon enactment.
Tougher federal mail theft sentences
This bill would require the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and amend federal sentencing guidelines by May 1 of the first calendar year after enactment. The review would ensure enhanced sentences for theft, duplication, or trafficking of postal keys or counterfeit access devices; organized or large-scale mail-theft schemes; identity, check, bank, or access-device fraud using stolen mail; threats or violence targeting USPS employees or contractors; and thefts that harm many victims or cause substantial financial loss. The Commission would complete the review and any guideline changes by that May 1 deadline.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
CA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]
MN • D
Sponsored 8/31/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov