Title 22, Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-110

§3741 Postal Service

Title 22 › CHAPTER 51 — PANAMA CANAL › SUBCHAPTER I — ADMINISTRATION AND REGULATIONS › Part 3 — Funds and Accounts › subpart iv — postal matters › § 3741

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Commission must take over the Canal Zone postal service’s money and handle its debts and obligations. As of December 1, 1999, neither the Commission nor the United States government is responsible for paying out any accumulated unpaid postal-savings deposits, postal-savings certificates, or postal money orders. The United States Postal Service may send mail to the Canal Zone from or through the continental U.S. to U.S. military post offices in the Republic of Panama. Those military post offices must give directory services and accept mail as allowed by the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related agreements. The Commission must provide staff, records, and other help so the mail can be delivered, rerouted, or returned when appropriate.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §3741

Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Possession or administration of funds by Commission
The Commission shall take possession of and administer the funds of the Canal Zone postal service and shall assume its obligations.
(b)Expiration of responsibility for unpaid balances
Effective December 1, 1999, neither the Commission nor the United States Government shall be responsible for the distribution of any accumulated unpaid balances relating to Canal Zone postal-savings deposits, postal-savings certificates, and postal money orders.
(c)Mail addressed to Canal Zone from or through United States
Mail addressed to the Canal Zone from or through the continental United States may be routed by the United States Postal Service to the military post offices of the United States Armed Forces in the Republic of Panama. Such military post offices shall provide the required directory services and shall accept such mail to the extent permitted under the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related agreements. The Commission shall furnish personnel, records, and other services to such military post offices to assure wherever appropriate the distribution, rerouting, or return of such mail.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–201 reenacted section catchline without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text was comprised of subsecs. (a) to (d) of section 1331 of Pub. L. 96–70 which provided for discontinuation of postal service under former Canal Zone Code,

Savings Provision

, possession and administration of postal funds by Commission, and handling of mail addressed to the Canal Zone. Prior to amendment, section 1331 also contained a subsec. (e) which amended section 403, 3401, 3402, and 3682 of Title 39, Postal Service.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 3741

Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110