PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

The Postal Service must collect money owed to it. It must also collect and send in fines, penalties, and forfeitures that come from matters affecting the Postal Service. It can fix, pay, or credit the accounts of a postmaster or a military person doing postal work when Postal Service funds, stamps, papers, or other accountable items are lost. It can set penalties if people fail to give required accounts. If a debt can’t be collected administratively, it may send the case to the Government Accountability Office to try to collect it. That does not limit the Attorney General’s power to take cases to court. When someone is disabled or may owe money to the Postal Service because of damage or other reasons, the Postal Service must decide if it needs to act. If it decides to act, it may remove the disability or settle, release, or cancel the claim on terms it thinks are fair.

Title 39, §2601

Postal Service, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Postal Service—

(1)shall collect debts due the Postal Service;

(2)shall collect and remit fines, penalties, and forfeitures arising out of matters affecting the Postal Service;

(3)may adjust, pay, or credit the account of a postmaster or of an enlisted person of an Armed Force performing postal duties, for any loss of Postal Service funds, papers, postage, or other stamped stock or accountable paper; and

(4)may prescribe penalties for failure to render accounts.

The Postal Service may refer any matter, which is uncollectable through administrative action, to the Government Accountability Office for collection. This subsection does not affect the authority of the Attorney General in cases in which judicial proceedings are instituted.

(b)In all cases of disability or alleged liability for any sum of money by way of damages or otherwise, under any provision of law in relation to the officers, employees, operations, or business of the Postal Service, the Postal Service shall determine whether the interests of the Postal Service probably require the exercise of its powers over the same. Upon the determination, the Postal Service on such terms as it deems just and expedient, may—

(1)remove the disability; or

(2)compromise, release, or discharge the claim for such sum of money and damages.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2004—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–271 substituted “Government Accountability Office” for “General Accounting Office” in concluding provisions.

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.

§2601 Collection and Adjustment of Debts