Title 39 — Postal ServiceRelease 119-73not60
§3215 Lending or Permitting Use of Frank Unlawful
Title 39 › Part IV— MAIL MATTER › Chapter 32— PENALTY AND FRANKED MAIL › § 3215
Summary
Anyone with the franking privilege (official free mail) may not lend it or let outside groups use it or benefit from it. The rule does not apply to congressional committees or commissions made up of Members, or to the Democratic caucus or Republican conference of either House.
Full Legal Text
Title 39, §3215
Postal Service — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
A person entitled to use a frank may not lend it or permit its use by any committee, organization, or association, or permit its use by any person for the benefit or use of any committee, organization, or association. This section does not apply to any standing, select, special, or joint committee, or subcommittee thereof, or commission, of the Senate, House of Representatives, or Congress, composed of Members of Congress, or to the Democratic caucus or the Republican conference of the House of Representatives or of the Senate.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1973—Pub. L. 93–191 substituted provision for nonapplication of section to “any standing, select, special, or joint committee, or subcommittee thereof, or commission, of the Senate, House of Representatives, or Congress, composed of Members of Congress, or to the Democratic caucus or the Republican conference of the House of Representatives or of the Senate” for such nonapplication to “any committee composed of Members of Congress”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1973 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 93–191 effective Dec. 18, 1973, see section 14 of Pub. L. 93–191, set out as a note under section 3210 of this title.
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. § 3215
Title 39 — Postal Service
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60