§406 — Title 39 Postal Service | U.S. Code

Summary

The Postal Service may set up branch post offices at military camps, posts, bases, stations, and at defense or other strategic installations. The Secretaries of Defense and Transportation must arrange for postal services at those offices using staff they choose. The Secretary of Defense can allow U.S. citizens who work for NATO and who support U.S. military operations to use a post office located outside the United States, but the Secretary must put that approval in writing and say it is both in the Department of Defense’s best interest and allowed by the host country’s law or agreement. No money may be used to create, maintain, or expand a post office for that NATO-related use.

Title 39, §406

Postal Service — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Postal Service may establish branch post offices at camps, posts, bases, or stations of the Armed Forces and at defense or other strategic installations.

(b)The Secretaries of Defense and Transportation shall make arrangements with the Postal Service to perform postal services through personnel designated by them at or through branch post offices established under subsection (a) of this section.

(c)(1)The Secretary of Defense shall authorize the use of a post office established under subsection (a) in a location outside the United States by citizens of the United States—

(A)who—

(i)are employed by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; and

(ii)perform functions in support of the Armed Forces of the United States; and

(B)if the Secretary makes a written determination that such use is—

(i)in the best interests of the Department of Defense; and

(ii)otherwise authorized by applicable host nation law or agreement.

(2)No funds may be obligated or expended to establish, maintain, or expand a post office established under subsection (a) for the purpose of use described in paragraph (1) of this subsection.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2023—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 118–31 substituted “shall authorize the use” for “may authorize the use” in introductory provisions. 2019—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 116–92 added subsec. (c).

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.

§406 Postal Services at Armed Forces Installations