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Deceptive Mailings Prevention Act of 1990

Public Law 101-524 · H.R. 2331 · 101st Congress · began in the House

Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Nov 6, 1990 · Government Operations and Politics

Sponsor: Rep. Francis McCloskey (D-IN-8)

Cosponsors (9): Rep. Benjamin Gilman,

Passage votes

  • HouseUnanimous consent
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Deceptive Mailings Prevention Act of 1990 - Amends Federal law to declare nonmailable any mail matter which constitutes a solicitation by a non-governmental entity: (1) for the purchase of or payment for products or services and which contains a seal, insignia, trade or brand name, or any other term or symbol which reasonably could be interpreted or construed as implying Federal Government connection, approval, or endorsement; and (2) for information or the contribution of funds or membership fees and which contains a seal, insignia, trade or brand name, or any other term or symbol which could reasonably be interpreted or construed as implying Federal Government connection, approval, or endorsement. Allows the mailing of such matter if it contains a conspicuous disclaimer that it is not a Government document.

Imposes penalties for violations of this Act.

Requires the United States Postal Service to conduct comprehensive reviews to determine: (1) whether or not certain provisions of the Domestic Mail Manual relating to the authority of postmasters with respect to the mailability of matter are being properly observed; and (2) the feasibility of establishing a procedure to obtain a final agency decision through expedited proceedings as to the mailability of mail matter which is denied entry into the mails on the basis of incorrect mail preparation, postage due, or addressing. Directs the Postal Service to: (1) take appropriate measures to ensure that any misapplication or misunderstanding of such mailability provisions is corrected; (2) report to the Congress on its findings and actions regarding such reviews; and (3) coordinate the administration of this Act with the Secretary of Health and Human Services pursuant to the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988.

Authorizes the Postal Service and the State Department to test the feasibility of providing postal services through State Department personnel at overseas diplomatic missions and to establish branch post offices at overseas diplomatic missions at locations where postal services are not provided at armed forces installations. Permits the establishment of such branch post offices if it is determined feasible and in the public interest.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 21 actions.

  1. Nov 6, 1990Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-524.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 25, 1990PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 19, 1990Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  5. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to without objection.
  6. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. McCloskey asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendments.
  7. Oct 4, 1990FloorFloor · Passed Senate in lieu of S. 273 with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Voice Vote.
  8. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  9. CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
  10. Aug 3, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
  11. Jul 31, 1989FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  12. FloorFloor · The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
  13. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  14. FloorFloor · Mr. McCloskey moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  15. Jul 26, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
  16. Jul 12, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
  17. Jul 11, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Postal Personnel and Modernization Subcommittee of the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
  18. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Postal Personnel and Modernization Subcommittee of the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
  19. May 19, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Postal Personnel and Modernization Subcommittee of the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
  20. May 11, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
  21. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.