Postal Reorganization Act Amendments of 1976
Public Law 94-421 · H.R. 8603 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Sep 24, 1976 · Government Operations and Politics
Sponsor: Rep. James Hanley (D-NY-32)
Cosponsors (5): Rep. Robert Nix, Rep. William Ford,
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 276 yea, 33 nay276–33
- SenateMethod not stated
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.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Postal Reorganization Act Amendments - Authorizes the appropriation of $500,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1976 and 1977 to be applied against the accumulated operating indebtedness of the Postal Service as of September 30, 1976 and September 30, 1977. Provides that during the period from the appropriation of the first $500,000,000 until March 15, 1977, the Service shall not effect rate or fee increases, shall not provide lesser types of postal service, and shall not lose any post office where 35 or more families regularly receive mail. Requires door deliverly or curbline delivery during such period to all permanent residential addresses.
Requires the Postal Service during an interim period to provide door delivery or curbline delivery to all permanent residential addresses to which service has begun on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
Directs the Postal Service to present to the Committees on Post Office and Civil Service and the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives sufficient copies of the budget of the Postal Service for the fiscal year which funds are requested, and a comprehensive planning statement. Requires the Postal Service to appear before such legislative committees no later than March 15 of each year to give testimony with respect to such budget and statement.
Prohibits appropriations made under this Act from being utilized in a manner as to effect a reduction of more than ten percent in the Parcel Post rates.
Directs the Postal Rate Commission to reply to the Postal Service within ten months after a request has been made for a change in rates or fees. Authorizes the Postal Service to establish temporary changes in postage rates if the Rate Commission fails to respond as required by this Act. Limits the amount of any such temporary rate increase to an amount sufficient to equal the total estimated costs of the Postal Service.
Establishes a Commission on Postal Service which shall report by March 15, 1977 to the President and the Congress on the problems facing the Service, and shall 60 days thereafter cease to exist. Authorizes necessary appropriations for such purpose.
Requires the Postal Service to provide adequate notice 60 days prior to the closing date or consolidation of a post office to insure persons an opportunity to present their views. Specifies the factors to be considered in deciding whether or not to close a postal facility. Permits the appeal of any such decision to close or consolidate a postal facility to any United States court of appeals.
Deems college catalogs and looseleaf publications "periodicals" for the purpose of admission in the postal system as second-class mail.
Extends nonprofit mailing status to publications relating to a State fish or wildlife agency. Broadens the definition of an agricultural nonprofit association or organization to include associations engaged in the harvesting of marine life.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 94th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 286 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
286 yea40 nay104 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(194)
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-1- Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-9- Rep. John MossD-CA-3
- Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
- Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-8
- Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
- Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
- Rep. Elizabeth HoltzmanD-NY-16
- Rep. Gus HawkinsD-CA-29
- Rep. Benjamin RosenthalD-NY-8
- Rep. Frank ThompsonD-NJ-4
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8- Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
- Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
- Rep. Barbara JordanD-TX-18
- Rep. Robert NixD-PA-2
- Rep. William FordD-MI-15
- Rep. Harold JohnsonD-CA-1
- Rep. Robert EckhardtD-TX-8
- Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
- Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
- Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16- Rep. John BurtonD-CA-5
- Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
- Rep. James ScheuerD-NY-11
- Rep. John McFallD-CA-14
- Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
- Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
- Rep. Edward KochD-NY-18
- Rep. Richard BollingD-MO-5
- Rep. Joshua EilbergD-PA-4
- Rep. Robert LeggettD-CA-4
- Rep. Henry ReussD-WI-5
- Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
- Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
- Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7- Rep. Lloyd MeedsD-WA-2
- Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
- Rep. Ray MaddenD-IN-1
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
Rep. Richard NolanD-MN-6- Rep. Dominick DanielsD-NJ-14
- Rep. Floyd HicksD-WA-6
- Rep. James BurkeD-MA-11
- Rep. William LehmanD-FL-13
- Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
- Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
- Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
- Rep. Abner MikvaD-IL-10
- Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-30
- Rep. James O’HaraD-MI-12
- Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
- Rep. Donald FraserD-MN-5
- Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
- Rep. Daniel FloodD-PA-11
- Rep. John DentD-PA-21
- Rep. Lucien NedziD-MI-14
- Rep. William MoorheadD-PA-14
- Rep. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
- Rep. Paul SarbanesD-MD-3
- Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
- Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
- Rep. Paul TsongasD-MA-5
- Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
- Rep. Philip HayesD-IN-8
- Rep. Joseph EvinsD-TN-4
- Rep. James HanleyD-NY-32
- Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
- Rep. Robert JonesD-AL-5
- Rep. Donald RiegleD-MI-7
- Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
- Rep. Charles VanikD-OH-22
- Rep. James DelaneyD-NY-9
- Rep. Tim HallD-IL-15
- Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
- Rep. William HungateD-MO-9
- Rep. William CotterD-CT-1
- Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-12
- Rep. Herbert HarrisD-VA-8
- Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-24
- Rep. Toby MoffettD-CT-6
- Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
- Rep. Frederick RooneyD-PA-15
- Rep. Leonor SullivanD-MO-3
- Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
- Rep. Albert UllmanD-OR-2
- Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
- Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
- Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
- Rep. James SymingtonD-MO-2
- Rep. Robert CornellD-WI-8
- Rep. Gene MaguireD-NJ-7
- Rep. James FlorioD-NJ-1
- Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
- Rep. Edward PattisonD-NY-29
- Rep. James BlanchardD-MI-18
- Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
- Rep. Mike McCormackD-WA-4
- Rep. Alvin BaldusD-WI-3
- Rep. Gladys SpellmanD-MD-5
- Rep. James LloydD-CA-35
Rep. Max BaucusD-MT-1- Rep. George ShipleyD-IL-22
- Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-37
- Rep. Stanley LundineD-NY-39
- Rep. Joseph FisherD-VA-10
- Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
- Rep. Michael BlouinD-IA-2
- Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
- Rep. Mark HannafordD-CA-34
- Rep. Koln McKayD-UT-1
- Rep. Clifford AllenD-TN-5
- Rep. John JenretteD-SC-6
- Rep. Otis PikeD-NY-1
- Rep. Lester WolffD-NY-6
- Rep. John KrebsD-CA-17
- Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
- Rep. Robert GiaimoD-CT-3
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12- Rep. Mendel DavisD-SC-1
Rep. Christopher DoddD-CT-2- Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
- Rep. John SlackD-WV-3
- Rep. Martha KeysD-KS-2
- Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
- Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
- Rep. Robert DuncanD-OR-3
- Rep. Lunsford PreyerD-NC-6
- Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
- Rep. Jerome AmbroD-NY-3
- Rep. John YoungD-TX-14
- Rep. Wilbur MillsD-AR-2
- Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-7
- Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-28
- Rep. John BreckinridgeD-KY-6
- Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-6
- Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-36
- Rep. Theodore RisenhooverD-OK-2
- Rep. Thomas AshleyD-OH-9
- Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
- Rep. Ray ThorntonD-AR-4
- Rep. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5- Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
- Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
- Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
- Rep. Floyd FithianD-IN-2
- Rep. James SantiniD-NV
- Rep. John RoushD-IN-4
- Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
- Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
- Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
- Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
- Rep. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
- Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
- Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
- Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
- Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
- Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
- Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
- Rep. David HendersonD-NC-3
- Rep. George MahonD-TX-19
- Rep. Walter FlowersD-AL-7
- Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
- Rep. Paul RogersD-FL-11
- Rep. Robert KruegerD-TX-21
- Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
- Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
- Rep. John BreauxD-LA-7
- Rep. Herbert RobertsD-TX-4
- Rep. Kenneth HechlerD-WV-4
- Rep. David BowenD-MS-2
- Rep. David EvansD-IN-6
- Rep. Otto PassmanD-LA-5
- Rep. Roy TaylorD-NC-11
- Rep. William ChappellD-FL-4
- Rep. Elliott LevitasD-GA-4
- Rep. Lawrence FountainD-NC-2
- Rep. Olin TeagueD-TX-6
- Rep. James HaleyD-FL-8
- Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
- Rep. Marvin MathisD-GA-2
- Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-11
- Rep. Phillip LandrumD-GA-9
- Rep. Williamson StuckeyD-GA-8
- Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
- Rep. Thomas DowningD-VA-1
- Rep. Goodloe ByronD-MD-6
- Rep. John FlyntD-GA-6
- Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
- Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5
Republicans who voted yea(92)
- Rep. Charles WhalenR-OH-3
- Rep. Gilbert GudeR-MD-8
- Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-12
- Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
- Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-34
- Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-26
- Rep. Margaret HecklerR-MA-10
- Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
- Rep. Henry HeinzR-PA-18
- Rep. William WalshR-NY-33
- Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
- Rep. Tim CarterR-KY-5
- Rep. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
- Rep. William CohenR-ME-2
- Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
- Rep. Ronald SarasinR-CT-5
- Rep. David EmeryR-ME-1
- Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
- Rep. Joel PritchardR-WA-1
- Rep. Millicent FenwickR-NJ-5
- Rep. William HarshaR-OH-6
- Rep. Elwood HillisR-IN-5
- Rep. John StantonR-OH-11
- Rep. Charles MosherR-OH-13
- Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
- Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-21
- Rep. James ClevelandR-NH-2
- Rep. William WamplerR-VA-9
- Rep. John AndersonR-IL-16
Rep. Thad CochranR-MS-4- Rep. Pierre du PontR-DE
- Rep. Tennyson GuyerR-OH-4
- Rep. Albert JohnsonR-PA-23
- Rep. Garner ShriverR-KS-4
- Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-17
Rep. Trent LottR-MS-5- Rep. Herbert BurkeR-FL-12
- Rep. John DuncanR-TN-2
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16- Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
- Rep. Edward DerwinskiR-IL-4
- Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
- Rep. Charles ThoneR-NE-1
- Rep. Burt TalcottR-CA-16
- Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
- Rep. Shirley PettisR-CA-37
- Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
- Rep. Louis FreyR-FL-9
- Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
- Rep. George WhitehurstR-VA-2
- Rep. Skip BafalisR-FL-10
- Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
- Rep. Elford CederbergR-MI-10
- Rep. Robert McCloryR-IL-13
- Rep. Robert DanielR-VA-4
- Rep. Garry BrownR-MI-3
- Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
- Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
- Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
- Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
- Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
Rep. Chuck GrassleyR-IA-3- Rep. John WydlerR-NY-5
- Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
- Rep. Robert McEwenR-NY-30
- Rep. William SteigerR-WI-6
- Rep. James BroyhillR-NC-10
- Rep. Manley ButlerR-VA-6
- Rep. Thomas HagedornR-MN-2
- Rep. Gary MyersR-PA-25
- Rep. Edwin ForsytheR-NJ-6
- Rep. James RobinsonR-VA-7
- Rep. Jack KempR-NY-38
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-6- Rep. Barry GoldwaterR-CA-20
- Rep. David TreenR-LA-3
- Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
- Rep. Robin BeardR-TN-6
- Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
- Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
- Rep. Clarence BrownR-OH-7
- Rep. John ErlenbornR-IL-14
- Rep. Marjorie HoltR-MD-4
- Rep. James MartinR-NC-9
- Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
- Rep. Richard KellyR-FL-5
- Rep. Edward HutchinsonR-MI-4
- Rep. Clarence MillerR-OH-10
- Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
- Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
- Rep. Robert BaumanR-MD-1
- Rep. Herman SchneebeliR-PA-17
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1151 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Post Office and Civil Service Committee · House · referred to, reported by
Post Office and Civil Service Committee · Senate · referred to, reported by
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.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 22 actions.
- Sep 24, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-421.
- Sep 13, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Sep 10, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, roll call #710 (276-33).House roll call 710
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #710 (276-33).House roll call 710
- Aug 31, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-1444.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-1444.
- Aug 26, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to instruct House conferees on certain provisions tabled, roll call #663 (234-153).House roll call 663
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Aug 24, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #524 (79-9).Senate roll call 524
- Jun 21, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Post Office and Civil Service Committee
- Nov 3, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Post Office and Civil Service Committee
- Oct 30, 1975FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #652 (267-113).House roll call 652
- FloorFloor · Motion to recommit to Committee on Post Office and Civil Service with instructions rejected in House, roll call #651 (129-250).House roll call 651
- Jul 24, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
- Jul 14, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
- 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.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.