Pony Up Act | ChamberLight

IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS

House BillHR 431User charges and feesAdministrative remedies

Pony Up Act

INTRO JAN 15· LAST ACTION JAN 15

READING

5MIN

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LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 2 / 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed House

Passed Senate

Conference

To President

Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

This bill matters because it aims to protect consumers from financial penalties caused by mail service issues, shifting the responsibility for these fees back to the entity responsible for the delay – the Postal Service. Currently, individuals bear the cost of late fees even if mail delays are beyond their control, which can be particularly burdensome for those on fixed incomes or who do not have access to online payment options. If this bill becomes law, it provides a clear pathway for reimbursement, potentially saving people money and holding the USPS accountable for timely delivery. If it doesn't pass, consumers will continue to absorb these late fees themselves, and there will be no new requirements for increased transparency regarding mail delivery performance or audits into mail prioritization.

KEY PROVISIONS

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PROVISION 01

The United States Postal Service (USPS) must reimburse citizens for late fees or penalties on bills if the delay was caused by the USPS.

This provision directly addresses financial burdens on consumers due to mail delays by making the USPS accountable.

PROVISION 02

Citizens can apply for reimbursement online, by mail, or at any post office, and can appeal denied claims to a Judicial Officer.

This establishes a clear, accessible process for individuals to seek compensation and challenge unfavorable decisions.

PROVISION 03

The USPS must issue official rules for this reimbursement system within 60 days of the bill's enactment.

This ensures a timely implementation of the new policy, providing clarity on how the system will operate.

PROVISION 04

The USPS must submit annual reports to Congress on mail delivery delays, including average delivery and delay times for different mail types.

This increases transparency regarding mail service performance and provides data for congressional oversight.

PROVISION 05

The USPS Inspector General must assess if the USPS prioritizes certain types of mail over others within the same class.

This addresses concerns about fairness and potential unequal treatment of different mail categories.

SPONSORSHIP

1 + 10

COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 20%

DEM 1 REP 9 IND 0

ACTION TIMELINE

2 EVENTS

JAN 15

Introduced in House

INTROREFERRAL

JAN 15

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

HOUSE · INTROREFERRAL

BILL INFO

TypeHouse Bill

NumberHR 431

Congress119th

StatusIn Committee

IntroducedJan 15, 2025

Last actionJan 15, 2025

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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED JAN 15, 2025

House BillHR 431User charges and feesAdministrative remedies

Pony Up Act

INTRODUCED JAN 15, 2025· LAST ACTION JAN 15, 2025

PASSAGE CHANCES

—%

READING

5 min

COSPONSORS

COMPLEXITY

Moderate

Call my reps Congress.gov

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 2 OF 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed House

Passed Senate

Conference

To President

Became Law

Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

KEY PROVISIONS

AI-extracted

high

The United States Postal Service (USPS) must reimburse citizens for late fees or penalties on bills if the delay was caused by the USPS.

This provision directly addresses financial burdens on consumers due to mail delays by making the USPS accountable.

med

Citizens can apply for reimbursement online, by mail, or at any post office, and can appeal denied claims to a Judicial Officer.

This establishes a clear, accessible process for individuals to seek compensation and challenge unfavorable decisions.

med

The USPS must issue official rules for this reimbursement system within 60 days of the bill's enactment.

This ensures a timely implementation of the new policy, providing clarity on how the system will operate.

high

The USPS must submit annual reports to Congress on mail delivery delays, including average delivery and delay times for different mail types.

This increases transparency regarding mail service performance and provides data for congressional oversight.

high

The USPS Inspector General must assess if the USPS prioritizes certain types of mail over others within the same class.

This addresses concerns about fairness and potential unequal treatment of different mail categories.

DEADLINES & DATES

AI-extracted

An AI model extracted this from the bill’s official record and can make mistakes. Check the official text ↗ (opens in new tab)

Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment

USPS to issue rules implementing the section on fee payments.

Within 30 days after receiving notice of such determination

Citizen must submit appeal of USPS determination to the Judicial Officer.

Not later than one year after the date of enactment

USPS to submit first annual report on mail delivery delays.

Not later than one year after the date of enactment

Inspector General to submit report on mail prioritization assessment.

GLOSSARY

AI-written

United States Postal Service (USPS): An independent agency of the executive branch of the U.S. federal government responsible for providing postal service in the United States.
Judicial Officer: An official within the United States Postal Service who makes final decisions on administrative appeals, appointed under federal law.
Delivered late: For a bill or notice: The USPS received it 12 or more days before due date, but delivered it less than 6 days before the due date. For a payment: The USPS received it 5 or more days before due date, but delivered it after the due date.
Class of mail: Categories of mail service defined by the Postal Service based on characteristics like content, weight, and speed of delivery.
Inspector General: An official within a government agency responsible for auditing and investigating the agency's operations to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.

ACTION TIMELINE

2 EVENTS

JAN 15, 25

Introduced in House

INTROREFERRAL

JAN 15, 25

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

INTROREFERRAL

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Pony Up Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

SPONSORSHIP

ACTION TIMELINE

BILL INFO

READER REACTIONS

Discussion

Pony Up Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

DEADLINES & DATES

GLOSSARY

ACTION TIMELINE

SPONSORS

READER REACTIONS

What do you think?

Discussion

MORE INFORMATION

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