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1 1 (February 7, 2019)

handle is hein.crs/govxzo0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Franked Mail: Overview Background Official mail, sometimes referred to as franked mail, allows Members of Congress to transmit mail matter under their signature, or frank, without prepayment for postage. Members' ability to send franked mail facilitates official communication between elected officials and their constituents. Although franked mail does not require prepayment of postage, Congress pays the U.S. Postal Service for the cost of franked mail in annual appropriations bills. Members' use and the content of official mail is regulated by several sources, including federal law and chamber rules and regulations. Official communications sent as franked mail may include such items as letters in response to constituent requests for information, newsletters regarding legislation and Member votes, press releases about official Member activities, copies of the Congressional Record and government reports, and notices about upcoming town meetings organized by Members, among others. Member Mail Allowances Congress pays the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) for franked mail through annual appropriations for the legislative branch. Each chamber uses a formula to allocate funds to Members from these appropriations. In the Senate, the allocation process is administered by the Committee on Rules and Administration; in the House, by the Committee on House Administration. In the Senate, each Senator's franked mail postage allowance is determined by a formula that gives a maximum allowance equal to the cost of one first-class mailing to every address in the Senator's state. If the total Senate appropriation for official mail is less than the amount required for the maximum allowance, each Senator's allowance is proportionally reduced. A Senate office that exceeds its allowance may supplement the allowance with official office account funds. Senators are, however, limited to $50,000 for mass mailings (defined as 500 or more identical pieces of unsolicited mail) in any fiscal year; mass mailings must be paid through Senators' Official Personnel and Office Expense Account (SOPOEA). As with other official expenses, Members of the House are permitted to spend any portion of their Member Representational Allowance (MRA) on franked mail, subject to law and House regulations. The total amount of each Member's MRA is determined in part by a franked mail postage allowance; this mail allowance is calculated based on the number of nonbusiness addresses in each Member's district. Each Representative's franked mail allowance is combined with allowances for office staff and official office expenses to form an overall MRA. Updated February 7, 2019 Cost of Congressional Official Mail According to USPS, Congress spent $19.8 million on official mail during FY2018, representing approximately 0.4% of the $4.7 billion budget for the entire legislative branch for FY2018. House official mail costs ($18.5 million) were 94% of the total, whereas Senate official mail costs ($1.2 million) were 6% of the total. During FY2017, Congress spent $7.7 million on official mail. House official mail costs ($6.5 million) were 85% of the total, whereas Senate official mail costs ($1.2 million) were 15% of the total. Figure 1 shows House and Senate official mail costs from FY1979-FY2018. Figure I.Official Mail Costs, FYI 978-FY2018 By Chamber, Nominal Dollars 0 CC C 7) $2 F- < 4> 4 V Fiscal Year & ot 4fr 4~ Source: CRS analysis of U.S. Postal Service data. A number of factors, including technological changes and reform efforts, have reduced official mail costs over the past 30 years. Expenditures during even-numbered fiscal years have been reduced by over 80% from a high of $113.4 million in FY1988 to $19.8 million in FY2018. Similarly, expenditures during odd-numbered fiscal years have been reduced by over 90% from $89.5 million in FY1989 to $7.7 million in FY2017. House mail costs have decreased from a high of $77.9 million in FY1988 to $18.5 million in FY2018. The Senate has also reduced its costs, from a high of $43.6 million in FY1984 to $1.2 million in FY2018. Regulation The use of franked mail is regulated by federal law, House and Senate rules, regulations of the Committee on House Administration and Senate Rules and Administration Committee, and regulations of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics and the House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards. https:/crsreports.con, -- -q House Senate

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