Semipostal Stamp Program, 35404-35405 [2020-12412]

Agencies

• Postal Service

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 112 (Wednesday, June 10, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35404-35405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-12412]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 551


Semipostal Stamp Program

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This proposed rule would revise the provisions governing the 
Postal Service's discretionary Semipostal Stamp Program to provide more 
flexibility to the Postal Service to manage the program. Revisions 
include removing restrictions on the duration of sales of semipostal 
discretionary stamps and the number of discretionary semipostal stamps 
that may be offered at any one time.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 10, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Stamp 
Products & Exhibitions, U.S. Postal Service[supreg], 475 L'Enfant Plaza 
SW, Room 3300, Washington, DC 20260. Email and faxed comments are not 
accepted. You may inspect and photocopy all written comments at the 
Stamp Products & Exhibitions office by appointment only between the 
hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, by calling 202-268-
7998 in advance.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amity C. Kirby, Manager, Stamp 
Products & Exhibitions, 202-268-7998, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Semipostal Authorization Act, Public Law 106-253, grants the 
Postal Service discretionary authority to issue and sell semipostal 
stamps to advance such causes as it considers to be ``in the national 
public interest and appropriate.'' See 39 U.S.C. 416(b). On June 12, 
2001, the Postal Service published a final rule establishing the 
regulations in 39 CFR part 551 for the discretionary Semipostal Stamp 
Program (66 FR 31826). Minor revisions were made to these regulations 
to implement Public Law 107-67, 115 Stat. 514 (2001), and to reflect 
minor organizational changes in the Postal Service (67 FR 5215 
(February 5, 2002)). On February 19, 2004, the Postal Service published 
a final rule clarifying the cost-offset policy for semipostal stamps 
(69 FR 7688), and on February 9, 2005, the Postal Service also 
published an additional minor clarifying revision to these cost-offset 
regulations (70 FR 6764). On April 20, 2016, the Postal Service 
published a final rule removing certain restrictions on the 
commencement date for the

[[Page 35405]]

discretionary Semipostal Stamp Program, and clarifying how many 
discretionary semipostal stamps may be on sale at any one time, and 
other matters (81 FR 23162).

Proposed Changes

    The Postal Service has encountered continued interest in the sale 
of a previously offered discretionary semipostal stamp for which the 
Postal Service possesses unsold inventory. The current version of the 
regulations limits sales of discretionary semipostal stamps to one at a 
time and a two-year sales period. In administering this program, it has 
become clear that there is interest in and demand for a lengthier 
period of sale for individual offerings from customers, stakeholders 
and congressional policymakers. The current regulations also 
contemplated issuing five stamps over ten years, which has proven 
impracticable. Upon further consideration, it was determined that 
further revision of the rules concerning the discretionary Semipostal 
Stamp Program could facilitate continued interest in previously offered 
stamps, especially when unsold inventory remains, and provide the 
Postal Service greater flexibility to manage the 10-year program.
    In accordance with 39 U.S.C. 416(e)(2), the Postal Service invites 
public comment on the following proposed amendments to the Code of 
Federal Regulations.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 551

    Administrative practice and procedure.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Postal Service proposes 
to revise 39 CFR part 551 as follows:

PART 551--SEMIPOSTAL STAMP PROGRAM

0
1. The authority citation for part 551 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 39 U.S.C. 101, 201, 203, 401, 403, 404, 410, 414, 
416.

0
2. Amend Sec.  551.3, by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  551.3  Procedure for selection of causes and recipient executive 
agencies.

* * * * *
    (a) The Office of Stamp Services will accept proposals from 
interested persons for future semipostal stamps beginning on May 20, 
2016. The Office of Stamp Services will begin considering proposals on 
July 5, 2016. This section should not be read to reflect the intention 
of the Postal Service to issue any particular number of semipostal 
stamps during the 10-year period of these regulations. Proposals may be 
submitted and will be considered on a rolling basis until seven years 
after May 20, 2016. The Office of Stamp Services may publicize this 
request for proposals in the Federal Register or through other means, 
as it determines in its discretion. Proposals for semipostal stamps 
made prior to May 20, 2016 will not be given further consideration. 
Nothing in these regulations should be construed as barring the 
resubmission of previously submitted causes and recipient executive 
agencies.
* * * * *


Sec.  551.5  [Amended]

0
3. In Sec.  551.5, remove and reserve paragraphs (b) and (c).

Ruth Stevenson,
Attorney, Federal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2020-12412 Filed 6-9-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P