Skip to content
PoliticalRepoPoliticalRepo

United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 283 (99th)

Postal Service Employees Political Activities Act of 1985

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

3 January 1985

Last action

12 June 1985 · Committee

Status

Unfavorable Executive Comment Received From US Postal Service.

Sponsors

Rep. Clay, William (Bill) [D-MO-1], Rep. Ackerman, Gary L. [D-NY-5], Rep. Bedell, Berkley W. [D-IA-6], Rep. Berman, Howard L. [D-CA-28], Rep. Biaggi, Mario [D-NY-19], Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA], Rep. Burton, Sala [D-CA-5], Rep. Collins, Cardiss [D-IL-7], Rep. Dymally, Mervyn M. [D-CA-31], Del. Fauntroy, Walter E. [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Crockett, George W., Jr. [D-MI-13], Rep. Fazio, Vic [D-CA-3], Rep. Frank, Barney [D-MA-4], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-NY-18], Rep. Hayes, Charles A. [D-IL-1], Rep. Howard, James J. [D-NJ-3], Rep. Jones, Walter B. [D-NC-1], Rep. Kolter, Joseph P. [D-PA-4], Rep. Matsui, Robert T. [D-CA-5], Rep. Mitchell, Parren J. [D-MD-7], Rep. Mrazek, Robert J. [D-NY-3], Rep. Owens, Major R. [D-NY-11], Rep. Rahall, Nick J., II [D-WV-3], Rep. Rangel, Charles B. [D-NY-15], Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV], Rep. Rose, Charlie [D-NC-7], Rep. Savage, Gus [D-IL-2], Rep. Seiberling, John F. [D-OH-14], Rep. Stokes, Louis [D-OH-11], Rep. Studds, Gerry E. [D-MA-10], Rep. Towns, Edolphus [D-NY-10], Rep. Vento, Bruce F. [D-MN-4], Rep. Wheat, Alan [D-MO-5], Rep. Williams, Pat [D-MT-At Large], Rep. Wolpe, Howard E. [D-MI-3], Rep. Bonior, David E. [D-MI-10], Sen. Daschle, Thomas A. [D-SD], Rep. Kennelly, Barbara B. [D-CT-1], Rep. Kildee, Dale E. [D-MI-5], Rep. Foglietta, Thomas M. [D-PA-1], Rep. Gray, William H., III [D-PA-2], Rep. Oakar, Mary Rose [D-OH-20]

Subjects

Postal service

Source updated

29 August 2025

Postal service

Official sourceView documentsShare

Summary

Postal Service Employees' Political Activities Act of 1985 - Declares it to be the policy of the Congress to encourage employees of the United States Postal Service to exercise their rights to participate or refrain from participating in political processes. Prohibits such employees from: (1) using their official authority to influence the result of any election or the political action of any person; (2) using any information obtained through employment and not publicly available for any political purposes; (3) giving or offering to give a political contribution to any individual either to vote or refrain from voting; (4) soliciting or receiving a political contribution to vote or refrain from voting; (5) knowingly giving a political contribution to a superior; (6) knowingly soliciting or receiving a political contribution from another subordinate employee; or (7) knowingly soliciting or receiving a political contribution in specified facilities or from any person who has or is seeking business relations with the employee's agency. Directs the Postal Service and the Postal Rate Commission to prescribe certain exemptions to such prohibitions. Prohibits employees from engaging in political activities while on duty, while wearing a uniform or official insignia identifying their position, or in designated areas. Requires a postal employee to notify his or her agency (U.S. Postal Service or the Postal Rate Commission, as applicable) upon becoming a candidate for elective office. Permits such employee to take annual leave or leave without pay to engage in activities related to his or her candidacy. Sets forth the penalties to be imposed against any employee who is found by the Merit Systems Protection Board to have violated this Act. Requires the Postal Service to study and report to the Congress on the effects of this Act on the political activities of employees, the merit system, and matters generally contributing to the improper use of official authorities or information by employees.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 3 January 1985

    Introduced

    Referred to House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 3 January 1985

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 3 January 1985

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 26 February 1985

    Committee

    Executive Comment Requested from US Postal Service, GAO, OMB, OPM.

    Source: Committee

  5. 28 February 1985

    Referred

    Referred to Subcommittee on Civil Service.

    Source: Committee

  6. 2 April 1985

    Committee

    Executive Comment Received From GAO.

    Source: Committee

  7. 12 June 1985

    Committee

    Unfavorable Executive Comment Received From US Postal Service.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

1 official file

Leesvertaling

Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

Sponsors

Related records

No cross-record relationships stored yet.

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.