H.R. 2098: Deliver for Democracy Act
Sponsor
Robert Aderholt
Republican · AL
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Mar 14, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Why it matters
If this passes, publishers that rely on periodical mail, especially smaller news, trade, rural, and nonprofit outlets, could get relief from repeated postage increases unless USPS improves delivery performance first. The bill also forces annual public reporting from the Postmaster General on periodical service performance and orders a GAO study on alternative pricing for products that do not cover their costs, which could reopen a bigger fight over who subsidizes what inside the postal system. USPS, meanwhile, would face new pressure on both transparency and pricing flexibility.
H.R. 2098 Common Questions
Can USPS raise periodicals postage if on-time delivery is below 95%?
Not unless USPS meets one of two benchmarks first under the Deliver for Democracy Act (Section 2): 95% on-time delivery for periodicals, or at least a 2-point improvement over its highest measured fiscal-year performance.
How much does periodicals delivery performance have to improve before USPS gets extra rate authority?
According to HR2098 Section 2, USPS must improve on-time periodicals delivery by at least 2 percentage points over the highest on-time performance measured in any fiscal year to qualify for added rate authority.
What is the on-time delivery threshold for periodicals in the Deliver for Democracy Act?
Under the Deliver for Democracy Act (Section 2), the main threshold is 95% on-time delivery performance for periodicals, measured using the service standards in effect on the enactment date.
Does the Deliver for Democracy Act apply to in-county and out-of-county newspaper mail?
Yes. Under the Deliver for Democracy Act (Section 3), the Postmaster General must report progress on adding in-county and out-of-county newspaper mail entered at each delivery unit into periodical service performance measurements.
Can USPS use bundle-level digital data if piece-level newspaper mail data is unavailable?
Yes. Under the Deliver for Democracy Act (Section 3), if individual piece-level data is unavailable, the PRC and Postmaster General must develop a system using digital information for mail bundles.
Does the Postmaster General have to publicly report periodical service performance progress every year?
Yes. Under the Deliver for Democracy Act (Section 3), the Postmaster General must submit an annual report to the PRC and the public on progress in tracking certain newspaper mail within periodical service performance measures.
Can the Postal Regulatory Commission use a proxy mail category for newspaper performance reporting?
Yes. Under the Deliver for Democracy Act (Section 3), if identifying newspaper mail is not practicable, the PRC may designate the closest relevant mail category for reporting and must explain why publicly.
What has to be disclosed if USPS uses a proxy category instead of actual newspaper mail data?
According to HR2098 Section 3, the PRC and Postmaster General must publish the process and rationale, including potential costs to USPS and affected businesses, accuracy concerns, and other contributing factors.
How long would GAO have to study alternative pricing for periodicals that do not cover costs?
Under the Deliver for Democracy Act (Section 4), the Comptroller General must report within 2 years after enactment on alternative pricing schemes and options for periodicals and other products that do not cover their costs.
Which stakeholders must be consulted on newspaper mail performance reporting?
HR2098 Section 3 requires the Postmaster General to solicit feedback from relevant stakeholders when reporting on adding in-county and out-of-county newspaper mail to periodical performance measurements.
Based on H.R. 2098 bill text
HR2098 Legislative Journey
Committee Action
Mar 14, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
About the Sponsor
Robert Aderholt
Republican, Alabama's 4th congressional district · 29 years in Congress
Committees: Appropriations
View full profile →
Cosponsors (17)
This bill has 17 cosponsors: 10 Democrats, 7 Republicans, reflecting bipartisan support. Cosponsors represent 13 states: California, Florida, Georgia, and 10 more.
Emanuel Cleaver
Democrat · MO
Henry Johnson
Democrat · GA
Donald Davis
Democrat · NC
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick
Democrat · FL
Claudia Tenney
Republican · NY
Angie Craig
Democrat · MN
Joe Wilson
Republican · SC
Earl Carter
Republican · GA
Tom Cole
Republican · OK
Jim Costa
Democrat · CA
Valerie Foushee
Democrat · NC
Michael Lawler
Republican · NY
H.R. 2098 Quick Facts
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Government Operations and Politics
- Introduced
- Mar 14, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Mar 14, 2025
Constituent Resources
Official Sources
Official bill text, cosponsors, and legislative history for the Deliver for Democracy Act
The independent regulator that this bill would prohibit from granting USPS additional rate authority for periodicals unless delivery benchmarks are met
Quarterly on-time delivery data for periodicals and other mail classes — the measurements this bill ties to rate authority
USPS strategic plan targeting 95% on-time delivery for all mail products — the same benchmark this bill would make legally binding for periodical rate increases
Official USPS resource for publishers using periodicals mail class — the mailers directly affected by this bill's rate authority restrictions
PRC findings on USPS rates and performance — periodicals consistently found non-compensatory, triggering the extra rate authority (39 CFR 3030.222) this bill would restrict
The federal regulation containing Section 3030.222 (additional rate authority for non-compensatory classes) that this bill would amend
The committee where H.R. 2098 was referred — has jurisdiction over USPS and postal policy
H.R. 2098 Bill Text
“To require on-time delivery of periodicals to unlock additional rate authority, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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