H.R. 5416: Contract Postal Unit Transparency Act
Sponsor
George Whitesides
Democrat · CA-27
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Sep 16, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Why it matters
As communities worry about losing local postal access, HR5416 would force the United States Postal Service to explain closures in public and wait at least 180 days after posting a hearing summary before shutting down or merging a contract postal unit.
HR5416, the Contract Postal Unit Transparency Act, is a process bill aimed at one thing: slowing down and opening up decisions to close or consolidate contract postal units. It amends section 404 of title 39, United States Code, and applies to any closure or consolidation that happens on or after the date that is 6 months after enactment. That means the Postal Service would not be able to move immediately under the new rules; there is a 6-month lead-in before the requirements kick in.
Once the law applies, the United States Postal Service would have to do several things before a contract postal unit can be shut down or merged. It must publish a report on its public website describing the expected impacts on customers and the steps it will take to maintain access to postal services in the affected area. It also must submit a separate report to Congress explaining the reasons for the closure or consolidation. And it must hold a public hearing where affected members of the public can participate either in person or virtually.
The bill's timing rules are the real constraint. After the hearing, the Postal Service has no more than 7 days to publish a summary on its public website. That summary has to describe comments made or submitted at the hearing and report the percentage of comments supporting the closure or consolidation and the percentage opposing it. Then comes the hard stop: the contract postal unit cannot be closed or consolidated until on or after the date that is 180 days after that summary is published.
In practice, this gives local customers, small communities, and lawmakers a clearer record and more time to react. The bill does not create new statutory definitions, penalties, or funding streams, and it does not ban closures outright. But by requiring online disclosure, congressional reporting, a public hearing, publication within 7 days, and a 180-day moratorium after publication, it turns what could be an internal Postal Service decision into a public, trackable process.
What does H.R. 5416 do?
Rules start 6 months after enactment
The bill applies only to closures or consolidations of contract postal units occurring on or after the date that is 6 months after enactment, giving the United States Postal Service a delayed implementation window rather than immediate compliance.
Public hearing required before shutdown
Before closing or consolidating a contract postal unit, the Postal Service must hold a public hearing, and affected members of the public must be allowed to attend either in person or virtually.
Website summary due within 7 days
Not later than 7 days after the hearing, the Postal Service must publish a summary on its public website that includes a description of comments made or submitted at the hearing.
Public support and opposition percentages posted
The hearing summary must report the percentage of comments that supported the closure or consolidation and the percentage of comments that were against it, creating a numeric public record of local reaction.
Mandatory 180-day delay after summary
A contract postal unit may not be closed or consolidated until on or after the date that is 180 days after the hearing summary is published on the Postal Service's public website.
Two reports required: public and Congress
The Postal Service must publish a public website report on customer impacts and steps to ensure continued access to postal services in affected areas, and it must separately submit a report to Congress explaining the reasons for the closure or consolidation.
Who benefits from H.R. 5416?
Customers of contract postal units
They get advance visibility into proposed closures or consolidations through a public website report, a public hearing, and at least 180 days between publication of the hearing summary and any closure.
Residents in affected communities
People affected by a closure or consolidation can participate in a required public hearing either in person or virtually, and they can see within 7 days how comments were summarized and what percentage supported or opposed the change.
Members of Congress
Congress receives a required report from the United States Postal Service detailing the reasons for each closure or consolidation covered by the bill, giving lawmakers a clearer oversight record.
People with limited ability to travel
Because the bill explicitly allows virtual attendance at the public hearing, affected individuals who cannot easily attend in person still get a formal chance to take part.
Who is affected by H.R. 5416?
United States Postal Service
The Postal Service faces new procedural duties: publish a customer-impact report online, submit a report to Congress, hold a hearing, post a summary within 7 days, and wait 180 days after publication before closing or consolidating a contract postal unit.
Contract postal units facing closure or consolidation
These locations cannot be closed or consolidated under the covered process until on or after 180 days after the hearing summary is published, stretching out the timeline for operational changes.
Local businesses or entities operating contract postal units
Operators of contract postal units may face longer uncertainty because proposed closures or consolidations covered by the bill would be delayed by the hearing requirement, the 7-day publication deadline, and the 180-day moratorium.
Communities losing nearby postal access
Affected communities would receive more notice and more information, including a public explanation of expected customer impacts and the steps the Postal Service says it will take to preserve access to postal services in the area.
H.R. 5416 Common Questions
How long would USPS have to wait before closing a contract postal unit?
Under the Contract Postal Unit Transparency Act (Sec. 2), USPS could not close or consolidate a contract postal unit until at least 180 days after it publishes the hearing summary on its public website.
How soon after a postal unit hearing would USPS have to post a summary online?
According to HR5416 Sec. 2, USPS must publish the hearing summary on its public website no later than 7 days after the public hearing.
Can USPS close a contract postal unit without a public hearing under HR5416?
No. Under the Contract Postal Unit Transparency Act (Sec. 2), USPS must hold a public hearing before closing or consolidating a contract postal unit.
Can people attend a USPS contract postal unit closure hearing online?
Yes. Under HR5416 Sec. 2, affected members of the public must be allowed to attend the hearing either in person or virtually.
What information would USPS have to post online before closing a contract postal unit?
Under the Contract Postal Unit Transparency Act (Sec. 2), USPS must post a report on expected customer impacts and the steps it will take to ensure continued access to postal services in the affected area.
Does HR5416 require USPS to tell Congress why a contract postal unit is closing?
Yes. According to HR5416 Sec. 2, USPS must submit a report to Congress detailing the reasons for the closure or consolidation.
What percentages would USPS have to publish after a contract postal unit closure hearing?
Under the Contract Postal Unit Transparency Act (Sec. 2), the hearing summary must state the percentage of comments supporting the closure or consolidation and the percentage opposing it.
When would the Contract Postal Unit Transparency Act start applying to closures?
According to HR5416 Sec. 2, the new rules would apply only to closures or consolidations occurring on or after 6 months after enactment.
Does HR5416 ban USPS from closing contract postal units?
No. Under the Contract Postal Unit Transparency Act (Sec. 2), USPS may still close or consolidate a contract postal unit, but only after the required reports, hearing, summary, and 180-day wait.
Does the USPS hearing summary have to include written and spoken comments?
Yes. Under HR5416 Sec. 2, the summary must describe comments made or submitted at the hearing, covering both spoken and submitted comments.
Based on H.R. 5416 bill text
HR5416 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Sep 16, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
About the Sponsor
George Whitesides
Democrat, California's 27th congressional district · 1 years in Congress
Committees: Science, Space, and Technology, Armed Services
View full profile →
Cosponsors (3)
This bill has 3 cosponsors: 2 Democrats, 1 Republican, reflecting bipartisan support. Cosponsors represent 3 states: Georgia, Indiana, Oregon.
Committee Sponsors
Oversight and Government Reform Committee
0 of 46 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
21 Democrats across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 5416 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Oversight and Government Reform
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Government Operations and Politics
- Introduced
- Sep 16, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Sep 16, 2025
Official Sources
The official Congress.gov bill page is the primary source for the text, status, sponsor, and legislative actions for the Contract Postal Unit Transparency Act.
This bill amends section 404 of title 39, so the current statutory text is directly relevant to understanding the legal changes.
The USPS OIG publishes official reports and audits related to postal operations, closures, and service access that may provide oversight context for this bill.
The Postal Regulatory Commission is the independent federal regulator overseeing the Postal Service and is an authoritative source for postal policy context.
H.R. 5416 Bill Text
“To amend title 39, United States Code, to modify the procedures used by the United States Postal Service for the closure or consolidation of contract postal units, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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