What This Bill Does
This bill directs the United States Postal Service to create and sell a special stamp called the "Combating Invasive Species Semipostal Stamp." Money from selling these stamps goes to the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture to fight invasive species (plants or animals that harm native ecosystems).
Who It Affects
Members of the public who buy stamps. The United States Postal Service. The Department of the Interior. The Department of Agriculture.
Key Provisions
- The Postal Service must issue a stamp called the "Combating Invasive Species Semipostal Stamp" that lets people contribute money to programs fighting invasive species (Sec. 2(b))
- The extra cost added to the stamp price cannot exceed 25 percent above the regular postage rate (Sec. 2(c)(2))
- The stamp will be available for purchase for 2 years, starting no later than 12 months after the law takes effect (Sec. 2(c)(3))
- All money from stamp sales goes equally to the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture for invasive species programs, with payments made at least twice per year (Sec. 2(c)(4))
What Changes
The Postal Service begins selling a semipostal stamp (a stamp with an extra charge) dedicated to fighting invasive species. Money collected from the price increase goes to federal programs that combat invasive species.
Important Definitions
Semipostal stamp: A stamp where customers pay extra beyond the standard postage price, with the extra amount going to a specific cause (Sec. 2(d)).
Effective Date
Not specified in bill text
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 210
To provide for the issuance of a semipostal to benefit programs that combat
invasive species.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 9, 2023
Ms. STEFANIK (for herself and Mr. CASE) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and in
addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Agriculture, for
a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned
A BILL
To provide for the issuance of a semipostal to benefit
programs that combat invasive species.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Stamp Out Invasive
4
Species Act’’.
5
SEC. 2. COMBATING INVASIVE SPECIES SEMIPOSTAL.
6
(a) FINDING.—Congress finds that invasive species
7
pose a serious threat to our natural ecosystems, signifi-
8
VerDate Sep 11 2014
21:46 Jan 19, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H210.IH
H210
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2
•HR 210 IH
cantly harm native plant and animal populations, and
1
cause detrimental economic damage to local communities.
2
(b) SEMIPOSTAL.—In order to afford a convenient
3
way for members of the public to contribute to programs
4
at the Department of the Interior and the Department of
5
Agriculture that combat invasive species, the United
6
States Postal Service shall issue a semipostal stamp in ac-
7
cordance with the provisions of this section. Such
8
semipostal stamp shall be known as the ‘‘Combating
9
Invasive Species Semipostal Stamp’’.
10
(c) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—
11
(1) IN GENERAL.—The issuance and sale of the
12
Combating Invasive Species Semipostal Stamp shall
13
be governed by the provisions of section 416 of title
14
39, United States Code, and regulations issued
15
under such section, subject to the requirements of
16
this subsection.
17
(2) DIFFERENTIAL RATE.—The differential in-
18
cluded in the rate of postage established for the
19
Combating Invasive Species Semipostal Stamp under
20
section 416(c) of such title may not exceed 25 per-
21
cent.
22
(3) DURATION.—The Combating Invasive Spe-
23
cies Semipostal Stamp shall be made available to the
24
public for a period of 2 years, beginning not later
25
VerDate Sep 11 2014
21:46 Jan 19, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H210.IH
H210
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3
•HR 210 IH
than 12 months after the date of enactment of this
1
Act.
2
(4) DISPOSITION OF PROCEEDS.—All amounts
3
becoming available from the sale of the Combating
4
Invasive Species Semipostal Stamp (as determined
5
under section 416(d) of such title) shall be trans-
6
ferred in equal proportion to the Department of the
7
Interior and the Department of Agriculture, for the
8
programs described in subsection (b), through pay-
9
ments which shall be made at least twice a year.
10
(d) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this Act, the term
11
‘‘semipostal stamp’’ means a stamp described in section
12
416(a)(1) of such title.
13
Æ
VerDate Sep 11 2014
21:46 Jan 19, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H210.IH
H210
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS