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US Congress · S. 463 · In committee

Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2025

Introduced
Moved
Reached a final decision
Introduced 2025-02-06
Derived from the official record below.

Officially: “Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2025 Read the full text

Crime and Law Enforcement

What it does

Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2025 This bill requires or authorizes certain actions related to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). The bill requires the Department of Justice to appoint an assistant U.S. attorney in each judicial district to coordinate and supervise the investigation and prosecution of various crimes related to postal services (for example, assault on a postal service employee, breaking into a post office, or obstruction of mails). The bill also requires the U.S. Sentencing Commission to amend sentencing guidelines to provide that the assault or robbery of a postal employee s
Summary by the Congressional Research Service, from the official record. Plain-language version below. Not legal advice.

Read it in plain language

AI plain language5 sections
Written by AI from the complete official bill text and independently fact-checked against it. Not legal advice.
1Short title

This section states that the Act may be cited as the Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2025.

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Official text, verbatim from the record

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2025 .

2Sense of Congress

This section states that it is the sense of Congress that United States Postal Service letter carriers must be protected from acts of violence, and that the Attorney General should vigorously prosecute any case of assault against a postal employee. A sense of Congress is a statement of opinion and does not by itself create a binding legal requirement.

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Official text, verbatim from the record

2. Sense of Congress It is the sense of the Congress that— (1) United States Postal Service letter carriers must be protected from acts of violence; and (2) the Attorney General should vigorously prosecute any case of assault against a postal employee.

3Funds to upgrade collection boxes

This section would authorize $1,400,000,000 to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to the United States Postal Service. The Postal Service would decide how to use these funds, including to install high security collection boxes and to replace older versions of the universal mailbox key, also known as the arrow key, with electronic versions.

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Official text, verbatim from the record

3. Funds to upgrade collection boxes There is authorized to be appropriated $1,400,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to the United States Postal Service to carry out, as determined by the United States Postal Service— (1) the installation of high security collection boxes; and (2) the replacement of older versions of the universal mailbox key, also known as the arrow key, with electronic versions.

4Coordination of prosecution of offenses against the United States Postal Service

This section would add a new subsection to section 542 of title 28 of the United States Code. Under the new subsection, the Attorney General would have to appoint, in each judicial district and in consultation with the United States attorney for that district, an assistant United States attorney with principal responsibility to coordinate and supervise the investigation and prosecution of alleged offenses that violate chapter 83 of title 18, that violate sections 2115, 2116, or 2117 of title 18, or that are committed against a carrier or other person entrusted with custody of the mail in violation of section 111 of title 18. The Attorney General would have to comply with this new appointment requirement no later than 1 year after the date this Act becomes law.

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Official text, verbatim from the record

4. Coordination of prosecution of offenses against the United States Postal Service (a) In general Section 542 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (c) The Attorney General shall, in consultation with the United States attorney for the district, appoint in each judicial district an assistant United States attorney with principal responsibility in the district to coordinate and supervise the investigation and prosecution of alleged offenses committed— (1) in violation of chapter 83 of title 18; (2) in violation of sections 2115, 2116, or 2117 of title 18; or (3) against a carrier or person entrusted with the mail and having custody thereof, in violation of section 111 of title 18. . (b) Deadline for compliance The Attorney General shall comply with section 542(c) of title 28, United States Code, as added by this Act, not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

5Sentencing guidelines with respect to robbery against a postal employee

This section would require the United States Sentencing Commission, no later than May 1 following the first year that begins after the date this Act becomes law, to amend the federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements issued under section 994 of title 28 of the United States Code. The amendment would have to provide that assault or robbery of a postal employee, including conduct committed during immediate flight after such an assault or robbery if that conduct creates a substantial risk of serious bodily injury, be treated the same way as assault of a law enforcement officer for sentencing purposes.

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Official text, verbatim from the record

5. Sentencing guidelines with respect to robbery against a postal employee Not later than May 1 following the first year that begins after the date of enactment of this Act, the United States Sentencing Commission shall amend the sentencing guidelines and policy statements promulgated under section 994 of title 28, United States Code, to provide that the assault or robbery of a postal employee, including conduct committed during the immediate flight after the commission of such an assault or robbery if the conduct creates a substantial risk of serious bodily injury, shall be treated in the same manner as the assault of a law enforcement officer.

AI plain languageRead the whole bill in plain language, 5 sections

Where it is

Introduced · 2025-02-06

In the Senate.

Committee, then floor votes in both chambers · next · the next step

Official documents

The on-site text is shown verbatim from the GovInfo publication, captured 2026-07-12. The same version at GovInfo.

The numbers

2%
of bills introduced became law in the 118th Congress, 2023 to 2024 (n=16,213)
15
sponsors, out of 51 needed to pass

Who is lobbying on this

AMERICAN COUNCIL OF LIFE INSURERSvia AMERICAN COUNCIL OF LIFE INSURERS
7 filings
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERSvia NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS
6 filings
NATIONAL RURAL LETTER CARRIERS ASSOCIATION (NRLCA)via I STREET ADVOCATES
5 filings
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POSTAL SUPERVISORSvia NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POSTAL SUPERVISORS
4 filings
NATIONAL RURAL LETTER CARRIERS' ASSOCIATIONvia NATIONAL RURAL LETTER CARRIERS' ASSOCIATION
4 filings
NATIONAL RURAL LETTER CARRIERS' ASSOCIATIONvia YOUNG GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS LLC
1 filing
From 27 filings in federal lobbying disclosures (LDA), via lda.gov, naming this bill (2025 to 2026). Filings are self-reported by lobbying firms and show who is paid to influence this bill. They do not say which side, or whether it worked.
Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record. Last action: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (2025-02-06).