Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2025 in plain language
1: Short title
This section states that the Act may be cited as the Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2025.
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1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2025 .
2: Sense 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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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.
3: Funds 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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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.
4: Coordination 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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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.
5: Sentencing 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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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.