[Page S2434]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2031. Mrs. McCASKILL (for herself, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Baucus, Mr. 
Begich, Mr. Tester, and Mr. Sanders) submitted an amendment intended to 
be proposed by her to the bill S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and 
transform the United States Postal Service; which was ordered to lie on 
the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. RURAL POST OFFICES.

       (a) Conditions for Closing Rural Post Offices.--Section 
     404(d) of title 39, United States Code, as amended by section 
     205 of this Act, is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (3)--
       (A) in the first sentence, by inserting ``and, with respect 
     to a rural post office, a summary of the determinations 
     required under paragraph (9)'' after ``paragraph (2) of this 
     subsection''; and
       (B) in the second sentence, by striking ``determination and 
     findings'' and inserting ``determination, findings, and 
     summary''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(9) The Postal Service may not make a determination under 
     subsection (a)(3) to close a post office located in a rural 
     area, as defined by the Census Bureau, unless the Postal 
     Service determines that--
       ``(A) seniors served by the post office would continue to 
     receive the same or substantially similar access to 
     prescription medication sent through the mail as before the 
     closing;
       ``(B) businesses located in the community served by the 
     post office would not suffer financial loss as a result of 
     the closing;
       ``(C) the economic loss to the community served by the post 
     office as a result of the closing does not exceed the cost to 
     the Postal Service of not closing the post office;
       ``(D) the area served by the post office has adequate 
     access to wired broadband Internet service, as identified on 
     the National Broadband Map of the National Telecommunications 
     and Information Administration;
       ``(E) seniors and persons with disabilities who live near 
     the post office would continue to receive the same or 
     substantially similar access to postal services as before the 
     closing; and
       ``(F) the closing would not result in more than 10 miles 
     distance (as measured on roads with year-round access) 
     between any 2 post offices.''.
       (b) Moratorium.--Notwithstanding section 205(b) of this 
     Act, or any other provision of law, during the 24-month 
     period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the 
     Postal Service may not close a post office located in a rural 
     area, as defined by the Census Bureau, except as required for 
     the immediate protection of health and safety.
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