Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 120.djvu/3279

 120 STAT. 3248

PUBLIC LAW 109–435—DEC. 20, 2006

(B) optimize the postal infrastructure, including the best methods for providing retail services that ensure convenience and access to customers; (C) ensure the safety and security of the mail and of postal employees; (D) minimize areas of inefficiency or waste and improve operations involved in the collection, processing, or delivery of mail; and (E) impact other matters that the Comptroller General determines are relevant to evaluating a viable long-term business model for the Postal Service. (3) EXPERIENCES OF OTHER COUNTRIES.—In preparing the report required by subsection (a), the Government Accountability Office shall comprehensively and quantitatively investigate the experiences of other industrialized countries that have transformed the national post office. The Government Accountability Office shall undertake such original research as it deems necessary. In each case, the Government Accountability Office shall describe as fully as possible the costs and benefits of transformation of the national post office on all affected parties and shall identify any lessons that foreign experience may imply for each strategy identified by the research organization. (d) OUTSIDE EXPERTS.—In preparing its study, the Government Accountability Office may retain the services of additional experts and consultants. (e) CONSULTATION.—In preparing its report, the Government Accountability Office shall consult fully with the Postal Service, the Postal Regulatory Commission, other Federal agencies, postal employee unions and management associations, mailers, private companies that provide delivery services, and the general public. The Government Accountability Office shall include with its final report a copy of all formal written comments received under this subsection. (f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated from the Postal Service Fund such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. 39 USC 501 note.

SEC. 711. PROVISIONS RELATING TO COOPERATIVE MAILINGS.

(a) STUDY.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Postal Regulatory Commission shall examine section E670.5.3 of the Domestic Mail Manual to determine whether it contains adequate safeguards to protect against— (A) abuses of rates for nonprofit mail; and (B) deception of consumers. (2) REPORT.—The Commission shall report the results of its examination to the Postal Service, along with any recommendations that the Commission determines appropriate. (b) FAILURE TO ACT.—If the Postal Service fails to act on the recommendations of the Commission, the Commission may take such action as it determines necessary to prevent abuse of rates or deception of consumers. SEC. 712. DEFINITION.

For purposes of this title, the term ‘‘Board of Governors’’ has the meaning given such term by section 102 of title 39, United States Code.

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