Ways and Means Committee, Oversight and Government Reform Committee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
This bill aims to remove unnecessary Customs barriers that hinder nonprofit organizations from sending humanitarian care packages to U.S. Armed Forces members stationed overseas. Congress found that recent commercial-focused reporting requirements, such as Harmonized System codes and country-of-origin data, have created significant delays and increased costs for these volunteer groups, impacting morale-boosting shipments. The legislation amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to exempt eligible shipments from tariffs, duties, and detailed reporting requirements. To qualify, packages must originate from a qualified nonprofit organization , be addressed to a military mail address , and contain humanitarian care packages for the comfort or morale of service members. The bill mandates the United States Postal Service treat these qualifying shipments as domestic mail for all rate, tariff, and customs purposes. It also directs the Postmaster General and the Secretary of the Treasury to jointly issue regulations within 180 days, ensuring the acceptance of simplified manifests with general content categories instead of item-by-item details.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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 committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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 committee concerned.
This bill aims to remove unnecessary Customs barriers that hinder nonprofit organizations from sending humanitarian care packages to U.S. Armed Forces members stationed overseas. Congress found that recent commercial-focused reporting requirements, such as Harmonized System codes and country-of-origin data, have created significant delays and increased costs for these volunteer groups, impacting morale-boosting shipments. The legislation amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to exempt eligible shipments from tariffs, duties, and detailed reporting requirements. To qualify, packages must originate from a qualified nonprofit organization , be addressed to a military mail address , and contain humanitarian care packages for the comfort or morale of service members. The bill mandates the United States Postal Service treat these qualifying shipments as domestic mail for all rate, tariff, and customs purposes. It also directs the Postmaster General and the Secretary of the Treasury to jointly issue regulations within 180 days, ensuring the acceptance of simplified manifests with general content categories instead of item-by-item details.
Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better
Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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 committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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 committee concerned.