	Background

The franking privilege, which allows Members of Congress to transmit mail matter under their signature without postage, has its roots in 17 th century Great Britain. Postal Service for franked mail through annual appropriations for the legislative branch. Reform efforts during the past 30 years have reduced overall franking expenditures in both election and non-election years. Even-numbered-year franking expenditures have been reduced by over 85% from $113.4 million in FY1988 to $16.9 million in FY2014, while odd-numbered-year franking expenditures have been reduced by over 90% from $89.5 million in FY1989 to $8.3 million in FY2015. House mail costs have decreased from a high of $77.9 million in FY1988 to $6.8 million in FY2015. The Senate has dramatically reduced its costs, from $43.6 million in FY1984 to $1.5 million in FY2015. 1873 , the Ending Special Mail Privileges for Congress Act, would eliminate the traditional franking privilege of Members of Congressâthe use of the Member's signature in lieu of prepayment for the mailing of letters related to official business. The bill, however, would continue to authorize the use of official funds for the purpose of Member official communications with constituents and others, as "congressional mail." It would also eliminate, without replacement, the franking privilege of survivors of Members of Congress. Legislation in the 113th Congress

One piece of legislation was introduced in the 113th Congress that would have altered the franking privilege. Legislation in the 112th Congress

S. 3528 would have repealed the authorization providing franking privileges to former Speakers of the House. Legislation in the 111th Congress

Two bills introduced in the 111 th Congressâ H.R. 2056 and H.R. 5151 âwould have altered the congressional franking privilege. If enacted, Members of both the House and Senate would have been prohibited from mailing any mass mailing during the period starting 90 days prior to a primary election in which such Member is a candidate for reelection to any federal office and ending on the day of the general election. Senate rules further state that no Senator may frank mass mailings in the 60 days prior to the general election, regardless of whether or not he or she is a candidate for election. 5151 (the Congressional Oversight and Spending Transparency Act of 2010) would have amended existing statutes to prohibit the use of funds of the House of Representatives for official mail of a Member of the House for any material other than a document transmitted under the official letterhead used for Members' stationery. 2788 âwere introduced in the 110 th Congress that would have altered the congressional franking privilege. 2687 would have effectively prohibited Representatives from mass mailing newsletters, questionnaires, or congratulatory notices. 2788 would have required that each individual piece of franked mail contained in a mass mailing made by a Member of the House contain a statement indicating the aggregate cost of producing and mailing the mass mailing. H.R. H.R.
The congressional franking privilege, which dates from 1775, allows Members of Congress to transmit mail matter under their signature without postage. Congress, through legislative branch appropriations, reimburses the U.S. Postal Service for the franked mail it handles. Use of the frank is regulated by federal law, House and Senate rules, and committee regulations.
Reform efforts during the past 30 years have reduced overall franking expenditures in both election and non-election years. Even-numbered-year franking expenditures have been reduced by over 85% from $113.4 million in FY1988 to $16.9 million in FY2014, while odd-numbered-year franking expenditures have been reduced by over 90% from $89.5 million in FY1989 to $8.3 million in FY2015. House mail costs have decreased from a high of $77.9 million in FY1988 to $6.8 million in FY2015. The Senate has dramatically reduced its costs, from $43.6 million in FY1984 to $1.5 million in FY2015.
During the 114 th Congress, one piece of legislation ( H.R. 1873 ) has been introduced that would eliminate the traditional franking privilege of Members of Congressâthe use of the Member's signature in lieu of prepayment for the mailing of letters related to official business. The bill, however, would continue to authorize the use of official funds for the purpose of Member official communications with constituents and others, as "congressional mail." It would also eliminate, without replacement, the franking privilege of survivors of Members of Congress. An identical bill ( H.R. 4872 ) was introduced in the 113 th Congress.
During the 112 th Congress, one piece of legislation was introduced that would have altered the franking privilege for former Speakers of the House. S. 3528 would have repealed the authorization providing franking privileges to former Speakers of the House.
During the 111 th Congress, two pieces of legislation were introduced that would have altered the franking privilege for Members. H.R. 5151 would have restricted Representatives' use of the frank to documents transmitted under the official letterhead used for the Member's stationery. H.R. 2056 would have prohibited Senators and Representatives from sending mass mailings during a period starting 90 days prior to a primary and ending on the day of the general election for any election in which the Member is a candidate for reelection.
During the 110 th Congress, five pieces of legislation were introduced to alter the franking privilege for Members. One bill would have required that all pieces of mail sent in a mass mailing include a statement indicating the cost of producing and mailing the mass mailing. Another bill would have prohibited mass mailings in the form of newsletters, questionnaires, or congratulatory notices. Three bills would have prohibited Senators and Representatives from sending mass mailings during a period starting 90 days prior to a primary and ending on the day of the general election for any election in which the Member is a candidate for reelection.
This report will be updated as legislative action warrants. See also CRS Report RL34188, Congressional Official Mail Costs , by [author name scrubbed]; and CRS Report RL34274, Franking Privilege: Historical Development and Options for Change , by [author name scrubbed].