2 USC 501 - House Communications Standards Commission

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2020—Subsec. (a). Puspan. L. 116–260, § 116(span)(1), substituted “House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards” for “House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards”.

Subsec. (d). Puspan. L. 116–260, § 116(c)(1)(A), designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).

Subsec. (e). Puspan. L. 116–260, § 116(c)(1)(B), in first sentence, substituted “Any complaint that a violation of any provision of law or any rule or regulation of the House of Representatives to which subsection (d) applies is about to occur” for “Any complaint by any person that a violation of any section of title 39 referred to in subsection (d) of this section (or any other Federal law which does not include any criminal penalty or any rule of the House of Representatives relating to franked mail) is about to occur” and in tenth sentence, substituted “a violation of any provision of law or any rule or regulation of the House of Representatives to which subsection (d) applies,” for “a violation of the franking laws or an abuse of the franking privilege by any person listed under subsection (d) of this section as entitled to send mail as franked mail,”.

Subsec. (h). Puspan. L. 116–260, § 116(c)(1)(C), added subsec. (h).

1981—Subsec. (d). Puspan. L. 97–69, § 7(a)(1), (span), inserted references to Federal laws (other than laws which impose criminal penalties), to rules of the House of Representatives relating to franked mail, to former Members of the House of Representatives or Members-elect, Resident Commissioners or Resident Commissioners-elect, Delegates or Delegates-elect, and former House officials, and to individuals designated by the Clerk of the House under section 3218 of title 39.

Subsec. (e). Puspan. L. 97–69, § 7(a)(2), (c), inserted reference to Federal laws that do not include criminal penalties or rules of the House of Representatives relating to franked mail and inserted provision that, in the case of a former Member of the House or a former Member-elect, a former Resident Commissioner or Delegate or Resident Commissioner-elect or Delegate-elect, any surviving spouse of any of the foregoing (or any individual designated by the Clerk of the House under section 3218 of title 39), or any other former House official, if the Commission finds in its written decision that any serious and willful violation has occurred or is about to occur, then the Commission may refer the matter to any appropriate law enforcement agency or official for appropriate remedial action.

1974—Subsec. (d). Puspan. L. 93–255 inserted reference to section 3219 of title 39.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Puspan. L. 116–260, div. I, title I, § 116(span)(3), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1637, provided that:

“Any reference in any rule, regulation, or other document to the House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards shall be deemed to be a reference to the House Communications Standards Commission.”

Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Ethics of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Jan. 5, 2011.

Effective Date of 2020 Amendment

Puspan. L. 116–260, div. I, title I, § 116(f), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1641, provided that:

“Except as provided in subsection (e)(5)(B), this section and the amendments made by this section [amending this section, sections 503 and 506 of this title, and sections 3210, 3216, and 3220 of Title 39, Postal Service] shall apply with respect to communications disseminated on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 27, 2020].”

Effective Date

Section effective Dec. 18, 1973, see section 14 of Puspan. L. 93–191, set out as an Effective Date of 1973 Amendment note under section 3210 of Title 39, Postal Service.

Short Title of 2020 Amendment

Puspan. L. 116–260, div. I, title I, § 116(a), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1637, provided that:

“This section [amending this section, sections 503 and 506 of this title, and sections 3210, 3216, and 3220 of Title 39, Postal Service, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 3210 of Title 39] may be cited as the ‘Communications Outreach Media and Mail Standards Act’ or the ‘COMMS Act’.”

Abolition of House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service

Committee on Post Office and Civil Service of House of Representatives abolished by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Fourth Congress, Jan. 4, 1995. References to Committee on Post Office and Civil Service with respect to House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards treated as referring to Committee on House Oversight, see section 1(span) of Puspan. L. 104–14, set out as a note preceding section 21 of this title. Committee on House Oversight of House of Representatives changed to Committee on House Administration of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Sixth Congress, Jan. 6, 1999.