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HR 6441

Puerto Rico Postal Equity Act of 2025

119th Congress Introduced by John Larson

Requires USPS to update systems within 180 days to correctly recognize Puerto Rico addresses, including diacritical marks, improving mail delivery and data accuracy.

Introduced in House
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 6441

Summary of H.R. 6441 — Puerto Rico Postal Equity Act of 2025

Overview

  • Purpose: To require the Postmaster General to update the United States Postal Service (USPS) systems so that Puerto Rico addresses are accurately recognized and preserved, including proper use of diacritical marks and Puerto Rico–specific place names. The goal is to improve address accuracy, mail delivery reliability, and data integrity across federal programs and services.
  • Status: Introduced in the House on December 4, 2025; referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
  • Short Title: Puerto Rico Postal Equity Act of 2025.

Key Provisions

Section 3 — Improvements to Accuracy of Puerto Rico Address Data

  • General deadline: Within 180 days after enactment, the Postmaster General must develop and implement improvements to USPS systems to improve the accuracy and recognition of Puerto Rico addresses.

  • Actions include:

    1. Leverage existing USPS operational indicators (e.g., Undeliverable-As-Addressed codes, mail delivery exception records, address quality data, delivery point validation results, consumer complaints, and website-based address validation data) to identify locations in Puerto Rico with persistent address recognition or delivery issues.
    2. Update USPS address records, routing information, and validation tables for the identified locations.
    3. Revise USPS systems (address matching, address validation, mail and delivery routing) to support diacritical marks and other Puerto Rico–specific address elements.
    4. Undertake additional actions deemed appropriate by the Postmaster General based on relevant data to improve recognition and proper mail delivery to properly assigned addresses in Puerto Rico.

  • Consultation: The Postmaster General must consult with:

    • The U.S. Census Bureau (including the Census Open Innovation Lab)
    • The Puerto Rico Planning Board
    • Appropriate local governments in Puerto Rico

  • Reporting: Not later than 1 year after enactment, and annually for 3 subsequent years, the Postmaster General must report to Congress on:

    1. Actions taken under this section
    2. Progress in improving recognition and accuracy of Puerto Rico addresses
    3. Barriers to implementation and recommendations for legislative or administrative action

  • Diacritical mark defined: The act defines “diacritical mark” as accents, tildes, or other orthographic signs used in Spanish to indicate pronunciation or meaning in Puerto Rico place names and proper nouns.

Section 4 — CUTGO Compliance

  • No new funding is authorized specifically for this Act. The Postmaster General must carry out the Act with amounts already appropriated or otherwise available to USPS.

What Would Be Affected

  • Primary: USPS systems, data with Puerto Rico address information, and processes related to mail routing and delivery in Puerto Rico.
  • Secondary: Federal data systems and records that rely on address accuracy for Puerto Rico (e.g., census-related geography, federal program delivery), and Puerto Rico residents whose addresses may previously have included diacritical marks or Puerto Rico–specific place names.

Timeline & Procedural Aspects

  • Immediate action: Within 180 days of enactment, implement initial improvements and system updates.
  • Ongoing oversight: Annual reporting for four years (1 year after enactment plus three additional annual reports).
  • Legislative status: Introduced and referred to the House Committee; no further actions listed.

Notes

  • The bill emphasizes equity and accuracy in address data to reduce delivery errors and data mismatches, and to align USPS data with Puerto Rico’s linguistic and geographic specifics.
  • It highlights coordination with the Census Bureau and Puerto Rico’s planning and local government entities to inform and implement system changes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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