To prohibit Members of the House of Representatives from using official funds for the production or mailing of newsletters, to reduce by 50 percent the amount which may be made available for the Official Mail Allowance of any such Member, and for other purposes.

Referred to the House Committee on House Oversight.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Feb 24, 1995

Prohibits a Member of the House of Representatives from using any official funds for the production or mailing of a newsletter. Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1991 to change the Official Mail Allowance for Members of the House of Representatives to not more than the product of: (1) one and one-half times the single-piece rate applicable to first class mail (currently, three times such rate); and (2) the number of addresses in the congressional district. Requires any unobligated funds remaining in the Official Mail Allowance of a Member of the House at the end of a session of Congress to be deposited into the general fund of the Treasury and applied toward the reduction of the Federal budget deficit.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Poshard, Glenn [D-IL-19] · D–IL

Committees

Committee on House Administration

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Feb 24, 1995
Referred to the House Committee on House Oversight.
Feb 24, 1995
Introduced in House
Feb 24, 1995
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Feb 24, 1995 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Feb 7, 2024. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.1053 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.1053, 104th Congress: To prohibit Members of the House of Representatives from using official funds for the production or mailing of newsletters, to reduce by 50 percent the amount which may be made available for the Official Mail Allowance of any such Member, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/1053

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1995-02-24.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hr1053/BILLS-104hr1053ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2024-02-07T11:40:45Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.1053 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.1053 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.1053, 104th Congress: To prohibit Members of the House of Representatives from using official funds for the production or mailing of newsletters, to reduce by 50 percent the amount which may be made available for the Official Mail Allowance of any such Member, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/1053

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1995-02-24.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hr1053/BILLS-104hr1053ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2024-02-07T11:40:45Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.1053 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.1053 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.1053, 104th Congress: To prohibit Members of the House of Representatives from using official funds for the production or mailing of newsletters, to reduce by 50 percent the amount which may be made available for the Official Mail Allowance of any such Member, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/1053

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1995-02-24.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hr1053/BILLS-104hr1053ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2024-02-07T11:40:45Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.1053 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.1053 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.1053, 104th Congress: To prohibit Members of the House of Representatives from using official funds for the production or mailing of newsletters, to reduce by 50 percent the amount which may be made available for the Official Mail Allowance of any such Member, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/1053

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1995-02-24.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hr1053/BILLS-104hr1053ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2024-02-07T11:40:45Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.1053 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.