To amend the formula for determining the Official Mail Allowance for Members of the House of Representatives; to prevent Members from using the franking privilege to send congressional newsletters; to require that unobligated funds in the Official Mail Allowance of Members be used to reduce the Federal deficit; and for other purposes.

Referred to the House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Mar 2, 1993

Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1991 to revise the formula for the official mail allowance (thus, reducing the amount allowed) for Members of the House of Representatives. Declares that it is the intent of the Congress that a Member or Member-elect (other than a Senator or Senator-elect) may not mail a congressional newsletter as franked mail. Requires unobligated funds remaining in a Member's official mail allowance at the end of a congressional session to be applied toward reducing the Federal budget deficit.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Goss, Porter J. [R-FL-14] · R–FL

Committees

Post Office and Civil Service Committee

14 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.

Mar 2, 1993
Referred to the House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service.
Mar 2, 1993
Introduced in House
Mar 2, 1993
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 · Mar 2, 1993 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: Jan 2, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.1169 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.1169, 103rd Congress: To amend the formula for determining the Official Mail Allowance for Members of the House of Representatives; to prevent Members from using the franking privilege to send congressional newsletters; to require that unobligated funds in the Official Mail Allowance of Members be used to reduce the Federal deficit; and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/1169

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1993-03-02.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hr1169/BILLS-103hr1169ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:23:33Z. 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.1169 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.1169 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.1169, 103rd Congress: To amend the formula for determining the Official Mail Allowance for Members of the House of Representatives; to prevent Members from using the franking privilege to send congressional newsletters; to require that unobligated funds in the Official Mail Allowance of Members be used to reduce the Federal deficit; and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/1169

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1993-03-02.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hr1169/BILLS-103hr1169ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:23:33Z. 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.1169 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.1169 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.1169, 103rd Congress: To amend the formula for determining the Official Mail Allowance for Members of the House of Representatives; to prevent Members from using the franking privilege to send congressional newsletters; to require that unobligated funds in the Official Mail Allowance of Members be used to reduce the Federal deficit; and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/1169

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1993-03-02.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hr1169/BILLS-103hr1169ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:23:33Z. 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.1169 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.1169 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.1169, 103rd Congress: To amend the formula for determining the Official Mail Allowance for Members of the House of Representatives; to prevent Members from using the franking privilege to send congressional newsletters; to require that unobligated funds in the Official Mail Allowance of Members be used to reduce the Federal deficit; and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/1169

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1993-03-02.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hr1169/BILLS-103hr1169ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:23:33Z. 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.1169 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.