Rural Service Preservation Act

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Dec 20, 2011

Rural Service Preservation Act - Requires the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to continue rural mail delivery at its current level for the five-year period beginning on the enactment of this Act.

Limits the number of buy-outs offered to employees who work in rural post offices and the number of rural post offices closed or consolidated to 10% of the total number of postal employee buy-outs and post office closings or consolidations during the five-year period beginning on the enactment date of this Act.

Defines "rural post office" as a post office located in an area that has a population not exceeding 10,000, and that is not contiguous or adjacent to a town, village, or city that has a population greater than 150,000 or an urbanized area of such town, village, or city.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Aderholt, Robert B. [R-AL-4] · R–AL

Committees

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]

Legislative record

Actions

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

Dec 20, 2011
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Dec 20, 2011
Introduced in House
Dec 20, 2011
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 · Dec 20, 2011 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

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: Aug 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.3744 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.

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Discuss H.R.3744, 112th Congress: Rural Service Preservation Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/3744

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-12-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr3744/BILLS-112hr3744ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:20:39Z. 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.3744 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.3744 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.

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Discuss H.R.3744, 112th Congress: Rural Service Preservation Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/3744

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-12-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr3744/BILLS-112hr3744ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:20:39Z. 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.3744 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.3744 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.

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Discuss H.R.3744, 112th Congress: Rural Service Preservation Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/3744

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-12-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr3744/BILLS-112hr3744ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:20:39Z. 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.3744 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.3744 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.3744, 112th Congress: Rural Service Preservation Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/3744

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-12-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr3744/BILLS-112hr3744ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:20:39Z. 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.3744 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.