PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.
H.R.3940 / 103rd Congress

Polly Klaas Child Rescue Act of 1994

Referred to the Subcommittee on Postal Operations and Services.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Mar 2, 1994

Polly Klaas Child Rescue Act of 1994 - Authorizes appropriations for each fiscal year beginning with FY 1995 in an amount equal to two percent of the funding for official mail costs of the House of Representatives for FY 1994 adjusted for any increase in first-class postage rates, to be used for payment of first-class postage for mailing of information on active investigations of children abducted by strangers. Authorizes the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to use the funds to pay the Postal Service for postage to be used by: (1) any local entity engaged in the search for a child abducted by a stranger; or (2) if no such entity exists, the FBI. Prohibits the funds from being used unless the FBI determines that: (1) a stranger abduction has occurred; (2) such abduction occurred not more than one year before the date of the determination; (3) the mailing will benefit the investigation; (4) an accurate and appropriate mailing list is available for the mailing; and (5) funds are not immediately available and a delay in the mailing would be harmful to the investigation. Limits the amount that may be spent on mailings to $15,000 per abducted child. Allows two percent of the funding for official mail costs of the House for FY 1994 to be made available for FY 1994 to the FBI for purposes of this Act. Provides that, if the amount appropriated pursuant to the authorization in this Act for any fiscal year beginning with FY 1995 is less than the authorized amount, the difference may be paid from the funding for official mail costs of the House for the fiscal year involved. Requires the FBI to immediately transfer the necessary funds for mailing to the Postal Service after making the required determination and the Postal Service to expedite the mailing upon receiving such funds.

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.

Who introduced it

Rep. Woolsey, Lynn C. [D-CA-6] · D–CA

Committees

  • Post Office and Civil Service Committee
  • Judiciary Committee
  • Committee on House Administration
16 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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

  1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Postal Operations and Services.

  2. Referred to the Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights.

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

  4. Referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.

  5. Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

  6. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H914)

  7. Introduced in House

  8. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

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

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 26, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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.3940 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
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.3940 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
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.3940 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
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.3940 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