2012 US Code
Title 44 - Public Printing and Documents
Chapter 7 - CONGRESSIONAL PRINTING AND BINDING (§§ 701 - 741)
Section 733 - Documents and reports ordered by Members of Congress; franks and envelopes for Members of Congress

The Public Printer on order of a Member of Congress, on prepayment of the cost, may reprint documents and reports of committees together with the evidence papers submitted, or any part ordered printed by the Congress.

He may also furnish without cost to Members and the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, blank franks printed on sheets and perforated, or singly at their option, for public documents. Franks shall contain in the upper left-hand corner the following words: “Public document. United States Senate” or “House of Representatives U.S.” and in the upper right-hand corner the letters “U.S.S.” or “M. C.” Franks may also contain information relating to missing children as provided in section 3220 of title 39. But he may not print any other words except where it is desirable to affix the official title of a document. Other words printed on franks shall be at the personal expense of the Member or Resident Commissioner ordering them.

At the request of a Member of Congress or Resident Commissioner the Public Printer may print upon franks or envelopes used for mailing public documents the facsimile signature of the Member or Resident Commissioner and a special request for return if not called for, and the name of the State or Commonwealth and county and city. The Member or Resident Commissioner shall deposit with his order the extra expense involved in printing these additional words.

The Public Printer may also, at the request of a Member or Resident Commissioner, print on envelopes authorized to be furnished, the name of the Member or Resident Commissioner, and State or Commonwealth, the date, and the topic or subject matter, not exceeding twelve words.

The Public Printer shall deposit moneys accruing under this section in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the appropriation made for the working capital of the Government Printing Office for the year in which the work is done. He shall account for them in his annual report to Congress.

(Pub. L. 90–620, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1253; Pub. L. 93–191, §8(a), Dec. 18, 1973, 87 Stat. 745; Pub. L. 93–255, §2(b), Mar. 27, 1974, 88 Stat. 52; Pub. L. 99–87, §1(c)(2), Aug. 9, 1985, 99 Stat. 291.)

Based on 44 U.S. Code, 1964 ed., §162 (Jan. 12, 1895, ch. 23, §37, 28 Stat. 606; Mar. 2, 1895, ch. 189, §1, 28 Stat. 961; Jan. 30, 1904, ch. 39, 33 Stat. 9; Mar. 4, 1925, ch. 549, §1, 43 Stat. 1300).

Section 893 of Title 48, U.S. Code, provides that: “The Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico shall . . . be allowed the franking privilege granted Members of Congress.”

By inference he should be included in section 733, since the franking privilege should include the means to use it.

Changes have been made in section 733 to include the Resident Commissioner as to printing of franks.

1985—Pub. L. 99–87 inserted “Franks may also contain information relating to missing children as provided in section 3220 of title 39.” before “But he may not print” in second par.

1974—Pub. L. 93–255 struck out “Postage paid by Congress.” after “Public document.” in second par.

1973—Pub. L. 93–191 substituted “Public document. Postage paid by Congress.” for “Public document. Free.” in second par.

Amendment by Pub. L. 93–191 effective Dec. 18, 1973, see section 14 of Pub. L. 93–191, set out as a note under section 3210 of Title 39, Postal Service.