39 USC § 3211 - Public documents

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t39/s3211"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "39 USC § 3211 - Public documents"
title_number: 39
title_name: "POSTAL SERVICE"
section_number: "3211"
section_name: "Public documents"
chapter_number: 32
chapter_name: "PENALTY AND FRANKED MAIL"
part_number: "IV"
part_name: "MAIL MATTER"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 754; Pub. L. 93–191, § 2, Dec. 18, 1973, 87 Stat. 741; Pub. L. 97–69, § 5(a), Oct. 26, 1981, 95 Stat. 1043.)"
---


# § 3211. Public documents

The Vice President, Members of Congress, the Secretary of the Senate, the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, each of the elected officers of the House of Representatives (other than a Member of the House) during the 90-day period immediately following the expiration of their respective terms of office, may send and receive as franked mail all public documents printed by order of Congress.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 754; Pub. L. 93–191, § 2, Dec. 18, 1973, 87 Stat. 741; Pub. L. 97–69, § 5(a), Oct. 26, 1981, 95 Stat. 1043.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1981— substituted “during the 90-day period immediately” for “until the first day of April”.

1973— substituted “each of the elected officers of the House of Representatives (other than a Member of the House) until the first day of April” for “the Clerk of the House of Representatives, and the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives, until the thirtieth day of June”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1973 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , see , set out as a note under .

### Effective Date

Section effective , pursuant to Resolution No. 71–9 of the Board of Governors. See , set out as a note preceding .