39 USC § 3218 - Franked mail for survivors of Members of Congress

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t39/s3218"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "39 USC § 3218 - Franked mail for survivors of Members of Congress"
title_number: 39
title_name: "POSTAL SERVICE"
section_number: "3218"
section_name: "Franked mail for survivors of Members of Congress"
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. 755; Pub. L. 93–191, § 11, Dec. 18, 1973, 87 Stat. 746; Pub. L. 97–69, § 6(b), (c)(1), Oct. 26, 1981, 95 Stat. 1043.)"
---


# § 3218. Franked mail for survivors of Members of Congress

Upon the death of a Member of Congress during his term of office, the surviving spouse of such Member (or, if there is no surviving spouse, a member of the immediate family of the Member designated by the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House of Representatives, as appropriate, in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Secretary or the Clerk) may send, for a period not to exceed 180 days after his death, as franked mail, nonpolitical correspondence relating to the death of the Member.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 755; Pub. L. 93–191, § 11, Dec. 18, 1973, 87 Stat. 746; Pub. L. 97–69, § 6(b), (c)(1), Oct. 26, 1981, 95 Stat. 1043.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1981— substituted “survivors” for “surviving spouses” in section catchline and, in text, inserted “(or, if there is no surviving spouse, a member of the immediate family of the Member designated by the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House of Representatives, as appropriate, in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Secretary or the Clerk)” after “such Member”.

1973— inserted “nonpolitical” before “correspondence”.

## 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 .