Semipostal Stamps: Authorization, Revenue, and Selection Process (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised March 18, 2008 |
| Report Number |
RS20921 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Kevin R. Kosar, Government and Finance Division; Pamela A. Hairston, Knowledge Services Group |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
Semipostal stamps, postage sold at a premium to raise funds for a particular cause, have been issued by postal authorities around the world for many decades, but they have only recently been authorized by Congress for use in the United States because they were opposed by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and stamp collectors. The Breast Cancer Research stamp was introduced in July 1998 and has raised over $50 million, net of USPS costs, to support research in treating breast cancer. The Semipostal Authorization Act of 2000 extended the breast cancer stamp two years and authorized USPS to issue other semipostals until 2010. USPS issued regulations inviting public nominations for future semipostals, providing that each can be sold for two years but only one can be on sale at any given time. USPS received 37 nominations. However, Congress acted in the Treasury-Postal Service Appropriations Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-67) to extend the BCRS [breast cancer research semipostal] through 2003, and to authorize additional semipostals for assistance to families of rescue workers killed or disabled in the September 11 terrorist attacks, and for domestic violence programs. The 'Heroes of 2001' stamp was issued on June 7, 2002, and the 'Stop Domestic Violence' stamp on October 11, 2003. Since the breast cancer semipostal was extended by Congress early in 2004 until December 31, 2005, all three stamps were in concurrent circulation in 2004. The 'Heroes of 2001' stamp did not sell especially well and has been withdrawn from circulation. Public Law 109-100 extended the life of the breast cancer research stamp until December 31, 2007. The breast cancer stamp's success is no guarantee that other issues will be equally successful. Several countries have abandoned the practice, and some observers worry that a plethora of semipostals would compete with more effective fund-raising methods. This report originally was authored by Nye Stevens, who has retired from CRS [Congressional Research Service]. Readers may contact Kevin R. Kosar with questions on postal issues. This report will be updated as events warrant.
