The Anti-Lobbying Act is a federal law that prohibits Postal Service officers and employees acting in their official capacity from engaging in grassroots lobbying campaigns that directly or indirectly encourage the public to contact government officials in support of, or in opposition to, proposed or pending legislation.
Example: A Postal Service employee may not participate in a press conference organized by a non-governmental advocacy group called to criticize a legislative proposal, nor may an employee ghostwrite statements for a grassroots lobbying campaign.
The Anti-Lobbying Act also prohibits the direct or indirect use of Postal Service funds to pay for material intended to influence a member of Congress, a jurisdiction, or an official of any government to support or oppose any legislation, law ratification, policy, or appropriation.
Example: A series of letters on official stationery sent to mass mailers urging them to write to their elected representative to support specific legislation would constitute a prohibited direct expenditure under the Anti-Lobbying Act.
Example: The provision of facilities, equipment, telephones, etc., to a private lobbying group for a grassroots lobbying campaign supporting specific legislation would constitute a prohibited indirect expenditure under the Anti-Lobbying Act.
Advice concerning the Anti-Lobbying Act is available to Postal Service employees by calling the Ethics Help Line at (202) 268-6346, or by sending an e-mail inquiry to ethics.help@usps.gov.
