The Postal Service issues stamps as a convenient payment method for consumers. The “Forever” stamp concept was first introduced in April 2007 with a stamp featuring the image of the Liberty Bell and was designed for consumers’ ease of use during price changes. In 2011, all domestic First-Class one-ounce stamps became forever stamps with the exception of stamps in coils of 500; 3,000; and 10,000. In FY2013, a new Global Forever stamp was introduced which is priced currently at $1.10 each and offers a single price for any First-Class Mail International 1-ounce letter to any country in the world. This Global Forever stamp may also be used to mail a 2-ounce letter to Canada.
In FY2013, there were 42 stamp issues with 121 designs recognizing American history, culture, people and achievements. Some of the stamps issued this year include the Emancipation Proclamation, Rosa Parks and March on Washington Civil Rights stamps; Music Icons that include Lydia Mendoza, Johnny Cash and Ray Charles; Muscle Cars; New England Lighthouses; Made in America; and the Stamp Collecting Inverted Jenny Souvenir Sheet.
The Postal Service is also authorized by Congress to issue semipostal stamps which are used to help raise funds for designated causes. The price of a semipostal stamp pays for the First-Class Mail single-piece postage price in effect at the time of purchase and reasonable reimbursement of costs to the Postal Service, plus an additional charge. This additional charge or “differential” funds causes designated by Congress that are in the national interest, with funds going to a Congressionally selected executive agency or agencies.
Four semipostal stamps have been issued since the program began in 1998 resulting in the donation of $93.6 million dollars. The two semipostal stamps currently on sale are the Breast Cancer Research and Save Vanishing Species stamps. The Breast Cancer Research stamp (1998-current) generated net proceeds of $1.8 million in FY2013 and $77.6 million since it was first issued in 1998. By law, 70 percent of the net amount raised is given to the National Institutes of Health and 30 percent is given to the Medical Research Program at the Department of Defense. The Save Vanishing Species stamp (September 2011–current) generated net proceeds of $0.8 million in FY2013 and $2.4 million in total since its 2011 release.
Two other semipostal stamps no longer on sale, the Heroes of 2001 and the Stop Family Violence stamps, generated $10.5 million for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and $3.1 million for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services respectively.
For more information about the Postal Service stamp program, you may go to store.usps.com/store/.
