Office of the Customer Advocate

(a) In general Section 505 of title 39, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 505. Office of the Customer Advocate (a) In general The Postal Regulatory Commission shall establish in the Postal Regulatory Commission an Office of the Customer Advocate (in this section referred to as the Office). (b) Representation (1) In general The Office shall represent the interests of the general public in all public proceedings of the Commission, including the interests of customers of market-dominant products and classes. (2) Rights and limits (A) In general The Office— (i) shall have the same right as any interested person to lodge a complaint with or petition the Commission, or otherwise seek to have the Commission initiate a public proceeding, including rulemakings; and (ii) is subject to the same ex parte rules and limitations as any other litigant with respect to communication with the Commission, Commissioners, and the advisory staff of the Commission. (B) Represent conflicting interest (i) In general The Office may represent conflicting interests of the general public in a public proceeding of the Commission to the extent that the head of the Office determines necessary for the Office to effectively represent the interests of the general public in such proceeding. (ii) Separate representatives If the Office is representing conflicting interests of the general public in a public proceeding of the Commission, the head of the Office shall ensure that such conflicting interests are represented by different individuals to the extent and in such manner as the head of the Office determines necessary for the Office to effectively represent the interests of the general public in such proceeding. (3) Office autonomy The Commission may not terminate or otherwise take adverse employment action against any employee of or individual detailed to the Office based on the representation of the interests of the general public by such employee or detailee as an employee of or detailee to the Office, respectively, in a public proceeding of the Commission, except for cause. (c) Research authority The Office may— (1) conduct research and policy development for the purposes of representing the interests of the general public, including research and policy development that is unrelated to a specific proceeding of the Commission; and (2) subject to the availability of funds, obtain the temporary or intermittent services of experts or consultants for such purposes. (d) Outside consultation The Office shall consult with outside persons and organizations the postal interests of which are relevant to the mission of the Office, including those persons and organizations that are actual or potential litigants before the Commission. (e) Rate and classification inquiry The Office shall inquire into the rates and classifications of competitive products only to the extent necessary to evaluate compliance with sections 3622(b)(8) and 3622(b)(9) of this title, subchapter II of chapter 36 of this title, and the regulations issued under such subchapter. (f) Office staff The Commission shall ensure that, to the extent practicable, the Office has employees of a sufficient quantity and quality for the Office to effectively carry out the responsibilities of the Office under this section, including by maximizing the duration of the detail of individuals detailed to the Office.. (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections for chapter 5 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 505 and inserting the following: 505. Office of the Customer Advocate..