The Vice President , Members of Congress , the Secretary of the Senate , the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate , each of the elected officers of the House of Representatives (other than a Member of the House) during the 90-day period immediately following the expiration of their respective terms of office, may send and receive as franked mail all public documents printed by order of Congress . ( Pub. L. 91–375 , Aug. 12, 1970 , 84 Stat. 754 ; Pub. L. 93–191, § 2 , Dec. 18, 1973 , 87 Stat. 741 ; Pub. L. 97–69, § 5(a) , Oct. 26, 1981 , 95 Stat. 1043 .) Editorial Notes Amendments 1981— Pub. L. 97–69 substituted “during the 90-day period immediately” for “until the first day of April”. 1973— Pub. L. 93–191 substituted “each of the elected officers of the House of Representatives (other than a Member of the House) until the first day of April” for “the Clerk of the House of Representatives , and the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives , until the thirtieth day of June”. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries Effective Date of 1973 Amendment Amendment by Pub. L. 93–191 effective Dec. 18, 1973 , see section 14 of Pub. L. 93–191 , set out as a note under section 3210 of this title . Effective Date Section effective July 1, 1971 , pursuant to Resolution No. 71–9 of the Board of Governors. See section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375 , set out as a note preceding section 101 of this title . CFR Title Parts 39 20 , 111 , 113