[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3548 Engrossed in House (EH)]
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3548
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To enhance citizen access to Government information and services by
establishing plain language as the standard style for Government
documents issued to the public, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Plain Language in Government
Communications Act of 2008''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to improve the Federal Government's
effectiveness and accountability to the public by promoting clear
communication that the public can understand and use.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' means an Executive agency,
as that term is defined in section 105 of title 5, United
States Code.
(2) Plain language.--The term ``plain language'' means
language that the intended audience can readily understand and
use because it is clear, concise, well-organized, and follows
other best practices of plain language writing.
SEC. 4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.
(a) Requirement to Use Plain Language in New Documents.--Within one
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, each agency--
(1) shall use plain language in any covered document of the
agency issued or substantially revised after the date of the
enactment of this Act;
(2) may use plain language in any revision of a covered
document issued on or before such date; and
(3) shall, when appropriate, use the English language in
covered documents.
(b) Guidance.--In implementing subsection (a), an agency may follow
either the guidance of the Plain English Handbook, published by the
Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Federal Plain Language
Guidelines. If any agency has its own plain language guidance, the
agency may use that guidance, as long as it is consistent with the
Federal Plain Language Guidelines, the Plain English Handbook,
published by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the
recommendations made by the Comptroller General under section 5(c).
(c) Additional Provisions Relating to Use of English Language.--
Nothing in this Act shall be construed--
(1) to prohibit the use of a language other than English;
(2) to limit the preservation or use of Native Alaskan or
Native American languages (as defined in the Native American
Languages Act);
(3) to disparage any language or discourage any person from
learning or using a language;
(4) to impact or affect protections regarding language
access; or
(5) to be inconsistent with the Constitution of the United
States.
(d) Covered Document.--In this section, the term ``covered
document''--
(1) means any document that explains how to obtain a
benefit or service or file taxes, or that is relevant to
obtaining a benefit or service or filing taxes; and
(2) includes, whether in paper or electronic form, a
letter, publication, form, notice, or instruction but does not
include a regulation.
(e) Use of Plain Language by Agencies.--Each agency should, to the
extent practicable and appropriate, use plain language in any
collection of information (as defined in section 3502(3)(A)(i) of title
44, United States Code).
(f) Incorporation of Comptroller General Recommendations.--
(1) Reports.--
(A) Federal aviation administration.--The
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration,
acting through the Plain Language Action and
Information Network, shall submit to the committees
described in paragraph (2) a report on whether the
recommendations made by the Comptroller General in the
report under section 5(c) have been incorporated into
the Federal Plain Language Guidelines described in
subsection (b), and, if such recommendations have not
been incorporated, an explanation of why they have not
been incorporated.
(B) Securities and exchange commission.--The
Securities and Exchange Commission shall submit to the
committees described in paragraph (2) a report on
whether the recommendations made by the Comptroller
General in the report under section 5(c) have been
incorporated into the Plain English Handbook described
in subsection (b), and, if such recommendations have
not been incorporated, an explanation of why they have
not been incorporated.
(2) Committees.--The committees described in this paragraph
are the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate.
(3) Deadline.--The reports required under paragraph (1)
shall be submitted within six months after the issuance of the
report provided by the Comptroller General under section 5(c).
SEC. 5. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.
(a) Initial Report.--Within six months after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the head of each agency shall submit to the
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs of the Senate a report that describes how the agency intends to
meet the following objectives:
(1) Communicating the requirements of this Act to agency
employees.
(2) Training agency employees to write in plain language.
(3) Meeting the deadline set forth in section 4(a).
(4) Ensuring ongoing compliance with the requirements of
this Act.
(5) Designating a senior official to be responsible for
implementing the requirements of this Act.
(6) Using, to the extent practicable and appropriate, plain
language in regulations promulgated by the agency.
(b) Annual and Other Reports.--
(1) The head of each agency shall submit to the Committee
on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on--
(A) compliance with this Act; and
(B) the agency's continued efforts to meet the
objectives specified in subsection (a).
(2) A report under this subsection shall be submitted--
(A) annually for the first two years after the date
of the enactment of this Act; and
(B) once every three years thereafter.
(c) Evaluation and Report by Comptroller General.--Within six
months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller
General shall evaluate existing guidance for agencies on writing in
plain language, including the guidance listed in section 4(b), and
provide to the Office of Management and Budget, the Committee on
Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives, and
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the
Senate a report providing recommendations on--
(1) plain language guidelines; and
(2) best practices for plain language.
Passed the House of Representatives April 14, 2008.
Attest:
Clerk.
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3548
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To enhance citizen access to Government information and services by
establishing plain language as the standard style for Government
documents issued to the public, and for other purposes.