[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 946 Reported in House (RH)]
Union Calendar No. 248
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 946
[Report No. 111-432]
To enhance citizen access to Government information and services by
establishing that Government documents issued to the public must be
written clearly, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 10, 2009
Mr. Braley of Iowa introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
March 11, 2010
Additional sponsors: Mr. Burton of Indiana, Ms. Foxx, Mr. Loebsack, Mr.
Boswell, Mr. Welch, Mr. Sires, Mr. Moran of Virginia, Mr. Watt, Mrs.
Dahlkemper, and Ms. Norton
March 11, 2010
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on
February 10, 2009]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To enhance citizen access to Government information and services by
establishing that Government documents issued to the public must be
written clearly, 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 Writing Act of 2010''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to improve the effectiveness and
accountability of Federal agencies to the public by promoting clear
Government communication that the public can understand and use.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' means an Executive agency,
as defined under section 105 of title 5, United States Code.
(2) Covered document.--The term ``covered document''--
(A) means any document that--
(i) is relevant to obtaining any Federal
Government benefit or service or filing taxes;
(ii) provides information about any Federal
Government benefit or service; or
(iii) explains to the public how to comply
with a requirement the Federal Government
administers or enforces;
(B) includes (whether in paper or electronic form)
a letter, publication, form, notice, or instruction;
and
(C) does not include a regulation.
(3) Plain writing.--The term ``plain writing'' means
writing that the intended audience can readily understand and
use because that writing is clear, concise, well-organized, and
follows other best practices of plain writing.
SEC. 4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.
(a) Preparation for Implementation of Plain Writing Requirements.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 9 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the head of each agency shall--
(A) designate 1 or more senior officials within the
agency to oversee the agency implementation of this
Act;
(B) communicate the requirements of this Act to the
employees of the agency;
(C) train employees of the agency in plain writing;
(D) establish a process for overseeing the ongoing
compliance of the agency with the requirements of this
Act;
(E) create and maintain a plain writing section of
the agency's website that is accessible from the
homepage of the agency's website; and
(F) designate 1 or more agency points-of-contact to
receive and respond to public input on--
(i) agency implementation of this Act; and
(ii) the agency reports required under
section 5.
(2) Website.--The plain writing section described under
paragraph (1)(E) shall--
(A) inform the public of agency compliance with the
requirements of this Act; and
(B) provide a mechanism for the agency to receive
and respond to public input on--
(i) agency implementation of this Act; and
(ii) the agency reports required under
section 5.
(b) Requirement to Use Plain Writing in New Documents.--Beginning
not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, each
agency shall use plain writing in every covered document of the agency
that the agency issues or substantially revises.
(c) Guidance.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management
and Budget shall develop and issue guidance on implementing the
requirements of this section. The Director may designate a lead
agency, and may use interagency working groups to assist in
developing and issuing the guidance.
(2) Interim guidance.--Before the issuance of guidance
under paragraph (1), agencies may follow the guidance of--
(A) the writing guidelines developed by the Plain
Language Action and Information Network; or
(B) guidance provided by the head of the agency
that is consistent with the guidelines referred to in
subparagraph (A).
SEC. 5. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.
(a) Initial Report.--Not later than 9 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the head of each agency shall publish on the
plain writing section of the agency's website a report that describes
the agency plan for compliance with the requirements of this Act.
(b) Annual Compliance Report.--Not later than 18 months after the
date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the head of
each agency shall publish on the plain writing section of the agency's
website a report on agency compliance with the requirements of this
Act.
SEC. 6. JUDICIAL REVIEW AND ENFORCEABILITY.
(a) Judicial Review.--There shall be no judicial review of
compliance or noncompliance with any provision of this Act.
(b) Enforceability.--No provision of this Act shall be construed to
create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable by
any administrative or judicial action.
Union Calendar No. 248
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 946
[Report No. 111-432]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To enhance citizen access to Government information and services by
establishing that Government documents issued to the public must be
written clearly, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
March 11, 2010
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed