H.R.3548 - Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2007

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. view all titles (4)

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  • Official: 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. as introduced.
  • Short: Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2007 as introduced.
  • Short: Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2008 as reported to house.
  • Short: Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2008 as passed house.

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Introduced
 
House
Passed
 
Senate
Passes
 
President
Signs
 

 
09/16/07
 
04/14/08
 
 
 
 
 

Official Bill Text Comment on about 6 Pages
 

Latest Vote

Result: Passed - April 14, 2008

Roll call number 185 in the House

Question: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended: H R 3548 Plain Language in Government Communications Act

Required percentage of 'Aye' votes: 2/3 (66%)
Percentage of 'aye' votes: 87%
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Democrats Voting 'Aye'

Neil Abercrombie
Rep. Gary Ackerman [D, NY-5]
Rep. Jason Altmire [D, PA-4]
Michael Arcuri
Rep. Joe Baca [D, CA-43]
Brian Baird
Rep. Tammy Baldwin [D, WI-2]
Rep. John Barrow [D, GA-12]
Melissa Bean
Rep. Shelley Berkley [D, NV-1]
Rep. Howard Berman [D, CA-28]
Robert Berry
Rep. Timothy Bishop [D, NY-1]
Rep. Earl Blumenauer [D, OR-3]
Rep. Dan Boren [D, OK-2]
Rep. Leonard Boswell [D, IA-3]
Frederick Boucher
Allen Boyd
Nancy Boyda
Rep. Bruce Braley [D, IA-1]
Rep. Lois Capps [D, CA-23]
Rep. Dennis Cardoza [D, CA-18]
Rep. Russ Carnahan [D, MO-3]
Christopher Carney
Rep. André Carson [D, IN-7]
Rep. Kathy Castor [D, FL-11]
Rep. Yvette Clarke [D, NY-11]
Rep. William Clay [D, MO-1]
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver [D, MO-5]
Rep. James Clyburn [D, SC-6]
Rep. Steve Cohen [D, TN-9]
Rep. John Conyers [D, MI-14]
Rep. Jim Cooper [D, TN-5]
Rep. Jim Costa [D, CA-20]
Rep. Jerry Costello [D, IL-12]
Rep. Joe Courtney [D, CT-2]
Robert Cramer
Rep. Joseph Crowley [D, NY-7]
Rep. Henry Cuellar [D, TX-28]
Rep. Elijah Cummings [D, MD-7]
Rep. Danny Davis [D, IL-7]
Rep. Susan Davis [D, CA-53]
Artur Davis
Rep. Peter DeFazio [D, OR-4]
Rep. Diana DeGette [D, CO-1]
Rep. Rosa DeLauro [D, CT-3]
Rep. Norman Dicks [D, WA-6]
Rep. John Dingell [D, MI-15]
Rep. Lloyd Doggett [D, TX-25]
Rep. Joe Donnelly [D, IN-2]
Rep. Michael Doyle [D, PA-14]
Thomas Edwards
Rep. Keith Ellison [D, MN-5]
Brad Ellsworth
Rahm Emanuel
Rep. Eliot Engel [D, NY-17]
Rep. Anna Eshoo [D, CA-14]
Bob Etheridge
Rep. Sam Farr [D, CA-17]
Rep. Bob Filner [D, CA-51]
Bill Foster
Rep. Barney Frank [D, MA-4]
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords [D, AZ-8]
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand [D, NY]
Rep. Charles Gonzalez [D, TX-20]
Barton Gordon
Rep. Al Green [D, TX-9]
Rep. Raymond Green [D, TX-29]
Rep. Raul Grijalva [D, AZ-7]
John Hall
Phil Hare
Rep. Jane Harman [D, CA-36]
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
Rep. Brian Higgins [D, NY-27]
Baron Hill
Rep. Maurice Hinchey [D, NY-22]
Rep. Rubén Hinojosa [D, TX-15]
Rep. Mazie Hirono [D, HI-2]
Paul Hodes
Rep. Tim Holden [D, PA-17]
Rep. Rush Holt [D, NJ-12]
Darlene Hooley
Rep. Steny Hoyer [D, MD-5]
Rep. Jay Inslee [D, WA-1]
Rep. Steve Israel [D, NY-2]
Rep. Jesse Jackson [D, IL-2]
Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee [D, TX-18]
Rep. Henry Johnson [D, GA-4]
Rep. Eddie Johnson [D, TX-30]
Stephanie Jones
Steve Kagen
Paul Kanjorski
Rep. Marcy Kaptur [D, OH-9]
Patrick Kennedy
Rep. Dale Kildee [D, MI-5]
Carolyn Kilpatrick
Rep. Ronald Kind [D, WI-3]
Ron Klein
Rep. Dennis Kucinich [D, OH-10]
Rep. James Langevin [D, RI-2]
Rep. Rick Larsen [D, WA-2]
Rep. John Larson [D, CT-1]
Rep. Barbara Lee [D, CA-9]
Rep. Sander Levin [D, MI-12]
Rep. John Lewis [D, GA-5]
Rep. Daniel Lipinski [D, IL-3]
Rep. David Loebsack [D, IA-2]
Rep. Zoe Lofgren [D, CA-16]
Rep. Nita Lowey [D, NY-18]
Rep. Stephen Lynch [D, MA-9]
Tim Mahoney
Rep. Carolyn Maloney [D, NY-14]
Rep. Edward Markey [D, MA-7]
James Marshall
Rep. Jim Matheson [D, UT-2]
Rep. Doris Matsui [D, CA-5]
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy [D, NY-4]
Rep. Betty McCollum [D, MN-4]
Rep. James McDermott [D, WA-7]
Rep. James McGovern [D, MA-3]
Rep. Mike McIntyre [D, NC-7]
Rep. Jerry McNerney [D, CA-11]
Michael McNulty
Rep. Gregory Meeks [D, NY-6]
Charles Melancon
Rep. Michael Michaud [D, ME-2]
Rep. Bradley Miller [D, NC-13]
Rep. George Miller [D, CA-7]
Harry Mitchell
Alan Mollohan
Rep. Gwen Moore [D, WI-4]
Dennis Moore
Rep. Christopher Murphy [D, CT-5]
Patrick Murphy
Rep. Jerrold Nadler [D, NY-8]
Rep. Grace Napolitano [D, CA-38]
James Oberstar
David Obey
Rep. John Olver [D, MA-1]
Solomon Ortiz
Rep. Frank Pallone [D, NJ-6]
Rep. Edward Pastor [D, AZ-4]
Rep. Ed Perlmutter [D, CO-7]
Rep. Collin Peterson [D, MN-7]
Earl Pomeroy
Rep. David Price [D, NC-4]
Rep. Nick Rahall [D, WV-3]
Rep. Charles Rangel [D, NY-15]
Rep. Silvestre Reyes [D, TX-16]
Ciro Rodriguez
Rep. Mike Ross [D, AR-4]
Rep. Steven Rothman [D, NJ-9]
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard [D, CA-34]
Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger [D, MD-2]
Rep. Timothy Ryan [D, OH-17]
John Salazar
Rep. Loretta Sanchez [D, CA-47]
Rep. Linda Sánchez [D, CA-39]
Rep. John Sarbanes [D, MD-3]
Rep. Janice Schakowsky [D, IL-9]
Rep. Adam Schiff [D, CA-29]
Rep. Robert Scott [D, VA-3]
Rep. David Scott [D, GA-13]
Rep. José Serrano [D, NY-16]
Joe Sestak
Carol Shea-Porter
Rep. Brad Sherman [D, CA-27]
Rep. Heath Shuler [D, NC-11]
Rep. Albio Sires [D, NJ-13]
Ike Skelton
Rep. Louise Slaughter [D, NY-28]
Victor Snyder
Zachary Space
Rep. Jackie Speier [D, CA-12]
John Spratt
Rep. Fortney Stark [D, CA-13]
Bart Stupak
Rep. Betty Sutton [D, OH-13]
John Tanner
Ellen Tauscher
Gene Taylor
Rep. Michael Thompson [D, CA-1]
Rep. Bennie Thompson [D, MS-2]
Rep. John Tierney [D, MA-6]
Rep. Edolphus Towns [D, NY-10]
Sen. Tom Udall [D, NM]
Rep. Christopher Van Hollen [D, MD-8]
Rep. Nydia Velázquez [D, NY-12]
Rep. Peter Visclosky [D, IN-1]
Rep. Timothy Walz [D, MN-1]
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz [D, FL-20]
Rep. Maxine Waters [D, CA-35]
Diane Watson
Rep. Melvin Watt [D, NC-12]
Rep. Henry Waxman [D, CA-30]
Rep. Peter Welch [D, VT-0]
Robert Wexler
Charles Wilson
Rep. Lynn Woolsey [D, CA-6]
Rep. David Wu [D, OR-1]
Albert Wynn
Rep. John Yarmuth [D, KY-3]
Close

Republicans Voting 'Aye'

Rep. Robert Aderholt [R, AL-4]
Rep. Todd Akin [R, MO-2]
Rep. Rodney Alexander [R, LA-5]
Rep. Michele Bachmann [R, MN-6]
Rep. Spencer Bachus [R, AL-6]
James Barrett
Rep. Roscoe Bartlett [R, MD-6]
Rep. Joe Barton [R, TX-6]
Rep. Judy Biggert [R, IL-13]
Rep. Brian Bilbray [R, CA-50]
Rep. Gus Bilirakis [R, FL-9]
Rep. Rob Bishop [R, UT-1]
Rep. Marsha Blackburn [R, TN-7]
Sen. Roy Blunt [R, MO]
Rep. John Boehner [R, OH-8]
Rep. Jo Bonner [R, AL-1]
Rep. Mary Bono Mack [R, CA-45]
Sen. John Boozman [R, AR]
Rep. Charles Boustany [R, LA-7]
Rep. Kevin Brady [R, TX-8]
Rep. Paul Broun [R, GA-10]
Henry Brown
Virginia Brown-Waite
Rep. Vern Buchanan [R, FL-13]
Rep. Michael Burgess [R, TX-26]
Rep. Dan Burton [R, IN-5]
Rep. Ken Calvert [R, CA-44]
Rep. David Camp [R, MI-4]
Rep. John Campbell [R, CA-48]
Christopher Cannon
Rep. Eric Cantor [R, VA-7]
Rep. Shelley Capito [R, WV-2]
Rep. John Carter [R, TX-31]
Michael Castle
Rep. Steven Chabot [R, OH-1]
Rep. Howard Coble [R, NC-6]
Rep. Tom Cole [R, OK-4]
Rep. Michael Conaway [R, TX-11]
Rep. Ander Crenshaw [R, FL-4]
Barbara Cubin
Thomas Davis
David Davis
Rep. Geoff Davis [R, KY-4]
Nathan Deal
Rep. Charles Dent [R, PA-15]
Lincoln Diaz-Balart
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart [R, FL-21]
John Doolittle
Thelma Drake
Rep. David Dreier [R, CA-26]
Rep. John Duncan [R, TN-2]
Vernon Ehlers
Rep. Jo Ann Emerson [R, MO-8]
Terry Everett
Mary Fallin
Tom Feeney
Michael Ferguson
Rep. Randy Forbes [R, VA-4]
Rep. Jeffrey Fortenberry [R, NE-1]
Vito Fossella
Rep. Virginia Foxx [R, NC-5]
Rep. Trent Franks [R, AZ-2]
Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen [R, NJ-11]
Rep. Elton Gallegly [R, CA-24]
Rep. Scott Garrett [R, NJ-5]
Rep. Jim Gerlach [R, PA-6]
Rep. John Gingrey [R, GA-11]
Virgil Goode
Rep. Robert Goodlatte [R, VA-6]
Rep. Kay Granger [R, TX-12]
Rep. Samuel Graves [R, MO-6]
Rep. Ralph Hall [R, TX-4]
Rep. Doc Hastings [R, WA-4]
Robin Hayes
Sen. Dean Heller [R, NV]
Rep. Jeb Hensarling [R, TX-5]
Rep. Walter Herger [R, CA-2]
David Hobson
Peter Hoekstra
Bob Inglis
Rep. Darrell Issa [R, CA-49]
Rep. Samuel Johnson [R, TX-3]
Rep. Timothy Johnson [R, IL-15]
Rep. Walter Jones [R, NC-3]
Rep. Jim Jordan [R, OH-4]
Ric Keller
Rep. Steve King [R, IA-5]
Rep. Peter King [R, NY-3]
Rep. Jack Kingston [R, GA-1]
Sen. Mark Kirk [R, IL]
Rep. John Kline [R, MN-2]
Joseph Knollenberg
John Kuhl
Ray LaHood
Rep. Doug Lamborn [R, CO-5]
Rep. Thomas Latham [R, IA-4]
Rep. Steven LaTourette [R, OH-14]
Rep. Robert Latta [R, OH-5]
Ron Lewis
Rep. Jerry Lewis [R, CA-41]
John Linder
Rep. Frank Lucas [R, OK-3]
Rep. Daniel Lungren [R, CA-3]
Rep. Donald Manzullo [R, IL-16]
Rep. Kevin McCarthy [R, CA-22]
Rep. Michael McCaul [R, TX-10]
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter [R, MI-11]
James McCrery
Rep. Patrick McHenry [R, NC-10]
John McHugh
Rep. Howard McKeon [R, CA-25]
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers [R, WA-5]
Rep. John Mica [R, FL-7]
Rep. Jeff Miller [R, FL-1]
Rep. Candice Miller [R, MI-10]
Rep. Gary Miller [R, CA-42]
Sen. Jerry Moran [R, KS]
Rep. Tim Murphy [R, PA-18]
Marilyn Musgrave
Rep. Sue Myrick [R, NC-9]
Rep. Randy Neugebauer [R, TX-19]
Rep. Devin Nunes [R, CA-21]
Rep. Steven Pearce [R, NM-2]
Rep. Mike Pence [R, IN-6]
Rep. Thomas Petri [R, WI-6]
Rep. Joseph Pitts [R, PA-16]
Rep. Todd Platts [R, PA-19]
Rep. Ted Poe [R, TX-2]
Jon Porter
Rep. Tom Price [R, GA-6]
Adam Putnam
James Ramstad
Ralph Regula
Rep. Dennis Rehberg [R, MT-0]
Rep. Dave Reichert [R, WA-8]
Thomas Reynolds
Rep. Michael Rogers [R, AL-3]
Rep. Harold Rogers [R, KY-5]
Rep. Michael Rogers [R, MI-8]
Rep. Peter Roskam [R, IL-6]
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen [R, FL-18]
Rep. Edward Royce [R, CA-40]
Rep. Paul Ryan [R, WI-1]
Bill Sali
James Saxton
Rep. Jean Schmidt [R, OH-2]
Rep. James Sensenbrenner [R, WI-5]
Rep. Peter Sessions [R, TX-32]
John Shadegg
Rep. John Shimkus [R, IL-19]
Rep. Michael Simpson [R, ID-2]
Rep. Lamar Smith [R, TX-21]
Rep. Adrian Smith [R, NE-3]
Rep. Christopher Smith [R, NJ-4]
Mark Souder
Rep. Clifford Stearns [R, FL-6]
Rep. John Sullivan [R, OK-1]
Thomas Tancredo
Rep. Lee Terry [R, NE-2]
Rep. William Thornberry [R, TX-13]
Todd Tiahrt
Rep. Patrick Tiberi [R, OH-12]
Rep. Frederick Upton [R, MI-6]
Rep. Timothy Walberg [R, MI-7]
Rep. Greg Walden [R, OR-2]
James Walsh
Zach Wamp
Gerald Weller
Rep. Lynn Westmoreland [R, GA-3]
Rep. Edward Whitfield [R, KY-1]
Rep. Addison Wilson [R, SC-2]
Rep. Rob Wittman [R, VA-1]
Rep. Frank Wolf [R, VA-10]
Rep. Donald Young [R, AK-0]
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Others Voting 'Aye'

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Others Voting 'Abstain'

 

Official Summary

4/14/2008--Passed House amended. Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2008 - (Sec. 4) Requires each executive agency, within one year, to: (1) use plain language in any covered document issued or substantially revised after the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) use t
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Official Summary

4/14/2008--Passed House amended. Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2008 -

(Sec. 4)

Requires each executive agency, within one year, to:
(1) use plain language in any covered document issued or substantially revised after the date of the enactment of this Act; and
(2) use the English language in covered documents when appropriate. Authorizes agencies to:
(1) use plain language in any revision of a covered document issued on or before such date; and
(2) follow the guidance of the Plain English Handbook published by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Federal Plain Language Guidelines, or their own plain language guidance as long as it is consistent with such Handbook, Guidelines, and the Comptroller General's recommendations. Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to:
(1) prohibit the use of a language other than English;
(2) limit the preservation or use of Native Alaskan or Native American languages;
(3) disparage any language or discourage any person from learning or using a language;
(4) affect protections regarding language access; or
(5) be inconsistent with the Constitution.
Defines "covered document" to include:
(1) any document relevant to obtaining a benefit or service or filing taxes; and
(2) a letter, publication, form, notice, or instruction, in paper or electronic form, but not a regulation.
Requires agencies to use plain language in any collection of information.
Requires the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), acting through the Plain Language Action and Information Network, and the SEC to report to specified congressional committees on whether the Comptroller General's recommendations about plain language guidelines and best practices have been incorporated into the Federal Plain Language Guidelines and the Plain English Handbook and, if not, why.


(Sec. 5)

Requires each agency head to report to specified congressional committees on how it intends to:
(1) communicate the requirements of this Act to employees;
(2) train employees to write in plain language;
(3) meet the one year deadline;
(4) ensure ongoing compliance with this Act;
(5) designate a senior official to be responsible for implementing this Act; and
(6) use plain language in promulgated regulations. Requires agency heads to report on efforts to meet such objectives and on compliance with this Act.
Requires the Comptroller General to evaluate existing guidance for agencies on writing in plain language and report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and specified congressional committees on plain language guidelines and best practices.


...Read the Rest

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