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HR 3548 RHEH

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.IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESSeptember 17, 2007Mr. BRALEY of Iowa (for himself, Mr. AKIN, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. MCGOVERN, and Mrs. BOYDA of Kansas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government ReformApril 10, 2008Additional sponsors: Mr. REYES, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. HARE, Mr. GORDON of Tennessee, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. WELCH of Vermont, Mr. ALTMIRE, Ms. GIFFORDS, Mr. HILL, Mr. EMANUEL, Mr. MAHONEY of Florida, Mr. KAGEN, Ms. SHEA-PORTER, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. SPACE, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mrs. DAVIS of California, Mr. BOSWELL, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. SUTTON, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. BARROW, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Mr. TOWNS, Ms. BEAN, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. HODES, and Mr. LEWIS of GeorgiaApril 10, 2008Reported 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 the introduced bill, see bill as introduced on September 17, 2007]A BILLTo 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 Tto 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, to the maximum extent practicable, preserve and enhance the role of English by usingwhen appropriate, use the English language all 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;

or (4 (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-

Upon issuance (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 providedon 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 published bydescribed 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 SecuritiesCommittee on Oversight and Exchange CommissionGovernment 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 updated to incorporatesubmitted within six months after the recommendations madeissuance 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.

Union Calendar No. 358 Passed the House of Representatives April 14, 2008.