I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 4929 

To improve communication from executive agencies to individuals by requiring 

clear instructions, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 30, 2019 

Mr. MOULTON (for himself, Mr. MEADOWS, Mr. TRONE, Mr. NORMAN, Mr. 

CISNEROS, and Mr. FITZPATRICK) introduced the following bill; which 

was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform 

A BILL 

To improve communication from executive agencies to individuals by requiring clear instructions, and for other 

purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Too Long; Didn’t Read 

5 Act of 2019’’ or the ‘‘TL; DR Act of 2019’’. 

6 SEC. 2. RESPONSIBILITIES OF EXECUTIVE AGENCIES. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on the date that is not 

8 later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of 

9 this Act, the head of each agency shall provide, to the exVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:15 Nov 07, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4929.IH H4929

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1 tent practicable, at the top of each communication (both 

2 hard copy and electronic) that the agency sends to an indi3 vidual that authorizes or requires such individual to take 

4 an action, a clearly marked section that includes— 

5 (1) the authorized or required action; 

6 (2) if a response by the individual is required, 

7 optional, or not permitted; 

8 (3) all deadlines to complete the authorized or 

9 required action; 

10 (4) how to complete the authorized or required 

11 action; and 

12 (5) the contact information for any agency, or 

13 department or office thereof, that can assist or an14 swer questions relating to the authorized or required 

15 action. 

16 (b) PUBLIC REPORTS OF COMPLIANCE.— 

17 (1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 9 months 

18 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the head 

19 of each agency shall publish on the plain writing sec20 tion of the agency’s website, maintained pursuant to 

21 section 4(a) of the Plain Writing Act of 2010 (5 

22 U.S.C. 301 note), a report that describes the agency 

23 plan for compliance with the requirements of this 

24 Act. 


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1 (2) ANNUAL COMPLIANCE REPORT.—Not later 

2 than 18 months after the date of the enactment of 

3 this Act, and annually thereafter, the head of each 

4 agency shall publish on the plain writing section of 

5 the website of the agency, maintained pursuant to 

6 section 4(a) of the Plain Writing Act of 2010 (5 

7 U.S.C. 301 note), a report on agency compliance 

8 with the requirements of this Act. 

9 (c) AUTHORITY OF DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF

10 MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET.—The Director of the Office 

11 of Management and Budget may promulgate regulations 

12 or develop and issue guidance to implement the require13 ments under this section. 

14 (d) AGENCY DEFINED.—In this Act, the term ‘‘agen15 cy’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘Executive agency’’ 

16 as that term is defined in section 105 of title 5, United 

17 States Code. 

Æ 


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