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Union Calendar No. 390 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7987 

[Report No. 118–471] 

To require plain language and the inclusion of key words in covered notices 

that are clear, concise, and accessible to small business concerns, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 15, 2024 

Mr. LALOTA (for himself and Mr. THANEDAR) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Small Business 

APRIL 26, 2024 

Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union 

and ordered to be printed 


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•HR 7987 RH

A BILL 

To require plain language and the inclusion of key words 

in covered notices that are clear, concise, and accessible 

to small business concerns, and for other purposes. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 7987 RH

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 ‘‘Plain Language in 

5 Contracting Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. ACCESSIBILITY AND CLARITY IN COVERED NOTICES 

7 FOR SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—Each covered notice shall be writ9 ten— 

10 (1) in a manner that is clear, concise, and ac11 cessible to a small business concern; and 

12 (2) in a manner consistent, to the extent prac13 ticable, with the Federal plain language guidelines 

14 established pursuant to the Plain Writing Act of 

15 2010 (5 U.S.C. 301 note). 

16 (b) INCLUSION OF KEY WORDS IN COVERED NO17 TICES.—Each covered notice shall, to the maximum extent 

18 practicable, include key words in the description of the 

19 covered notice such that a small business concern seeking 

20 contract opportunities using the single governmentwide 

21 point of entry described under section 1708 of title 41, 

22 United States Code, can easily identify and understand 

23 such covered notice. 

24 (c) RULEMAKING.—Not later than 90 days after the 

25 date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of 


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•HR 7987 RH

1 the Small Business Administration shall issue rules to 

2 carry out this section. 

3 (d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

4 (1) COVERED NOTICE.—The term ‘‘covered no5 tice’’ means a notice pertaining to small business 

6 concerns published by a Federal agency on the sin7 gle Government-wide point of entry described under 

8 section 1708 of title 41, United States Code. 

9 (2) SMALL BUSINESS ACT DEFINITIONS.—The 

10 terms ‘‘Federal agency’’ and ‘‘small business con11 cern’’ have the meanings given those terms, respec12 tively, in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 

13 U.S.C. 632). 

14 SEC. 3. COMPLIANCE WITH CUTGO. 

15 No additional amounts are authorized to be appro16 priated to carry out this Act or the amendments made 

17 by this Act. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS

ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
Union Calendar No. 390 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7987 

[Report No. 118–471] 

A BILL 

To require plain language and the inclusion of key 

for other purposes. and accessible to small business concerns, and words in covered notices that are clear, concise, 

APRIL 26, 2024 

Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 

State of the Union and ordered to be printed 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS