I 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 946 

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 

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. 

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 Act 

5 of 2009’’. 

6 SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 

7 The purpose of this Act is to improve the effective8 ness and accountability of Federal agencies to the public 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
2 

•HR 946 IH

1 by promoting clear Government communication that the 

2 public can understand and use. 

3 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

4 In this Act: 

5 (1) AGENCY.—The term ‘‘agency’’ means an 

6 Executive agency, as defined under section 105 of 

7 title 5, United States Code. 

8 (2) COVERED DOCUMENT.—The term ‘‘covered 

9 document’’ means any document (other than a regu10 lation) issued by an agency to the public, including 

11 documents and other text released in electronic 

12 form. 

13 (3) PLAIN LANGUAGE.—The term ‘‘plain lan14 guage’’ means language that the intended audience 

15 can readily understand and use because that lan16 guage is clear, concise, well-organized, and follows 

17 other best practices of plain language writing. 

18 SEC. 4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF FEDERAL AGENCIES. 

19 (a) REQUIREMENT TO USE PLAIN LANGUAGE IN

20 NEW DOCUMENTS.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

21 of enactment of this Act, each agency shall use plain lan22 guage in any covered document of the agency issued or 

23 substantially revised. 

24 (b) GUIDANCE.— 

25 (1) IN GENERAL.— 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
3 

•HR 946 IH

1 (A) DEVELOPMENT.—Not later than 6 

2 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 

3 the Director of the Office of Management and 

4 Budget shall develop guidance on implementing 

5 the requirements of subsection (a). 

6 (B) ISSUANCE.—The Director of the Office 

7 of Management and Budget shall issue the 

8 guidance developed under subparagraph (A) to 

9 agencies as a circular. 

10 (2) INTERIM GUIDANCE.—Before the issuance 

11 of guidance under paragraph (1), agencies may fol12 low the guidance of— 

13 (A) the writing guidelines developed by the 

14 Plain Language Action and Information Net15 work; or 

16 (B) guidance provided by the head of the 

17 agency that is consistent with the guidelines re18 ferred to under subparagraph (A). 

19 SEC. 5. REPORTS TO CONGRESS. 

20 (a) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 6 months after 

21 the date of enactment of this Act, the head of each agency 

22 shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and 

23 Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee 

24 on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
4 

•HR 946 IH

1 Representatives a report that describes how the agency in2 tends to meet the following objectives: 

3 (1) Communicating the requirements of this 

4 Act to agency employees. 

5 (2) Training agency employees to write in plain 

6 language. 

7 (3) Meeting the requirement under section 4(a). 

8 (4) Ensuring ongoing compliance with the re9 quirements of this Act. 

10 (5) Designating a senior official to be respon11 sible for implementing the requirements of this Act. 

12 (6) Using, to the extent practicable and appro13 priate, plain language in regulations promulgated by 

14 the agency. 

15 (b) ANNUAL AND OTHER REPORTS.— 

16 (1) AGENCY REPORTS.— 

17 (A) IN GENERAL.—The head of each agen18 cy shall submit reports on compliance with this 

19 Act to the Office of Management and Budget. 

20 (B) SUBMISSION DATES.—The Office of 

21 Management and Budget shall notify each 

22 agency of the date each report under subpara23 graph (A) is required for submission to enable 

24 the Office of Management and Budget to meet 

25 the requirements of paragraph (2). 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
5 

•HR 946 IH

1 (2) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—The Director of 

2 the Office of Management and Budget shall review 

3 agency reports submitted under paragraph (1) using 

4 the guidance issued under section 4(b)(1)(B) and 

5 submit a report on the progress of agencies to the 

6 Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 

7 Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Over8 sight and Government Reform of Representatives— 

9 (A) annually for the first 2 years after the 

10 date of enactment of this Act; and 

11 (B) once every 3 years thereafter. 

Æ 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS