U.S. Railroad Retirement Board 

Plain Writing Act of 2010 

Annual Compliance Report 

May 2022 

Background 

The Plain Writing Act, enacted in October 2010, requires agencies to communicate in a 

manner “that the public can understand and use,” and applies to any application, form, 

informational material, letter, or notice. It also defines plain writing as “clear, concise, 

well-organized, and follows other best practices appropriate to the subject or field or 

intended audience.” 

The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has always tried to communicate with its 

customers and stakeholders in a clear, understandable manner. We have continued this 

effort with renewed emphasis in the context of the intent and requirements of the Plain 

Writing Act, with the goal of improving our ability to clearly communicate information 

about our benefits and services, and how to access them. 

Implementation 

The RRB has a page on its website – RRB.gov – dedicated to plain language, as required 

by the law, which is accessible by clicking on the Plain Writing @ RRB link at the 

bottom of the home page. The page includes information on guidelines and best practices 

in this area, as well as an e-mail address should a visitor to the page have any questions 

or concerns about agency documents. The agency also posts its most recent annual 

compliance reports on this page, with the RRB’s Public Affairs unit overseeing these 

activities. The home page also includes a link to the comprehensive website on this 

subject – PlainLanguage.gov – which provides additional background as well as many 

examples throughout government. 

Current Activities 

The RRB has a Learning Management System (LMS) that includes an online training 

platform known as RRB University. The LMS helps the RRB manage and plan training 

activities. It includes a specific online course on the tenets of the Plain Writing Act, along 

with several other in-person and online courses on the subject of written communication. 
 

 

 

 

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In the past year, 130 employees completed the Plain Writing Act training. This was 

almost three times the number who completed the course in the previous year, with most 

of them being new hires. (The vast majority of agency employees first completed this 

training in 2016, when initially offered, although some have subsequently repeated it as a 

refresher course.) Of the 130 employees, 67 were assigned to headquarters units and 63 

worked in the agency’s network of 53 field offices. 

Continued use of a maximum-telework policy due to the coronavirus pandemic limited 

training to online instruction, with several classes related to plain writing offered through 

RRB University. In the past year, 24 employees completed “Audience and Purpose in 

Business Writing,” 18 employees completed “Clarity and Conciseness in Business 

Writing,” and 10 completed an entry-level course titled “Writing for Business.” In total, 

agency employees took seven online courses related to effective writing, including 

courses such as “Clarity and Conciseness in Business Writing,” “Improving Your 

Technical Writing Skills,” and “Writing Effective Emails and Instant Messages.” 

The RRB reviews all written communications, including letters, publications, and online 

content, on a recurring basis to make them clearer, following guidelines and best 

practices related to plain language and writing. The focus in recent years has been on 

online content, as it represents an increasing share of direct customer communication, 

including the improved appearance and navigation of RRB.gov. This included a 

continued focus on printed and online communication related to the pandemic, including 

press releases and frequently asked questions regarding benefits provided in coronavirus 

relief legislation. 

Questions or requests for additional information can be directed to Director of Public 

Affairs Michael P. Freeman as follows. 

Public Affairs 

U.S. Railroad Retirement Board 

844 North Rush Street, 4NE 

Chicago, IL 60611-1275 

(312) 751-4777 

opa@rrb.gov