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(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 Ex-
change 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 con-
strued— 
(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; 
(4) to impact or affect protections regarding 
language access; or 
(5) to be inconsistent with the Constitution of 
the United States. 
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(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 instruc-
tion 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 de-
fined in section 3502(3)(A)(i) of title 44, United States 
Code). 
(f) INCORPORATION
OF COMPTROLLER GENERAL 
RECOMMENDATIONS.— 
(1) REPORTS.— 
(A) 
FEDERAL
AVIATION
ADMINISTRA-
TION.—The Administrator of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration, acting through the Plain 
Language Action and Information Network, 
shall submit to the committees described in 
paragraph (2) a report on whether the rec-
ommendations made by the Comptroller Gen-
eral in the report under section 5(c) have been 
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incorporated into the Federal Plain Language 
Guidelines described in subsection (b), and, if 
such recommendations have not been incor-
porated, an explanation of why they have not 
been incorporated. 
(B) SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMIS-
SION.—The Securities and Exchange Commis-
sion shall submit to the committees described in 
paragraph (2) a report on whether the rec-
ommendations made by the Comptroller Gen-
eral in the report under section 5(c) have been 
incorporated into the Plain English Handbook 
described in subsection (b), and, if such rec-
ommendations have not been incorporated, an 
explanation of why they have not been incor-
porated. 
(2) COMMITTEES.—The committees described 
in this paragraph are the Committee on Oversight 
and Government Reform of the House of Represent-
atives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate. 
(3) DEADLINE.—The reports required under 
paragraph (1) shall be submitted within six months 
after the issuance of the report provided by the 
Comptroller General under section 5(c). 
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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 Govern-
ment Reform of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Af-
fairs 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 re-
quirements of this Act. 
(5) Designating a senior official to be respon-
sible for implementing the requirements of this Act. 
(6) Using, to the extent practicable and appro-
priate, 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 
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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 sub-
mitted— 
(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 enact-
ment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall evaluate 
existing guidance for agencies on writing in plain lan-
guage, 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 Home-
land Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a 
report providing recommendations on— 
(1) plain language guidelines; and 
(2) best practices for plain language. 
Passed the House of Representatives April 14, 2008. 
Attest: 
LORRAINE C. MILLER, 
Clerk. 
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Calendar No. 929 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 3548 
AN ACT 
To enhance citizen access to Government informa-
tion and services by establishing plain language 
as the standard style for Government documents 
issued to the public, and for other purposes. 
AUGUST 1, 2008 
Read twice and placed on the calendar 
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