IB 
Union Calendar No. 248 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 946 
[Report No. 111–432] 
To enhance citizen access to Government information and services by estab-
lishing 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 
MARCH 11, 2010 
Additional sponsors: Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Ms. FOXX, Mr. LOEBSACK, Mr. 
BOSWELL, Mr. WELCH, Mr. SIRES, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. WATT, 
Mrs. DAHLKEMPER, and Ms. NORTON 
MARCH 11, 2010 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on February 10, 2009] 
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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. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Plain Writing Act of 
2010’’. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to improve the effectiveness 
and accountability of Federal agencies to the public by pro-
moting clear Government communication that the public 
can understand and use. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) AGENCY.—The term ‘‘agency’’ means an Ex-
ecutive agency, as defined under section 105 of title 
5, United States Code. 
(2) COVERED
DOCUMENT.—The term ‘‘covered 
document’’— 
(A) means any document that— 
(i) is relevant to obtaining any Federal 
Government benefit or service or filing 
taxes; 
(ii) provides information about any 
Federal Government benefit or service; or 
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(iii) explains to the public how to com-
ply with a requirement the Federal Govern-
ment administers or enforces; 
(B) includes (whether in paper or electronic 
form) a letter, publication, form, notice, or in-
struction; and 
(C) does not include a regulation. 
(3) PLAIN WRITING.—The term ‘‘plain writing’’ 
means writing that the intended audience can readily 
understand and use because that writing is clear, con-
cise, well-organized, and follows other best practices of 
plain writing. 
SEC. 4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF FEDERAL AGENCIES. 
(a) PREPARATION FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAIN 
WRITING REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 9 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the head of each 
agency shall— 
(A) designate 1 or more senior officials 
within the agency to oversee the agency imple-
mentation of this Act; 
(B) communicate the requirements of this 
Act to the employees of the agency; 
(C) train employees of the agency in plain 
writing; 
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(D) establish a process for overseeing the on-
going compliance of the agency with the require-
ments of this Act; 
(E) create and maintain a plain writing 
section of the agency’s website that is accessible 
from the homepage of the agency’s website; and 
(F) designate 1 or more agency points-of- 
contact to receive and respond to public input 
on— 
(i) agency implementation of this Act; 
and 
(ii) the agency reports required under 
section 5. 
(2) WEBSITE.—The plain writing section de-
scribed under paragraph (1)(E) shall— 
(A) inform the public of agency compliance 
with the requirements of this Act; and 
(B) provide a mechanism for the agency to 
receive and respond to public input on— 
(i) agency implementation of this Act; 
and 
(ii) the agency reports required under 
section 5. 
(b) REQUIREMENT TO USE PLAIN WRITING IN NEW 
DOCUMENTS.—Beginning not later than 1 year after the 
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date of enactment of this Act, each agency shall use plain 
writing in every covered document of the agency that the 
agency issues or substantially revises. 
(c) GUIDANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the 
Office of Management and Budget shall develop and 
issue guidance on implementing the requirements of 
this section. The Director may designate a lead agen-
cy, and may use interagency working groups to assist 
in developing and issuing the guidance. 
(2) INTERIM GUIDANCE.—Before the issuance of 
guidance under paragraph (1), agencies may follow 
the guidance of— 
(A) the writing guidelines developed by the 
Plain Language Action and Information Net-
work; or 
(B) guidance provided by the head of the 
agency that is consistent with the guidelines re-
ferred to in subparagraph (A). 
SEC. 5. REPORTS TO CONGRESS. 
(a) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 9 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the head of each agency 
shall publish on the plain writing section of the agency’s 
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website a report that describes the agency plan for compli-
ance with the requirements of this Act. 
(b) ANNUAL COMPLIANCE REPORT.—Not later than 18 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, and annu-
ally thereafter, the head of each agency shall publish on the 
plain writing section of the agency’s website a report on 
agency compliance with the requirements of this Act. 
SEC. 6. JUDICIAL REVIEW AND ENFORCEABILITY. 
(a) JUDICIAL REVIEW.—There shall be no judicial re-
view of compliance or noncompliance with any provision 
of this Act. 
(b) ENFORCEABILITY.—No provision of this Act shall 
be construed to create any right or benefit, substantive or 
procedural, enforceable by any administrative or judicial 
action. 
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Union Calendar No. 248 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 946 
[Report No. 111–432] 
A BILL 
To enhance citizen access to Government informa-
tion and services by establishing that Govern-
ment documents issued to the public must be 
written clearly, and for other purposes. 
MARCH 11, 2010 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
23:12 Mar 11, 2010
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PO 00000
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