I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 946 
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 
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. 
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 Language Act 
of 2009’’. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to improve the effective-
ness and accountability of Federal agencies to the public 
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by promoting clear Government communication that the 
public can understand and use. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) AGENCY.—The term ‘‘agency’’ means an 
Executive agency, as defined under section 105 of 
title 5, United States Code. 
(2) COVERED DOCUMENT.—The term ‘‘covered 
document’’ means any document (other than a regu-
lation) issued by an agency to the public, including 
documents and other text released in electronic 
form. 
(3) PLAIN LANGUAGE.—The term ‘‘plain lan-
guage’’ means language that the intended audience 
can readily understand and use because that lan-
guage is clear, concise, well-organized, and follows 
other best practices of plain language writing. 
SEC. 4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF FEDERAL AGENCIES. 
(a) REQUIREMENT TO USE PLAIN LANGUAGE IN 
NEW DOCUMENTS.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, each agency shall use plain lan-
guage in any covered document of the agency issued or 
substantially revised. 
(b) GUIDANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.— 
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(A) DEVELOPMENT.—Not later than 6 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Director of the Office of Management and 
Budget shall develop guidance on implementing 
the requirements of subsection (a). 
(B) ISSUANCE.—The Director of the Office 
of Management and Budget shall issue the 
guidance developed under subparagraph (A) to 
agencies as a circular. 
(2) INTERIM GUIDANCE.—Before the issuance 
of guidance under paragraph (1), agencies may fol-
low 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 under subparagraph (A). 
SEC. 5. REPORTS TO CONGRESS. 
(a) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 6 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the head of each agency 
shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee 
on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of 
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Representatives a report that describes how the agency in-
tends 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 requirement under 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) AGENCY REPORTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The head of each agen-
cy shall submit reports on compliance with this 
Act to the Office of Management and Budget. 
(B) SUBMISSION
DATES.—The Office of 
Management and Budget shall notify each 
agency of the date each report under subpara-
graph (A) is required for submission to enable 
the Office of Management and Budget to meet 
the requirements of paragraph (2). 
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