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 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). 
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 
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: 
Clerk.
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.