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 effective-
ness and accountability of Federal agencies to the public 
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’’— 
(A) means any document that— 
(i) is relevant to obtaining any Fed-
eral Government benefit or service or filing 
taxes; 
(ii) provides information about any 
Federal Government benefit or service; or 
(iii) explains to the public how to com-
ply with a requirement the Federal Gov-
ernment administers or enforces;
(B) includes (whether in paper or elec-
tronic form) a letter, publication, form, notice, 
or instruction; and 
(C) does not include a regulation. 
(3) PLAIN WRITING.—The term ‘‘plain writing’’ 
means writing that the intended audience can read-
ily understand and use because that writing is clear, 
concise, well-organized, and follows other best prac-
tices 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; 
(D) establish a process for overseeing the 
ongoing compliance of the agency with the re-
quirements 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 
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 de-
velop and issue guidance on implementing the re-
quirements of this section. The Director may des-
ignate a lead agency, and may use interagency work-
ing groups to assist in developing and issuing the 
guidance. 
(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 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 
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 
annually thereafter, the head of each agency shall publish 
on the plain writing section of the agency’s website a re-
port 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 judi-
cial action. 
SEC. 7. BUDGETARY EFFECTS OF PAYGO LEGISLATION FOR 
THIS ACT. 
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 
complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, 
shall be determined by reference to the latest statement 
titled ‘‘Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation’’ for this 
Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record 
by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, pro-
vided that such statement has been submitted prior to the 
vote on passage. 
Passed the House of Representatives March 17, 
2010. 
Attest: 
Clerk.