3.0.0 3548 2023-01-11T20:30:36Z 2023-01-11T20:30:36Z House H HR 2007-09-17 110 hsgo00 Oversight and Accountability Committee House Standing hsgo23 Information Policy, Census, and National Archives Subcommittee Reported by 2008-01-30T00:19:04Z Markup by 2008-01-30T00:18:38Z Referred to 2007-10-01T16:30:50Z Reported by 2008-04-10T14:31:00Z Markup by 2008-03-13T19:03:07Z Referred to 2007-09-17T16:32:05Z H. Rept. 110-580 Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2007 110 2291 S 2008-07-10 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 869. Related bill CRS Companion bill Senate Related bill House 2008-08-01 Senate Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 929. Calendars 2008-04-15 Senate Received in the Senate. IntroReferral 2008-04-14 19:14:04 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 376 - 1 (Roll no. 185). (text: CR H2237) Floor H37300 2 House floor actions 185 https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll185.xml House 110 2008-04-14T23:14:04Z 2 2008-04-14 19:14:04 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. Floor H38310 2 House floor actions 2008-04-14 19:14:04 Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 376 - 1 (Roll no. 185).(text: CR H2237) Floor 8000 9 Library of Congress 185 https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll185.xml House 110 2008-04-14T23:14:04Z 2 2008-04-14 19:07:14 Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2245) Floor H30000 2 House floor actions 2008-04-14 15:24:59 At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed. Floor H37220 2 House floor actions 2008-04-14 15:09:47 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3548. Floor H8D000 2 House floor actions 2008-04-14 15:09:41 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2237-2239) Floor H30000 2 House floor actions 2008-04-14 15:09:22 Mr. Braley (IA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. Floor H30300 2 House floor actions 2008-04-10 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 358. Calendars H12410 2 House floor actions U00358 2008-04-10 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government. H. Rept. 110-580. Committee H12200 2 House floor actions hsgo00 Oversight and Accountability Committee 2008-04-10 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government. H. Rept. 110-580. Committee 5000 9 Library of Congress hsgo00 Oversight and Accountability Committee 2008-03-13 hsgo00 Oversight and Accountability Committee 1 House committee actions Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. Committee 2008-03-13 hsgo00 Oversight and Accountability Committee 1 House committee actions Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held. Committee 2008-01-29 hsgo23 Information Policy, Census, and National Archives Subcommittee 1 House committee actions Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote . Committee 2008-01-29 hsgo23 Information Policy, Census, and National Archives Subcommittee 1 House committee actions Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held. Committee 2007-10-01 hsgo23 Information Policy, Census, and National Archives Subcommittee 1 House committee actions Referred to the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives. Committee 2007-09-17 Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. IntroReferral H11100 2 House floor actions hsgo00 Oversight and Accountability Committee 2007-09-17 Introduced in House IntroReferral Intro-H 9 Library of Congress 2007-09-17 Introduced in House IntroReferral 1000 9 Library of Congress B001259 Rep. Braley, Bruce L. [D-IA-1] Bruce Braley D IA L. 1 N A000358 Rep. Akin, W. Todd [R-MO-2] W. AKIN R MO TODD 2 2007-09-17 True B001149 Rep. Burton, Dan [R-IN-5] DAN BURTON R IN 5 2007-09-17 True M000312 Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-3] JAMES MCGOVERN D MA P. 3 2007-09-17 True B001258 Rep. Boyda, Nancy E. [D-KS-2] Nancy Boyda D KS E. 2 2007-09-17 True R000170 Rep. Reyes, Silvestre [D-TX-16] SILVESTRE REYES D TX 16 2007-09-26 False C000984 Rep. Cummings, Elijah E. [D-MD-7] ELIJAH CUMMINGS D MD E. 7 2007-09-26 False H001040 Rep. Hare, Phil [D-IL-17] Phil Hare D IL 17 2007-10-15 False G000309 Rep. Gordon, Bart [D-TN-6] BART GORDON D TN 6 2007-10-15 False J000288 Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [D-GA-4] Henry Johnson D GA C. "Hank" 4 2007-10-16 False W000800 Rep. Welch, Peter [D-VT-At Large] Peter Welch D VT 0 2007-10-16 False A000362 Rep. Altmire, Jason [D-PA-4] Jason Altmire D PA 4 2007-10-17 False G000554 Rep. Giffords, Gabrielle [D-AZ-8] Gabrielle Giffords D AZ 8 2007-10-22 False H001030 Rep. Hill, Baron P. [D-IN-9] BARON HILL D IN P. 9 2007-10-23 False E000287 Rep. Emanuel, Rahm [D-IL-5] Rahm Emanuel D IL 5 2007-10-23 False M001164 Rep. Mahoney, Tim [D-FL-16] Tim Mahoney D FL 16 2007-10-23 False K000365 Rep. Kagen, Steve [D-WI-8] Steve Kagen D WI 8 2007-10-24 False S001170 Rep. Shea-Porter, Carol [D-NH-1] Carol Shea-Porter D NH 1 2007-10-24 False B000574 Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3] EARL BLUMENAUER D OR 3 2007-10-29 False S001173 Rep. Space, Zachary T. [D-OH-18] Zachary Space D OH T. 18 2007-10-30 False M000933 Rep. Moran, James P. [D-VA-8] JAMES MORAN D VA P. 8 2007-10-30 False D000598 Rep. Davis, Susan A. [D-CA-53] SUSAN DAVIS D CA A. 53 2007-10-30 False B000652 Rep. Boswell, Leonard L. [D-IA-3] LEONARD BOSWELL D IA L. 3 2007-10-31 False D000096 Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7] DANNY DAVIS D IL K. 7 2007-11-05 False S001174 Rep. Sutton, Betty [D-OH-13] Betty Sutton D OH 13 2007-11-05 False L000090 Rep. Lantos, Tom [D-CA-12] TOM LANTOS D CA 12 2007-11-06 False B001252 Rep. Barrow, John [D-GA-12] John Barrow D GA 12 2007-11-07 False U000038 Rep. Udall, Mark [D-CO-2] MARK UDALL D CO 2 2007-11-08 False T000326 Rep. Towns, Edolphus [D-NY-10] EDOLPHUS TOWNS D NY 10 2007-11-15 False B001253 Rep. Bean, Melissa L. [D-IL-8] Melissa Bean D IL L. 8 2007-12-17 False V000128 Rep. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD-8] Chris Van Hollen D MD 8 2007-12-19 False H001043 Rep. Hodes, Paul W. [D-NH-2] Paul Hodes D NH W. 2 2008-01-28 False L000287 Rep. Lewis, John [D-GA-5] JOHN LEWIS D GA 5 2008-02-06 False 2008-04-08T04:00:00Z H.R. 3548, Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2007 http://www.cbo.gov/publication/19612 <p>Cost estimate for the bill as ordered reported by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on March 13, 2008</p> 2008-04-08T04:00:00Z H.R. 3548, Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2007 https://www.cbo.gov/publication/19612 Cost estimate for the bill as ordered reported by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on March 13, 2008 Government Operations and Politics Congress Congressional reporting requirements Employee training English language Federal employees Government paperwork Government publications Government publicity Labor and Employment Government Operations and Politics 00 2007-09-17 Introduced in House 2007-11-28T23:07:14Z Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2007 - Requires each executive agency, within one year, to use plain language in any covered document issued or substantially revised after the date of the enactment of this Act. Authorizes agencies to: (1) use plain language in any revision of a covered document issued on or before such date; and (2) follow the guidance of the Plain English Handbook published by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Plain Language Guidelines, or their own plain language guidance as long as it is consistent with such Guidelines.

Defines "covered document" to include: (1) any document relevant to obtaining a benefit or service; and (2) a letter, publication, form, notice, or instruction, but not a regulation.

Requires each agency head to report to specified congressional committees on how it intends to: (1) communicate the requirements of this Act to employees; (2) train employees to write in plain language; (3) meet the one year deadline; (4) ensure ongoing compliance with this Act; and (5) designate a senior official to be responsible for implementing this Act.

]]> 36 2008-04-14 Passed House amended 2008-07-15T13:55:42Z Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2008 - (Sec. 4) Requires each executive agency, within one year, to: (1) use plain language in any covered document issued or substantially revised after the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) use the English language in covered documents when appropriate. Authorizes agencies to: (1) use plain language in any revision of a covered document issued on or before such date; and (2) follow the guidance of the Plain English Handbook published by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Federal Plain Language Guidelines, or their own plain language guidance as long as it is consistent with such Handbook, Guidelines, and the Comptroller General's recommendations.

Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to: (1) prohibit the use of a language other than English; (2) limit the preservation or use of Native Alaskan or Native American languages; (3) disparage any language or discourage any person from learning or using a language; (4) affect protections regarding language access; or (5) be inconsistent with the Constitution.

Defines "covered document" to include: (1) any document relevant to obtaining a benefit or service or filing taxes; and (2) a letter, publication, form, notice, or instruction, in paper or electronic form, but not a regulation.

Requires agencies to use plain language in any collection of information.

Requires the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), acting through the Plain Language Action and Information Network, and the SEC to report to specified congressional committees on whether the Comptroller General's recommendations about plain language guidelines and best practices have been incorporated into the Federal Plain Language Guidelines and the Plain English Handbook and, if not, why.

(Sec. 5) Requires each agency head to report to specified congressional committees on how it intends to: (1) communicate the requirements of this Act to employees; (2) train employees to write in plain language; (3) meet the one year deadline; (4) ensure ongoing compliance with this Act; (5) designate a senior official to be responsible for implementing this Act; and (6) use plain language in promulgated regulations. Requires agency heads to report on efforts to meet such objectives and on compliance with this Act.

Requires the Comptroller General to evaluate existing guidance for agencies on writing in plain language and report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and specified congressional committees on plain language guidelines and best practices.

]]> Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2008 Official Title as Introduced To enhance citizen access to Government information and services by establishing plain language as the standard style for Government documents issued to the public, and for other purposes. Introduced in House IH Display Title Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2008 Short Titles as Introduced Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2007 Short Titles as Reported to House Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2008 H House Short Titles as Passed House Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2008 H House Placed on Calendar Senate 2008-08-01T04:00:00Z Engrossed in House 2008-04-14T04:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-110hr3548eh/xml/BILLS-110hr3548eh.xml Reported in House 2008-04-10T04:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-110hr3548rh/xml/BILLS-110hr3548rh.xml Introduced in House 2007-09-17T04:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-110hr3548ih/xml/BILLS-110hr3548ih.xml 2008-08-01 Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 929. text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress This file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.