[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5321 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5321

   To improve communication from Federal agencies to individuals by 
         requiring clear instructions, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 15, 2018

Mr. Moulton (for himself, Mr. Meadows, and Mr. Loebsack) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and 
                           Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To improve communication from Federal agencies to individuals by 
         requiring clear instructions, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Too Long; Didn't Read Act of 2018'' 
or the ``TL; DR Act of 2018''.

SEC. 2. RESPONSIBILITIES OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.

    Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall develop 
and issue regulations that direct the head of each agency to provide a 
clearly marked section at the top of a communication (both hard copy 
and electronic) that the agency sends to an individual if such 
communication requires or authorizes such individual to take action. To 
the extent practicable as determined by the head of the relevant 
agency, the clearly marked section at the top of the first page shall 
include--
            (1) the action item;
            (2) if a response is required, optional, or not required;
            (3) the deadline, if applicable;
            (4) how to complete the action item; and
            (5) the agency's contact information.

SEC. 3. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

    (a) Initial Report.--Not later than 9 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the head of each agency shall publish on the 
plain writing section of the agency's website, maintained pursuant to 
section 4(a) of the Plain Writing Act of 2010 (5 U.S.C. 301 note), a 
report that describes the agency plan for compliance with the 
requirements of this Act.
    (b) Annual Compliance Report.--Not later than 18 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the head of 
each agency shall publish on the plain writing section of the agency's 
website, maintained pursuant to section 4(a) of the Plain Writing Act 
of 2010 (5 U.S.C. 301 note), a report on agency compliance with the 
requirements of this Act.

SEC. 4. AGENCY DEFINED.

    In this Act, the term ``agency'' means an Executive agency as 
defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code.
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