Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives approved NSBA-supported legislation mandating the use of plain language in all federally-written letters, forms, notices, or instructions, especially those that provide facts about federal benefits or services, information on how to obtain those benefits or services, and explanations on how to comply with federal requirements, including taxes.
Plain Language Act of 2009 (H.R. 946)
The full U.S. House of Representatives approved March 17 the Plain Language Act of 2009 by a vote of 386 to 33.
The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform approved—by voice vote—an amended version of H.R. 946 on March 4, 2010. The Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute was offered by Chairman Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.).
Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa)—a 2008 recipient of NSBA’s Small Business Star award—introduced the Plain Language Act of 2009 (H.R. 946) in February 2009.
With the passage of H.R. 946 by the House, attention turns to the Senate, where a previous version of this bill died during the 110th Congress, despite having been unanimously reported by the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Plain Writing Act of 2009 (S. 574)
Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) introduced the Plain Writing Act of 2009 (S. 574) in March 2009 and the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs approved the bill in December 2009.
S. 574 currently has six bipartisan cosponsors: Sens. Thomas Carper (D-Del.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Carl Levin (D-Mich.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and George Voinovich (R-Ohio).
President Barack Obama was a cosponsor of S. 2291 during the 110th Congress
NSBA remains hopeful that the full Senate will be allowed to vote on this common-sense, bipartisan measure during the current 111th Congress.
