Plain language bill clears house subcommittee

A bill mandating that federal agencies use plain language in commonly-used forms won approval from a House panel this week, though Republicans will likely push to expand the reach of the legislation as it advances.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Information Policy Subcommittee voted 3-0 to pass the measure (H.R. 3548), which members said will save citizens time and money by making tax, benefits and Social Security forms, grant applications and other documents shorter and more comprehensible. A companion bill is pending before Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

The bill mandates that agencies use best practices in plain language writing. Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, who introduced the measure, said that requirement will force agencies to organize documents for the reader, begin with a general summary, address separate audiences separately and use the active voice. "All these things reduce the amount of time it takes to communicate," Braley said.

But Rep. Bill Sali, R-Idaho, the only Republican at the hearing, said the bill should be extended to cover federal regulations. Doing so would cut costs particularly for small businesses, Sali argued. "Regulations are the bane of existence for so many small businesses in our country," he said.

Sali did not offer an amendment, but said he would urge changes when the full committee considers the bill. Information Policy Subcommittee Chairman William Clay, D-Mo and Braley said they would work with Sali on his suggestion. But Clay said after the hearing the he doubted the proposed alterations "will end up being something workable."