http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills info@washingtonwatch.com http://www.pjdoland.com/chai/?v=0.1 http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/111_SN_574.html?rev=50794 <p>S. 574 would enhance citizen access to Government information and services by establishing that Government documents issued to the public must be written clearly.</p> <h2 id="toc0"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>Plain Writing Act of 2009 - Requires each executive agency to use plain writing in every document (other than a regulation) issued to the public, including documents and other text released in electronic form.</p> <p>Requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue guidance on implementing such requirements to agencies as a circular. Authorizes agencies, pending issuance of such guidance, to follow the writing guidelines developed by the Plain Language Action and Information Network or their own guidance as long as it is consistent with such guidelines.</p> <p>Requires each agency head to report to specified congressional committees on how the agency intends to: (1) communicate the requirements of this Act to employees; (2) train employees in plain writing; (3) meet the plain writing requirement; (4) ensure ongoing compliance with this Act; and (5) designate a senior official to be responsible for implementing this Act. Requires: (1) agency heads to report on compliance to OMB; and (2) OMB to report on the progress of agencies to such committees.</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc1"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>Latest Major Action: 4/1/2009: Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc2"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc3"> Points Against </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> 50794@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_SN_574.html#56438 What kind of sentence should be passed on someone who does not write the right sentence?... 56438@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_SN_574.html#56389 Now if we can just get the citizens to READ the documents, we'll be taking a step forward... Sounds like this may be a way to create more paper, not less. They'll write it in "Government English" first, then some poor dude is going to have to 'translate' it into "clear language."... 56389@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_SN_574.html#56313 too funny.... 56313@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_SN_574.html#56350 This bill may be worth its weight in gold (or something more valuable, if it's short and clearly written), since laws that citizens can understand will be much better! (of course, I wonder how effective it will be!)... 56350@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/111_SN_574.html?rev=43689 <p>S. 574 would enhance citizen access to Government information and services by establishing that Government documents issued to the public must be written clearly.</p> <h2 id="toc4"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to provide a detailed summary of the bill!)</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc5"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>Latest Major Action: 4/1/2009: Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc6"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc7"> Points Against </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> 43689@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_SN_574.html 4/1/2009: Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably. 45556@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/111_SN_574.html?rev=41409 <p>S. 574 would enhance citizen access to Government information and services by establishing that Government documents issued to the public must be written clearly.</p> <h2 id="toc8"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to provide a detailed summary of the bill!)</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc9"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to update the status of the bill!)</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc10"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc11"> Points Against </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> 41409@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/111_SN_574.html?rev=41410 <p>S. 574 would enhance citizen access to Government information and services by establishing that Government documents issued to the public must be written clearly.</p> <h2 id="toc12"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to provide a detailed summary of the bill!)</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc13"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>Latest Major Action: 3/11/2009: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc14"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc15"> Points Against </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> 41410@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_SN_574.html 3/11/2009: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. 44453@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT