Plain Writing Act of 2010

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On June 1, 1998, President Bill Clinton issued a Memorandum on Plain Language in Government Writing. (PDF) The rationale for this memorandum was to "make the Government more responsive, accessible, and understandable in its communications with the public" and its goal is to save the Government and the private sector "time, effort and money." Accompanying guidance^[1] was issued at the time the memorandum entered the record.

• Use plain writing in every covered document that the agency issues or substantially revises^[2]
• Train employees in "plain writing"
• Establish a process for overseeing the agency's compliance with this Act
• Create and maintain a plain writing section on the agency's website to inform the public of agency compliance with the requirements of this Act
• Provide a mechanism for the agency to receive and respond to public input on agency implementation and agency reports required under this Act, and be accessible from its homepage
• Designate one or more agency points-of-contact to receive and respond to public input on the implementation of this Act

Example

Before:

The amount of expenses reimbursed to a

subrogate

the United States to the claim for payment from the collateral source up to the amount for which the claimant was reimbursed under this subpart.

After:

If you get a payment from a collateral source, we will reduce our payment by the amount you get. If you get payments from us and from a collateral source for the same expenses, you must pay us back the amount we paid you.^[3]

See also

• Paperwork Reduction Act

References