How to support the Plain Language Act (HR 1557 and Senate 807) There is currently a bill in Congress that would require government agencies to write regulations in Plain English. Today its just a bill (Remember your SchoolHouse Rock?) and we need your help to nudge congress to make it a law. This presentation describes the bill, how you would benefit and what you can do to help this bill become a law. There is an easy to print handout that you can also download with instructions for how to help and sample text for any letters you. Note that it is tailored for Arizona (where I vote), so you will need to replace my Congressmen with yours, when you write your letters ... Please feel free to download the presentation and use it to educate others. There will be a handout (also for AZ) right with sample letters posted here too.

1. the Plain Regulations Act of 2013
and why you should care

2. Before we start think about
the groups you belong to …
• Employer or Business
• Alumni group(s)
• Church/Synagogue/Temple/….
• Professional Association(s)
• Political Interest

3. Plain language is …
Communication designed and written so that the audience
can
o Find what they need
o Understand what they find
o Know what to do next

4. Plain language is not …
o Shortened or dumbed down
o Simplified to the point of ambiguity
o Easy to write

5. Plain language is a bi-partisan issue
80s 90s 00s Today
Reagan
Social Security
makes Plain
Language a priority
for public notices.
Lawyers, particularly
Joe Kimble, start to
get involved.
Bush (43)
Federal departments
include the mandate to
use plain language in
their strategic plans.
Thomson sponsors
the Plain Language
Forum
PLAIN intra-agency
council
Carter
Government
regulations should
be “cost-effective
and easy-to-
understand by
those who were
required to comply
with them.”
Clinton
Government employees
required to use Plain
Language.
No Gobbldeygook
Awards
SEC publishes the
Plain English Handbook
Nixon
The Federal
Register should
be written in
“Layman’s Terms”
Obama
Plain Writing Act
passed in 2010
Plain Regulations
Act is in
committee on the
hill
70s

6. Plain language in action
Before
This is a multipurpose passenger vehicle which
will handle and maneuver differently from an
ordinary passenger car, in driving conditions
which may occur on streets and highways and
off road. As with other vehicles of this type, if
you make sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers, the
vehicle may roll over or may go out of control
and crash. You should read driving guidelines
and instructions in the Owner’s Manual, and
WEAR YOUR SEAT BELTS AT ALL TIMES.
Avoid extreme maneuvers
and excessive speed.
Always buckle up.
See Owner’s Manual
for Further Information.
After
This improvement was recognized
In the NoGobbledyGook Awards

7. Warren Buffett
Introduction to SEC Plain English Handbook
(1998)
Write with a specific person in mind.
When writing the Berkshire Hathaway
annual report, I picture my sisters, highly
intelligent, but not experts in accounting
or finance. They will understand plain
English, but jargon may puzzle them. My
goal is to give the information I would
wish to receive if our positions were
reversed.
Plain language is a business issue.

8. What does the Act do?
It will force agencies to write new and
substantially revised federal
regulations in plain language.
Other provisions require agencies to take administrative actions, like training their staff. Most
of those requirements are already part of an existing law, the Plain Writing Act (2010).

9. What will it do for you?
Help you understand what
our elected officials
are really doing
in Washington, DC.

10. What will it do for you?
Save time
and money.

11. It costs money when regulations are hard to
understand.
Lawyer
Small Business Owners
need to pay interpreters to figure
out which laws apply to them
and how to comply.
Accountant
Government employees
spend time checking for
misunderstandings and errors. More
people make more mistakes.
repeat
Benefits
Specialist

12. Why are we talking about it
now?
The Plain Regulations Act is in committee.
HR 1557
To ensure the clarity of regulations to improve the effectiveness of
Federal regulatory programs while decreasing burdens on the
regulated public.
Introduced by: Braley
Referred to: Government Oversight and Reform
S 807
To require that Federal regulations use plain writing that is
clear, concise, and well-organized, and follows other best practices
appropriate to the subject or field and intended audience.
Introduced by: McCaskill
Referred to: Homeland & Oversight Governmental Affairs
Links to Schoolhouse Rock “I’m just a bill” in case you want a refresher of how this works…
or a song in your head all afternoon.

13. How you can help …
Write letters to your Congressmen
saying
1. Plain language helps …
Individuals citizens by reducing the
administrative burden when you do business
with the government.
Organizations and businesses by making it
easier (and less expensive!) to understand
and comply with the laws.
People in America understand what our
elected officials are really doing in
Washington.
2. Plain language saves money
3. Please co-sponsor the bill
5 August 2013
Dear Senator McCain,
I’m writing to you as an Arizona
voter to urge you to co-sponsor
Senate Bill 807, the Plain
Regulations Act.
Insisting that Congress and
Agency staff write regulations
in plain language will reduce
the administrative burdesn and
save taxpayers money. …

14. Sample letter. Of course, your own words are better….
Dear
I’m writing to urge you to co-sponsor [HR 1557 or Senate, S 807] Plain Regulations Act.
Requiring the government to communicate clearly will reduce citizen and agency administrative
burdens and save taxpayer money.
People think that the public never really sees the language of regulations. But, when Federal
employees create documents to help the public understand laws and regulations, they often quote
the regulatory language directly. The language of some laws is so complicated, federal employees
are afraid that by paraphrasing, they will misinterpret the rule themselves. As a result, language
intended for lawyers trickles down into documents used by the American public.
In addition, poorly written regulations cost taxpayers (me!) money:
Citizens need lawyers, accountants and other technical experts to understand and comply with
federal regulations.
When regulatory language is hard to understand, people make more mistakes trying to comply.
When people make mistakes, federal staffers have to spend more time processing documents.
Documents may end up being processed, rejected, resubmitted and processed again due to simple
misunderstandings.
If, instead, regulations were written in plain language, people would know what to do and how to
do it confidently the first time. Everyone will save time and money. Everyone will feel better about
their government.
Finally, as a citizen, I have a right to understand what my government is doing. If you wrote
regulations in plain language, I would understand more.
Plain language is an important, bi-partisan issue that will help everyone. Please co-sponsor this effort
to get the government to communicate clearly to citizens.
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
CC: Your Senators
Your Representatives
Claire McCaskill, Sponsor, Senate Bill 801 (c/o Elizabeth_Herman@mccaskill.senate.gov)
Bruce Braley, Sponsor, HR 1557 (c/o Robert.Goldsmith@mail.house.gov)
Annetta Cheek, Chair, Center for Plain Language (aclplain@gmail.com)
Who should be CC-d?
1. Your Senators and
Representatives
2. Keep McCaskill, Braley
and Cheek on the list
Download this letter here:
http://www.slideshare.net
/kstraub/handout-how-
you-can-support-the-
plain-regulations-act
Find your Conggressmen’s
addresses here:
Your Senators’ Addresses:
www.senate.gov/senators
/
Your Representatives’
Addresses:
http://www.house.gov/re
presentatives/

15. Send your “as a voter & tax payer”
letters to
o Your Senators (Addresses: www.senate.gov/senators/)
o Your Representatives (Addresses: http://www.house.gov/representatives/)
o McCaskill’s staffer: Elizabeth_Herman@mccaskill.senate.gov
o Braley’s staffer: Robert.Goldsmith@mail.house.gov
o Annetta Cheek, Chair, Center for Plain Language:
letters@gmail.com
Send these the old fashioned
way, … on paper, in an
envelope with a stamp.
Send these via post or email.
Hint: To cc: a handwritten
your letter, take a picture of
it with your smart phone or
iPad and email the picture.
Send electronic copies to:

16. Dear (Insert the name of your congressman),
I’m writing to urge you to co-sponsor the Plain Regulations Act (S 807 or HR 1557).
As (---A business owner, the Secretary for, ….describe your roles in any businesses or
organizational leadership roles you have--) , I am affected by many different federal
regulations (--complex tax roles, challenging new health care requirements, describe
regulations that apply to you-- )
Regulations written in plain language would decrease my burden in two ways:
1. I would understand the laws and how to comply. While I may not agree with all the
regulations that affect me, I want to follow the law. Some regulations are so
complicated that I’m never confident that I am in compliance. Regulations in plain
language would help feel confident I’m doing the things I need to.
1. It would cost my organization less to comply. Complying with the regulations is a major
burden on my business. In many cases, I have to use accountants, benefits
coordinators, attorneys, and others to help me comply with my federal obligations.
I urge you to co-sponsor the Plain Language Act so that I can understand the laws that
apply to my organization and to comply efficiently. The act will make Federal regulatory
programs more effective while decreasing burdens on the regulated public.
Sincerely,
CC: Darrell Issa, Chair. House Committee on Oversight
Your Representatives on the House Committee for Oversight
Tom Carper, Chair, Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee
Your Senators on the Homeland and Government Affairs Committee
Claire McCaskill, Sponsor, Senate Bill 807 (c/o
Elizabeth_Herman@mccaskill.senate.gov)
Bruce Braley, Sponsor, HR 1557 (c/o Robert.Goldsmith@mail.house.gov)
Annetta Cheek, Chair, Center for Plain Language (aclplain@gmail.com)
Sample business letter. Of course, your own words are better….
Download this letter here:
http://www.slideshare.net/kst
raub/handout-how-you-can-
support-the-plain-regulations-
act
Find your Congressmen’s
addresses here:
Your Senators’ Addresses:
www.senate.gov/senators/)
Your Representatives’
Addresses:
http://www.house.gov/repre
sentatives/

17. Send your “as business owner or
organization leader” letters to
o Your Senators (Addresses: www.senate.gov/senators/)
o Your Representatives (Addresses: http://www.house.gov/representatives/)
o Darell Issa, Chair House Committee on Oversight (Address next slide)
o Tom Carper, Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs (Address next slide)
o Senators and Reps from your state who sit on either committee
o McCaskill’s staffer: Elizabeth_Herman@mccaskill.senate.gov
o Braley’s staffer: Robert.Goldsmith@mail.house.gov
o Annetta Cheek: alcplain@gmail.com
Board Chair, Center for Plain Language
CC your letters to:
Send these the old fashioned
way, … on paper, in an
envelope with a stamp.
Send these via post or email.
Hint: To cc: a handwritten your
letter,
take a picture of it with your smart
phone or iPad and email the
picture.

18. Committee Chair Addresses
John McCain (R, AZ)
Senate Committee on Homeland
Security and Government Affairs
241 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-0303
Paul Gossar (R, AZ)
House Oversight Committee
504 Cannon HOB Washington, DC
20515
Darrell Issa, Chair
House Committee on Oversight
2347 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Tom Carper, Chair
Senate Homeland Security and
Government Affairs Committee
513 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
If you don’t vote in AZ, replace these guys
with yours that are on Homeland Security
and Government Affairs (Senate) or the
House Oversight Committee..

19. Please remember to send
electronic copies of your letters to
…
o McCaskill’s staffer:
Elizabeth_Herman@mccaskill.senate.gov
o Braley’s staffer: Robert.Goldsmith@mail.house.gov
o Annetta Cheek: alcplain@gmail.com
Board Chair, Center for Plain Language
Hint: If you handwrite your letter,
take a picture of it with your smart
phone or iPad and email the picture.

20. Want to learn or do more?
Read an article about writing legislation in plain English
http://www.michbar.org/journal/pdf/pdf4article2016.pdf
Visit http://centerforplainlanguage.org/resources/plain-regulations-act/
Downloadable sample letters:
o From individual - http://centerforplainlanguage.org/letter-from-individual/
o From businesses - http://centerforplainlanguage.org/letter-from-business-
person/
If you have questions or want more information, email Annetta
Cheek, the Chair of the Center for Plain Language –
alcplain@gmail.com

21. Introduction to SEC Plain English Handbook
(1998)
Write with a specific person in mind.
When writing the Berkshire
Hathaway annual report, I picture my
sisters, highly intelligent, but not
experts in accounting or finance.
They will understand plain
English, but jargon may puzzle
them. My goal is to give the
information I would wish to receive if
our positions were reversed.
Buffet on plain language…

22. Committee memberships and
DC addresses for AZ Congressmen

23. House Oversight Committee (113th
Congress)
Arizona AZ-1 Paul Gosar
California CA-49 Darrell Issa, Chairman
CA-12 Jackie Speier
Washington, DC CA-29 Tony Cardenas
Florida D.C. Eleanor Holmes Norton
Georgia FL-06 Ron DeSantis
FL-07 John L. Mica
GA-07 Rob Woodall
Illinois GA-09 Doug Collins
IL-7 Danny K. Davis
Kentucky IL-8 Tammy Duckworth
Maryland MD-7 Elijah Cummings, Ranking Member
Massachusetts KY-04 Thomas Massie
MA-6 John Tierney
Michigan MA-9 Stephen Lynch
MI-11 Kerry Bentivolio
MI-3 Justin Amash
Montana MI-7 Tim Walberg
North Carolina MO-1 Wm. Lacy Clay
NC-10 Patrick T. McHenry
New Mexico NC-11 Mark Meadows
Nevada NM-1 Michelle Lujan Grisham
New York NV-4 Steve Horsford
Ohio NY-14 Carolyn Maloney
OH-03 Michael Turner
Oklahoma OH-04 Jim Jordan
Pennsylvania OK-5 James Lankford
PA-17 Matt Cartwright
South Carolina PA-7 Pat Meehan
Tennessee SC-4 Trey Gowdy
TN-02 John J. Duncan
TN-4 Scott DesJarlais
Texas TN-5 Jim Cooper
Utah TX-27 Blake Farenthold
Virginia UT-03 Jason Chaffetz
Vermont VA-11 Gerald Connolly
Washington VT Peter Welch
Wisconsin WA-04 Doc Hastings
Wyoming WI-2 Mark Pocan
WY Cynthia Lummis

24. Senate Committee on Homeland Security
and Government Affairs (113th Congress)
Alaska Mark Begich
Arkansas Mark L. Pryor
Arizona John McCain
Delaware Thomas R. Carper
Kentucky Rand Paul
Louisiana Mary L. Landrieu
Michigan Carl Levin
Missouri Claire McCaskill
Montana Jon Tester
North Dakota Heidi Heitkamp
New Hampshire Kelly Ayotte
New Jersey Jeff Chiesa
Ohio Rob Portman
Oklahoma Tom Coburn
Wisconsin Ron Johnson
Tammy Baldwin
Wyoming Michael B. Enzi

25. Washington addresses for Arizona elected officials
Representatives
Ann Kirkpatrick (District 1)
330 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0301
Ron Barber (District 2)
1029 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0302
Raul M. Grijalva (District 3)
1511 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0303
Senators
Jeff Flake
368 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-0305
John McCain
241 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-0303
Representatives (cont.)
Paul A. Gosar (District 4)
504 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0304
Matt Salmon (District 5)
2349 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0305
David Schweikert (District 6)
1205 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0306
Ed Pastorn(District 7)
2465 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0307
Trent Franks (District 8)
2435 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0308
Kyrsten Sinema (District 9)
1237 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0309

26. Prepared by
Kath Straub, PhD
Board member
Principal & Founder
(Small business owner)

27. PS.
If you need to get this song
out of your head, now
try this one …