Washington, DC - The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, of which Senator Daniel K Akaka (D-HI) is a senior member, today approved two bills that Senator Akaka introduced. 

The Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2007 (S. 2291) would require the federal government to produce documents in language that the reader can understand and use because it is clear, concise, well-organized, and follows other best practices of plain language writing. 

Senators McCaskill, Carper, Levin, Obama, Clinton, Tester, Voinovich, Collins, and Cochran have cosponsored the Plain Language bill.  A broad array of organizations, including the AARP, Disabled American Veterans, the National Small Business Association, Women Impacting Public Policy, the American Nurses Association, and the American Library Association support the bill.

Representative Bruce Braley (D-IA) has introduced companion legislation (H.R. 3548), which was ordered reported from the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on March 13, 2008.

Senator Akaka said, "The American people deserve to know what their government does with their tax dollars.  The government has a responsibility to tell the people plainly what it does and what it requires." 

The Committee also approved S. Res. 497, which would express the sense of the Senate that public servants should be commended for their dedication and continued service to the Nation during Public Service Recognition Week, May 5-11, 2008.

Akaka went on to say, "I look forward to moving this resolution and the Plain Language bill through the Senate expeditiously."

Senator Akaka is a senior member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia.

Akaka's statement before the committee can be viewed by clicking here.

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