TL; DR Act: Should Agencies Clearly Explain Action Items for Constituents at the Top of Communications? (H.R. 5321)

What is H.R. 5321?

(Updated August 18, 2018)

This bill — the TL; DR Act of 2018 — would require federal agencies to place important action items at the beginning of communications with constituents when they’re allowed or required to complete an action item. The clearly marked section at the top would include: the action item; if a response is required or optional; the deadline (if applicable); how to complete the action item; and the agency’s contact information. The Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) develop and issue regulations implementing this requirement.

Within nine months of this bill’s enactment, the head of each federal agency would publish an agency plan for compliance with the requirements on the plain writing section of the agency’s website. Within 18 months of this bill’s enactment and annually thereafter, agencies would be required to post a compliance report on its website.

The bill’s full title is the Too Long, Didn’t Read Act.

Argument in favor

Federal agencies should be clear with constituents about action items they can or must respond to from the very beginning of their communications and what they entail. It’s just common sense and effective communication.

Argument opposed

There’s no need for federal agencies to clearly describe required or optional action items to constituents at the beginning of communications, they can read on and find the information they need.

Impact

Constituents receiving communications from federal agencies which include action items; federal agencies; and the OMB.

Cost of H.R. 5321

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) introduced this bill to require agencies to place important action items at the beginning of communications with constituents, when they are allowed or required to complete an action item:

“People seeking assistance from the government should not be tied up in bureaucracy and bogged down with confusing paperwork. It’s past time we simplify the process of dealing with federal agencies and eliminate barriers to things like VA benefits and Medicare. Government bureaucracy should not be standing in the way of people receiving their benefits. This bipartisan effort will make it easier to contact federal agencies and follow through with any action items required. And it will make government more efficient.”

Original cosponsor Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) added:

“Any time we can take a step toward making our government more transparent and accountable to the voters, it’s a good day. It’d be difficult to find a better place to start than by making agency guidelines easier to understand and fully digest, so that Americans can get a head start on understanding the rules and regulations for federal benefits they are working with.”

This legislation has the support of three cosponsors, including two Republicans and one Democrat.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) Press Release
  
• Roll Call