The document provides instructions for writing letters to Senators and Representatives to urge them to co-sponsor the Plain Regulations Act. It recommends writing personalized letters describing how complicated regulations negatively impact individuals, businesses, and organizations. Sample letters are provided that argue plain language regulations will reduce administrative burdens and costs. Recipients of the letters are listed, along with contact information for Congressional sponsors of the bill and the Center for Plain Language.

1. How you help get the Plain Regulations Act through Congress
1. Write letters to your Senators and Representatives saying
a. Plain language helps everyone. It helps
… Individuals citizens byreducing the administrative burden when you do business
with the government.
… Organizations and businessesbymaking it easier (and less expensive!) to
understand and comply with the laws.
… People in Americaunderstand what our elected officials are really doing in
Washington.
b. Plain language saves money
c. Please co-sponsor the Plain Regulations Act (HR 1557 or S807)
Handwritten letters sent to Washington have the greatest impact.
There are two sample letters below.
2. Make a list of all of the groups you belong to (your business, the company you work for,
church, alumni groups, special interest groups, political action groups.) If you can represent
any of the organizations you listed, write a second, separate letter on behalf of the
organization/business.
3. Send electronic copies of one your letters to the sponsors of the bill and the Center for
Plain Language. (Hints: If you wrote a hand written letter, take a snap with your cell phone
and send that. If you put a cc: list at the bottom of your letter, you only need to email one copy.)
Email to:
Elizabeth_Herman@mccaskill.senate.gov
(Elizabeth Herman, McCaskill Staffer)
robert.goldsmith@mail.house.gov
(Robert Goldsmity, Braley Staffer)
letters@centerforplainlanguage.org
(Annetta Cheek, Center for Plain Language Chair)
4. Ask your friends to do this too.
Hint: Share this document with them so they know
what to do…or give a presentation – even this one!
You can download it here:
http://www.slideshare.net/kstraub/how-to-
support-the-plain-regulations-act-hr-1557-s-807

2. 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:
1. Citizens need lawyers, accountants and other technical experts to understand and
comply with federal regulations.
2. 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 regulations, 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,
CC: John McCain, US Senate
Jeff Flake, US Senate
(YOUR REPRESENTATIVE), US House of Representatives
Paul Gossar, House Oversight Committee
Clair 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 (letters@centerforplainlanguage.org)

3. 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 (REPLACE WITH---as a business owner, the secretary for … , a member of …, … DESCRIBE YOUR
LEADERSHIP ROLES IN ANY GROUP YOU BELONG --), I am affected by many different federal
regulations, such as(REPLACE WITH --complex tax rules, challenging new health care requirements,
DESCRIBE ANY REGULATIONS THAT APPLY TO YOUR ORGANIZATION-- )
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 Regulations 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: John McCain, US Senate & Ranking Member, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Jeff Flake, US Senate
Darrell Issa, Chair. House Committee on Oversight
Tom Carper, Chair, Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee
Paul Gossar, House Oversight Committee
(YOUR REPRESENTATIVE), US House of Representatives
Clair 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 (letters@centerforplainlanguage.org)

4. Washington addresses for Arizona delegation
Senators
John McCain
241 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-0303
Jeff Flake
368 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-0305
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
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
For more information
Email Annetta Cheek (Chair, Center for Plain Language) alcplain@gmail.com
o Visit http://centerforplainlanguage.org/resources/plain-regulations-act/
o Downloadable sample letters:
o From an individual - http://centerforplainlanguage.org/letter-from-
individual/
o From a business - http://centerforplainlanguage.org/letter-from-business-
person/
The presentation you saw at the meeting is here:
http://www.slideshare.net/kstraub/plain-regulationsact-overviewfinal-24939218