Overview
Title
An Act To require plain language and the inclusion of key words in covered notices that are clear, concise, and accessible to small business concerns, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
The bill wants to make sure all the important letters or notices from the government are written in a super simple way that is easy for small businesses to understand, just like reading a picture book. It also wants these letters to use special words to help small businesses find helpful information quicker.
Summary AI
H.R. 7987, known as the “Plain Language in Contracting Act,” aims to make notices from federal agencies easier for small businesses to understand. It requires these notices to be clear, concise, and written in plain language as per the guidelines of the Plain Writing Act of 2010. Furthermore, the notices must include important keywords to help small businesses identify contract opportunities more easily. The Small Business Administration is tasked with creating rules to enforce these requirements within 90 days of the Act's passage.
Published
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The proposed legislation, titled the "Plain Language in Contracting Act," aims to improve the accessibility and understandability of official notices related to federal contracting opportunities, specifically for small business concerns. The bill mandates that these notices be written in clear and concise language and requires the inclusion of key words to help small businesses easily identify and comprehend contract opportunities. The bill also tasks the Small Business Administration (SBA) with issuing rules for implementation within 90 days of enactment. Importantly, the Act does not authorize any additional funding for its implementation.
Summary of Significant Issues
A notable issue within this bill is the challenge of ensuring consistent compliance across federal agencies, given the varying interpretations of what constitutes "clear and concise" language. While the intention to align with federal plain language guidelines is sound, practical difficulties might arise in achieving uniformity.
Another issue is the lack of additional funding for the Act's implementation. Without allocating new resources, the federal agencies may face difficulties in effectively enacting the bill's requirements. This could undermine the overall objectives of the Act.
Furthermore, the 90-day timeline set for the SBA to develop rules could present challenges. This short period might pressure the SBA, potentially leading to rushed decisions that compromise the quality and effectiveness of the rules.
Finally, the bill mentions "Compliance with CUTGO," but does not explain this term, potentially confusing readers unfamiliar with congressional budgeting rules.
Impact on the Public and Stakeholders
Broadly, the bill aims to democratize access to federal contracting opportunities by making official notices more accessible to small businesses. This can potentially open up economic opportunities for a wider array of small enterprises, thereby fostering competitiveness and innovation in the marketplace.
However, the lack of specific funding for implementation could limit these benefits. If agencies struggle to comply due to resource constraints, small businesses might still face challenges in accessing clear information. Moreover, the potential rush in the rule-making process due to the tight 90-day deadline could result in rules that are less effective or clear, impacting the bill's intent of accessibility.
For federal agencies, this bill imposes new obligations without additional resources, possibly placing a burden on existing budgets and operations. These agencies might need to reallocate funds or personnel from other areas to comply with the Act, which could have a knock-on effect on their wider functions and responsibilities.
In terms of specific stakeholders, small business owners stand to gain from improved access to contracting opportunities, provided the implementation is successful. However, they may still face hurdles if clarity and consistency in notices are not fully realized. Furthermore, those unfamiliar with legislative terms may encounter confusion, given the lack of explanation for terms like "CUTGO."
Overall, while the bill encompasses laudable goals for enhancing accessibility in federal contracting, its success will largely depend on the practicalities of implementation and the sufficiency of existing resources within government agencies.
Issues
The requirement to use clear and concise language is beneficial but may not ensure uniform compliance across all federal agencies, potentially leading to inconsistent accessibility for small businesses. (Section 2)
The lack of additional funding authorized for implementing the Act may result in inadequate resources for effective enactment, potentially impacting the success of the objectives set by the Act. (Section 3)
The timeline of 90 days for the Small Business Administration to issue rules might be considered too short, which could affect the implementation quality due to rushed rule-making processes. (Section 2)
The term 'Compliance with CUTGO' is not explained, leaving those unfamiliar with the term confused about its implications, possibly leading to misunderstandings about budgetary constraints. (Section 3)
While the short title 'Plain Language in Contracting Act' suggests the Act's aim, it lacks clear articulation of its objectives and scope, leading to potential misunderstandings about its contents and purpose. (Section 1)
The definition of 'covered notice' could benefit from additional examples or scenarios to ensure comprehensive understanding and application by small businesses. (Section 2)
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section in the text refers to the name of a legal act, stating that it may be formally called the "Plain Language in Contracting Act."
2. Accessibility and clarity in covered notices for small business concerns Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section mandates that notices for small businesses should be clear, concise, and use plain language to make them easily understandable. Additionally, it specifies that these notices should include key words to help small businesses find relevant contract opportunities and requires the Small Business Administration to issue implementing rules within 90 days.
3. Compliance with CUTGO Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
No additional funds are allowed to be allocated for the implementation of this Act or its amendments.