U. S. Government

The Plain Language Action and Information Network (PLAIN) is a community of federal employees dedicated to the idea that citizens deserve clear communications from government. We first developed this document in the mid-90s. We continue to revise it every few years to provide updated advice on clear communication. We hope you find this document useful, and that it helps you improve your writing - and your agency's writing - so your users can: * find what they need, * understand what they find; and * use what they find to meet their needs. We've divided the document into five major topics, although many of the subtopics fit within more than one topic. We start with a discussion of your audience because you should think about them before you start to write your document or your web content. In fact, you should start to think about them before you start to plan.

Investigations into the 2012 Benghazi Attack In addition to the State Department's Accountability Review Board, there were eight congressional investigations into the 2012 attack in Benghazi Libya, six by Republican-controlled House and two by Senate committees. The resulting reports identified problems with security measures and poor decisions by State Department employees and led to the resignation of the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security director. The results did not support allegations against Obama administration officials of scandal, cover-up and lying about the attack or its aftermath. VOLUME 1 (244 pages) State Department Accountability Review Report (12/20/2012) Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (12/30/2012) House Republican Conference (4/23/2013 interim report) House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (11/21/2014) Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (1/14/2014) VOLUME 2 (422 pages) House Select Committee on Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attack in Benghazi (12/7/2016) VOLUME 3 (230 pages) House Select Committee - Additional Views and Appendices (12/7/2016) VOLUME 4 (345 pages) House Select Committee - Minority Views (12/7/2016)

2017 Hurricanes and Wildfires: GAO, FEMA & Homeland Security Report 1. 2017 HURRICANES AND WILDFIRES: GAO's Initial Observations on the Federal Response and Key Recovery Challenges (9/2018) Federal and state preparedness and coordination efforts prior to and after the 2017 hurricane and wildfire disasters facilitated the response in Texas, Florida, and California. FEMA and state emergency management officials implemented various preparedness actions prior to landfall of the hurricanes and during the wildfires. The federal government provided significant support to Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islands in response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria, but faced numerous challenges that complicated response efforts. FEMA efforts in Puerto Rico alone were the largest and longest single response in the agency's history. GAO found that FEMA faced a number of challenges that slowed and complicated its response efforts to Hurricane Maria, particularly in Puerto Rico. Many of these challenges were also highlighted in FEMA's own 2017 hurricane after action report. The 2017 hurricanes and wildfires highlighted some longstanding issues and revealed other emerging response and recovery challenges. 2. FEMA 2017 Hurricane Season After-Action Report (7/2018) The 2017 Hurricane Season was a devastating experience for millions of Americans, with more disaster survivors registering for assistance than the previous 10 years combined. While the Nation responded to three major hurricanes in quick succession-Harvey, Irma, and Maria-California simultaneously suffered historic wildfires. 3. Homeland Security 2017 National Preparedness Report The National Preparedness Report summarizes the progress that the Nation has made in becoming more secure and resilient across five mission areas: Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery. The report identifies crosscutting findings that apply across the mission areas, as well as key findings for each individual mission area. The report offers all levels of government, the private and nonprofit sectors, and the public practical insights into preparedness to support decisions about program priorities, resource allocation, and community actions.

Investigations into the 2012 Benghazi Attack In addition to the State Department's Accountability Review Board, there were eight congressional investigations into the 2012 attack in Benghazi Libya, six by Republican-controlled House and two by Senate committees. The resulting reports identified problems with security measures and poor decisions by State Department employees and led to the resignation of the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security director. The results did not support allegations against Obama administration officials of scandal, cover-up and lying about the attack or its aftermath. VOLUME 1 (244 pages) State Department Accountability Review Report (12/20/2012) Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (12/30/2012) House Republican Conference (4/23/2013 interim report) House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (11/21/2014) Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (1/14/2014) VOLUME 2 (422 pages) House Select Committee on Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attack in Benghazi (12/7/2016) VOLUME 3 (230 pages) House Select Committee - Additional Views and Appendices (12/7/2016) VOLUME 4 (345 pages) House Select Committee - Minority Views (12/7/2016)

Investigations into the 2012 Benghazi Attack In addition to the State Department's Accountability Review Board, there were eight congressional investigations into the 2012 attack in Benghazi Libya, six by Republican-controlled House and two by Senate committees. The resulting reports identified problems with security measures and poor decisions by State Department employees and led to the resignation of the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security director. The results did not support allegations against Obama administration officials of scandal, cover-up and lying about the attack or its aftermath. VOLUME 1 (244 pages) State Department Accountability Review Report (12/20/2012) Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (12/30/2012) House Republican Conference (4/23/2013 interim report) House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (11/21/2014) Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (1/14/2014) VOLUME 2 (422 pages) House Select Committee on Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attack in Benghazi (12/7/2016) VOLUME 3 (230 pages) House Select Committee - Additional Views and Appendices (12/7/2016) VOLUME 4 (345 pages) House Select Committee - Minority Views (12/7/2016)

Investigations into the 2012 Benghazi Attack In addition to the State Department's Accountability Review Board, there were eight congressional investigations into the 2012 attack in Benghazi Libya, six by Republican-controlled House and two by Senate committees. The resulting reports identified problems with security measures and poor decisions by State Department employees and led to the resignation of the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security director. The results did not support allegations against Obama administration officials of scandal, cover-up and lying about the attack or its aftermath. VOLUME 1 (244 pages) State Department Accountability Review Report (12/20/2012) Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (12/30/2012) House Republican Conference (4/23/2013 interim report) House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (11/21/2014) Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (1/14/2014) VOLUME 2 (422 pages) House Select Committee on Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attack in Benghazi (12/7/2016) VOLUME 3 (230 pages) House Select Committee - Additional Views and Appendices (12/7/2016) VOLUME 4 (345 pages) House Select Committee - Minority Views (12/7/2016)

Congress passed the Older Americans Act (OAA) in 1965 in response to concern by policymakers about a lack of community social services for older persons. The original legislation established authority for grants to States for community planning and social services, research and development projects, and personnel training in the field of aging. The law also established the Administration on Aging (AoA) to administer the newly created grant programs and to serve as the Federal focal point on matters concerning older persons. Although older individuals may receive services under many other Federal programs, today the OAA is considered to be the major vehicle for the organization and delivery of social and nutrition services to this group and their caregivers. It authorizes a wide array of service programs through a national network of 56 State agencies on aging, 629 area agencies on aging, nearly 20,000 service providers, 244 Tribal organizations, and 2 Native Hawaiian organizations representing 400 Tribes. The OAA also includes community service employment for low-income older Americans; training, research, and demonstration activities in the field of aging; and vulnerable elder rights protection activities. This book offers an unofficial compilation of the OAA, an outline of changes made to the OAA at the most recent reauthorization (2006), a set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the OAA and other related sources of information/data. This book is intended to serve as a resource for professionals working in aging services.

By act of Congress the Public Printer of the U. S. Government Printing Office is authorized to determine the form and style of Government printing. The Style Manual is the product of many years of public printing experience, and its rules are based on principles of good usage and custom in the printing trade. Essentially, the Style Manual is a standardization device designed to achieve uniform word and type treatment, and aiming for economy of word use. The Style Manual has served Federal printers since 1894, and with each new edition, the traditions of printing and graphic arts are carried forward into new technologies.

The Plain Language Action and Information Network (PLAIN) is a community of federal employees dedicated to the idea that citizens deserve clear communications from government. We first developed this document in the mid-90s. We continue to revise it every few years to provide updated advice on clear communication. We hope you find this document useful, and that it helps you improve your writing - and your agency's writing - so your users can: - find what they need, - understand what they find; and - use what they find to meet their needs. We've divided the document into five major topics, although many of the subtopics fit within more than one topic. We start with a discussion of your audience because you should think about them before you start to write your document or your web content. In fact, you should start to think about them before you start to plan. From there we move to organization, because developing a good organization is important during your planning stage. Next, we discuss writing principles, starting at the word level and moving up through paragraphs and sections. This is the most extensive topic. We follow principles of writing documents with principles of writing for the web. We conclude with a short discussion of testing techniques.

The guide has been designed to help the citizens of this nation learn how to protect themselves and their families against all types of hazards. It can be used as a reference source or as a step-by-step manual. The focus of the content is on how to develop, practice, and maintain emergency plans that reflect what must be done before, during, and after a disaster to protect people and their property. Also included is information on how to assemble a disaster supplies kit that contains the food, water, and other supplies in sufficient quantity for individuals and their families to survive following a disaster in the event they must rely on their own resources.

Appendix A to Part 1191 - Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities This document contains scoping and technical requirements for accessibility to buildings and facilities by individuals with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. These scoping and technical requirements are to be applied during the design, construction, and alteration of buildings and facilities covered by titles II and III of the ADA to the extent required by regulations issued by Federal agencies, including the Department of Justice and the Department of Transportation, under the ADA.

The Department of Justice has assembled this official version of the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (2010 Standards) to bring together the information in one easy-to-access location. It provides the scoping and technical requirements for new construction and alterations resulting from the adoption of revised 2010 Standards in the final rules for Title II (28 CFR part 35) and Title III (28 CFR part 36).