Rutherford, Mooney Introduce the Readable Legislation Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman John Rutherford (FL-04) joined Congressman Alex X. Mooney (WV-02) to introduce the Readable Legislation Act. This bill would help the public and Congress more accurately understand legislation introduced in Congress. A similar policy already exists in the Florida State Legislature.

"The text of bills introduced in Congress often includes confusing references to federal law and U.S. Code that make them difficult to understand," said Rep. John Rutherford. "The Readable Legislation Act requires every bill that amends current law to show all changes in full, rather than use technical language to refer to omissions and insertions. This small change would help members of Congress and their constituents more easily read and understand the purpose of each bill and the effect it would have on the public."

"Readable legislation is a common practice in State legislatures across the country and promotes transparency," said Rep. Alex X. Mooney. "It is nearly impossible for the public to understand striking or amending sections of the Federal Code. My goal is to make sure my constituents can easily access and understand what Congress is working on."

The Readable Legislation Act would prevent any current law from being revised or amended by mere reference to it. Every bill or joint resolution that amends an existing section of current law would be required to include the entire section being changed, showing the omissions and insertions proposed. This would lead to a better understanding of the proposals being considered in Congress and how our taxpayer dollars are spent.  

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