This House resolution supports recognizing April as "National Language Access Month." It says many people in the United States speak a language other than English at home (over 71,000,000 people ages 5 and older) and that more than 25,700,000 people have limited English proficiency (LEP). The resolution cites that at least 500 individual languages are spoken in the U.S. and gives LEP rates in some places (for example, 54% in American Samoa, 20% in California, 14% in Texas, 12% in New York, 12% in Florida, and 9% in Puerto Rico). The text lists areas where language barriers can cause problems, such as employment, transportation, banking, health care, housing, and legal services. It refers to existing laws and rules that relate to language access, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, the Food and Nutrition Act, the Stafford Act, section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, and Executive Order 13166. The resolution "supports" recognizing the month, "affirms" the importance of meaningful language access, and "encourages" federal agencies, states, local governments, community groups, and people to promote awareness and observe the month with ceremonies, programs, and activities. The resolution was referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce and is in progress.
This resolution is a formal statement from the House that encourages attention to language access. It does not create new legal rights or change federal rules by itself. If passed, it asks governments and organizations to promote language services, inform people about language access rights, and hold events in April to raise awareness. People who speak limited English and groups that serve them may see more outreach or public programs tied to this recognition.
No publicly available information.
Supporters say recognizing National Language Access Month will raise awareness about the number of people with LEP, highlight gaps in access to services, and encourage use of translation, interpretation, and culturally competent services. The resolution points to existing laws and past executive actions as foundations for improving access and urges coordinated efforts by agencies, states, and communities.
No publicly available information.