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April 29, 2026
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Download official Senate Record PDFReturn to issue contextSENATE RESOLUTION 699—EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE RECOGNITION OF APRIL
AS “NATIONAL LANGUAGE ACCESS MONTH”
Mr. PADILLA submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs:
S. Res. 699
Whereas over 71,000,000 individuals ages 5 and older in the
United States speak a language other than English at home;
Whereas over 25,700,000 individuals in the United States
have limited English proficiency (LEP) and rely on
translation and interpretation services to access vital
public services and institutions;
Whereas studies show that 47 percent of all immigrant
adults in the United States have LEP;
Whereas, according to a 2017-2021 Census Bureau estimate,
there are at least 500 individual languages and language
groups spoken in the United States;
Whereas about 30 percent of Asian-American adults, 12
percent of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults, 32
percent of Hispanic adults, 3 percent of Black adults, and 1
percent of White adults reported having LEP;
Whereas nearly 9 percent of the United States population
are individuals with LEP, with some States and territories
having even higher rates, including—
(1) 54 percent of residents in American Samoa;
(2) 20 percent of residents in California;
(3) 14 percent of residents in Texas;
(4) 12 percent of residents in New York;
(5) 12 percent of residents in Florida; and
(6) 9 percent of residents in Puerto Rico;
Whereas the term “language access” means the provision of
culturally competent and effective language services to an
individual with LEP designed to enhance that individual's
access to, understanding of, or benefit from services,
activities, and programs;
Whereas uneven coverage and implementation of language
access contribute to significant disparities for individuals
seeking—
(1) employment services;
(2) transportation services;
(3) financial services;
(4) health services;
(5) housing services;
(6) legal services; and
(7) other services;
Whereas 31 percent of immigrants with LEP report that
language barriers interfere with their ability to access
health care services;
Whereas 29 percent of immigrants with LEP report that
language barriers affect their ability to find or maintain
employment;
Whereas 25 percent of immigrants with LEP report difficulty
applying for government financial assistance for food,
housing, or health coverage;
Whereas 22 percent of immigrants with LEP report that
language barriers have made it difficult to report a crime or
seek assistance from law enforcement;
Whereas existing legislation protecting language access is
integral to ensuring that all Americans can access federally
funded programs and policies;
Whereas title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C.
2000d et seq.) prohibits recipients of Federal funding from
discriminating based on national origin;
Whereas the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011
et seq.), originally the Food Stamp Act of 1964, requires
that State agencies utilize bilingual personnel and
appropriate printed materials when there are a large number
of low-income households that speak a language other than
English;
Whereas the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) requires
the Federal Emergency Management Agency to account for the
needs of people with LEP in disaster planning and prohibits
discrimination on the basis of English proficiency when
providing assistance;
Whereas section 1557 of the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18116) prohibits
discrimination based on nationality and requires language
assistance in the 15 most common languages for health-related
programs;
Whereas section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52
U.S.C. 10503) requires certain counties and jurisdictions to
provide bilingual voting assistance in communities with large
numbers of language minorities and LEP citizens;
Whereas, for nearly 25 years, both Republican and
Democratic Presidents have affirmed the importance of
language access through the implementation of Executive Order
13166, “Improving Access to English Services for Persons
with Limited English Proficiency”, which required Federal
agencies and grantees to examine the services they provide
and provide individuals with LEP “meaningful access” to
agency services;
Whereas the California Department of Education recognizes
April as National Bilingual/Multilingual Learner Advocacy
Month;
Whereas many States and local governments, including the
States of New York and Hawaii, recognize April as Language
Access Month; and
Whereas the purpose of Language Access Month is to increase
awareness and celebrate the importance of language access to
ensure equitable access to public services and programs for
all Americans, including individuals with LEP: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate—
(1) supports the recognition of “National Language Access
Month”;
(2) affirms the importance of meaningful language access in
ensuring equitable participation in Federal programs and
services;
(3) encourages Federal agencies, States, local governments,
and community organizations to promote awareness of language
access rights and resources; and
(4) encourages the people of the United States to observe
National Language Access Month with appropriate ceremonies,
programs, and activities.