U.S. English Chairman Urges Support for English Language Amendment in Financial Services Bill

U.S. English Chairman Urges Support for English Language Amendment in Financial Services Bill

Washington, DC—U.S. English Chairman Mauro E. Mujica today issued a call for support of Rep. Steve King (R-IA)’s Amendment #38 in H.R. 5485, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act of 2017.

Rep. King’s amendment would prohibit funds from being used to enforce Executive Order 13166, which provides for federal government funding of foreign language translations. Signed into law in 2000 by President Bill Clinton, the Executive Order was intended to provide documents and translations for limited English proficient individuals who contact federal government agencies.

“While the intent of Executive Order 13166 is honorable, providing federally funded foreign language translations is not the way to make government more accessible to our nation’s foreign language speakers,” Chairman Mujica said. “In order to fully participate in the democratic process, English proficiency is the key to success. Rather than continuing to funnel tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars to foreign language translations, we should instead be creating opportunities for the nation’s limited English proficient individuals to learn the language of success in this country, for their own benefit. I encourage all Members of Congress to vote yes to Congressman King’s Amendment 38 to put an end to the costly and unnecessary federal government translations.”

The Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act of 2017 is expected to be considered this week.

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