Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Executive Order 13166 Under Attack Again
Representative Pete King (R-NY) recently introduced HR 300, a bill to provide that "Executive Order 13166 shall have no force or effect", and to prohibit the use of funds for government programs in any language other than English. The same bill was introduced two years ago but was never passed out of the Committee on Government Reform.
Executive Order 13166 "Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency" was signed by President Clinton on August 11, 2000 to improve access to federal programs for people who, as a result of national origin, have Limited English Proficiency (LEP). The Executive Order also affirms the federal agencies’ role in enforcing Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and requires each agency to develop guidance to assist federal fund recipients in complying with Title VI. The Bush Administration affirmed its support of this executive order in a series of memos to agency heads from Assistant Attorney General Ralph Boyd available at www.lep.gov
APIAHF will continue to monitor HR 300 and notify others if the House Committee on Government Reform decides to consider the bill.
For more information, contact the APIAHF Policy Division staff:
Gem Daus, Legislative and Government Affairs Coordinator, GDaus@apiahf.org
