,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #debf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,august #ab1 #bjbj ,ms4 ,hirono 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,casey1 ,ms4 ,harris1 ,mr4 ,brown1 ,ms4 ,rosen1 ,ms4 ,cortez ,masto1 ,mr4 ,sanders1 ,mr4 ,booker1 ,ms4 ,baldwin1 and ,mr4 ,blumenthal7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to ensure that ,,covid-#ai-related ,federal programs and assistance provide for the translation of informational materials relating to awareness1 screening1 testing1 and treatment for ,,covid-#ai into priority languages4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,coronavirus ,language ,access ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,community-based organization ,the term community-based organization means an entity that has established relationships with the communities served by the entity1 including especially hard-to-reach populations1 racial and ethnic minority communities1 individuals with limited ,english proficiency1 and individuals with disabilities4 7#b7 ,coronavirus public health emergency ,the term coronavirus public health emergency means the public health emergency declared by the ,secretary pursuant to section #cai of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bdg;d7 with respect to ,,covid-#ai4 7#c7 ,coronavirus response law ,the term coronavirus response law means-- 7,a7 the ,coronavirus ,preparedness and ,response ,supplemental ,appropriations ,act1 #bjbj 7,public ,law #aaf-abc72 7,b7 the ,families ,first ,coronavirus ,response ,act 7,public ,law #aaf-abg72 7,c7 the ,coronavirus ,aid1 ,relief1 and ,economic ,security ,act 7,public ,law #aaf-acf72 7,d7 the ,paycheck ,protection ,program and ,health ,care ,enhancement ,act 7,public ,law #aaf-aci72 7,e7 the ,paycheck ,protection ,program ,flexibility ,act 7,public ,law #aaf-adb72 and 7,f7 any subsequent ,act enacted as a response to a coronavirus public health emergency4 7#d7 ,,covid-#ai ,the term ,,covid-#ai means the novel coronavirus or ,,sars-,co,v-#b4 7#e7 ,priority languages ,the term priority languages means-- 7,a7 in the case of ,federal agencies1 at a minimum1 the languages as identified by the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency ,language ,access ,plan1 dated ,october #a1 #bjaf1 as the languages most frequently encountered1 including ,spanish1 ,arabic1 ,cambodian1 ,chinese1 ,haitian ,creole1 ,french1 ,hindi1 ,italian1 ,japanese1 ,korean1 ,laotian1 ,russian1 ,tagalog1 ,urdu1 ,vietnamese1 ,greek1 ,polish1 ,thai1 and ,portuguese2 or 7,b7 in the case of ,state agencies or grant recipients operating in a ,state1 at a minimum1 the #ae languages spoken with greatest frequency by individuals with limited ,english proficiency in that ,state4 7#f7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services4 7#g7 ,state ,the term ,state means each of the several ,states and the ,district of ,columbia4 ,i ,language access #aja4 ,language access 7a7 ,requirement of priority language usage 7#a7 ,in general ,any ,federal agency that has received funding under a coronavirus response law shall ensure that all programs and opportunities made available to the general public relating to ,,covid-#ai or the coronavirus public health emergency provide translated materials1 including audio and video products1 describing the programs and opportunities in priority languages 7as defined in section #b7e77;,a774 7#b7 ,application of requirement ,this subsection shall apply to each division1 contractor1 and subcontractor of a ,federal agency that is likely to have contact with the public4 7#c7 ,availability ,translation services required under this subsection shall be made available not later than #g business days after the date on which any such material is made available in ,english4 7b7 ,oral language assistance services ,any ,federal agency that has received funding under a coronavirus response law shall provide oral language assistance services and notice of the availability of services relating to ,,covid-#ai or the coronavirus public health emergency to limited ,english proficient individuals in a language they can understand4 7c7 ,report 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than ,january #a1 #bjba1 the head of each ,federal agency receiving funding under a coronavirus response law shall submit to the ,committees described in paragraph 7#b71 a report describing such agency's compliance with the requirements of this section4 7#b7 ,committees ,the ,committees described in this section are the following3 7,a7 ,the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs of the ,senate4 7,b7 ,the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate4 7,c7 ,the ,special ,committee on ,aging of the ,senate4 7,d7 ,the ,committee on ,finance of the ,senate4 7,e7 ,the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate4 7,f7 ,the ,committee on the ,judiciary of the ,senate4 7,g7 ,the ,committee on ,homeland ,security of the ,house of ,representatives4 7,h7 ,the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives4 7,i7 ,the ,committee on ,financial ,services of the ,house of ,representatives4 7,j7 ,the ,committee on ,ways and ,means of the ,house of ,representatives4 7,k7 ,the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives4 7,l7 ,the ,committee on the ,judiciary of the ,house of ,representatives4 #ajb4 ,grants and services facilitating accessible public outreach for public health and health services 7a7 ,grants and cooperative agreements 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention 7referred to in this section as the ,director71 shall award grants to1 or enter into cooperative agreements with1 community-based organizations and ,state1 ,tribal1 local1 and territorial health departments for the following purposes3 7,a7 ,to support culturally and linguistically appropriate preparedness1 response1 and recovery activities targeted to individuals who speak ,english less than very well in priority languages 7as defined in section #b7e77;,b774 7,b7 ,the development of educational programs and materials to promote screening1 testing1 treatment1 and public health practices in non-,english languages4 7,c7 ,the provision of interpretation services to individuals receiving ,,covid-#ai testing1 treatment1 or vaccination services4 7,d7 ,the provision of subgrants to local health departments or community-based organizations for the purposes described in this paragraph4 7#b7 ,priority ,the ,director shall prioritize grants and cooperative agreements under this subsection to entities in areas with higher rates of individuals with limited ,english proficiency and to entities with demonstrated experience serving those individuals or who propose to provide subgrants to such entities4 7b7 ,translation 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,director shall provide for the translation of materials on awareness of1 and screening1 testing1 and treatment for ,,covid-#ai into priority languages for ,federal1 ,state1 ,tribal1 local1 and territorial agencies4 7#b7 ,public availability ,not later than #g business days after the date on which the materials described in paragraph 7#a7 are made available to the public in ,english1 the ,director shall ensure that the translations required under such paragraph are made available to the public4 7c7 ,hotline ,the ,director shall establish an informational hotline1 to be staffed by trained interpreters1 to provide information to the public concerning ,,covid-#ai4 7d7 ,interagency coordination ,with respect to individuals with limited ,english proficiency1 the ,director shall facilitate interagency coordination among agencies activated through the ,national ,response ,framework based on the language access standards established under the language access plans of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency and the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services4 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #bjj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbj1 to remain available until expended4 7#b7 ,grants and cooperative agreements ,of the amount appropriated under paragraph 7#a71 not less than #aej1jjj1jjj shall be made available to carry out subsection 7a74 ,,ii ,appropriations #bja4 ,language access for older individuals with limited english proficiency ,the following sums are hereby appropriated1 out of any money in the ,treasury not otherwise appropriated1 for the fiscal year ending ,september #cj1 #bjbj1 and for other purposes1 namely3 ,,department ,,of ,,health ,,and ,,human ,,services ,administration ,for ,community ,living ,,aging ,,and ,,disability ,,services ,,programs ,for an additional amount for ,aging and ,disability ,services ,programs1 for carrying out the ,older ,americans ,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjja et seq47 7,,oaa71 #bj1jjj1jjj1 to remain available through ,september #cj1 #bjba1 which shall be for making payments under title ,,iii of the ,,oaa 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjba et seq47 to ,states with ,state plans approved under section #cjg of the ,,oaa 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjbg71 to be distributed to the ,states as described in section #cjd7;a7 of the ,,oaa 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjbd7;a77 to provide services to support older individuals with limited ,english proficiency in addressing concerns as a result of ,,covid-#ai3 ,provided1 ,that in carrying out the requirements in the proviso under this heading1 area agencies on aging shall partner or contract with community-based organizations that provide translation and interpretation services for older individuals with limited ,english proficiency3 ,provided further1 ,that in seeking organizations with which to enter into such partnerships or contracts1 area agencies on aging shall make an effort to include organizations that assist older individuals speaking the most spoken non-,english language in the planning and service area served by the area agency on aging and older individuals speaking the least spoken non-,english language in such area3 ,provided further1 ,that the services provided under the proviso under this heading shall include services to provide older individuals with limited ,english proficiency with 7#a7 the most up-to-date information on public health concerns and suggested precautions related to ,,covid-#ai and related issues1 7#b7 one-on-one assistance to help older individuals with limited ,english proficiency understand eligibility requirements for available ,federal1 ,state1 and local benefits and services1 to translate applications and provide oral interpretations necessary to receive such benefits and services and provide oral interpretations necessary to receive such benefits and services1 and to provide other supportive services for such individuals to access such benefits and services1 and 7#c7 related public awareness campaigns1 related to ,,covid-#ai and related issues1 in non-,english languages3 ,provided further1 ,that each ,state agency receiving funding described in the proviso under this heading shall report to the ,assistant ,secretary for ,aging on the number of individuals receiving the services supported by such funding1 number of services provided by type1 and the languages spoken by the individuals receiving such services3 ,provided further1 ,that the amount appropriated under this heading is designated by ,congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section #bea7;b77#b77;,a77i7 of the ,balanced ,budget and ,emergency ,deficit ,control ,act of #aihe 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #ija7;b77#b77;,a77i774 #bjb4 ,information and translation through statewide independent councils ,the following sums are hereby appropriated1 out of any money in the ,treasury not otherwise appropriated1 for the fiscal year ending ,september #cj1 #bjbj1 and for other purposes1 namely3 ,,department ,,of ,,health ,,and ,,human ,,services ,administration ,for ,community ,living ,,aging ,,and ,,disability ,,services ,,programs 7,statewide ,independent ,living ,councils7 ,for an additional amount for ,aging and ,disability ,services ,programs1 for carrying out title ,,vii of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gif et seq471 #aj1jjj1jjj1 to remain available through ,september #cj1 #bjba1 which shall be for making payments under that title ,,vii to ,states with ,state plans approved under section #gjd of that ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gif;c71 to be distributed as described in section #gaa of that ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gif;e71 to the ,states for ,statewide ,independent ,living ,councils to enable the ,councils to support limited ,english proficient individuals with disabilities and individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing 7which #b types of individuals are referred to under this heading as covered individuals7 in addressing concerns as a result of ,,covid-#ai through services to provide covered individuals with 7#a7 the most up-to-date information on public health concerns and precautions related to ,,covid-#ai and related issues2 7#b7 one-on-one assistance to understand eligibility requirements for available ,federal1 ,state1 and local benefits and services1 to translate applications and provide oral interpretation necessary for such individuals to receive such benefits and services1 and to provide other supports for such individuals to access such benefits and services2 and 7#c7 related public awareness campaigns in languages other than ,english and in ,american ,sign ,language 7which languages and ,language are referred to under this heading as additional languages73 ,provided1 that the ,councils shall provide support with funds appropriated under this heading in partnership with1 or through contracts with1 agencies carrying out ,state disability services programs or community-based organizations that provide translation and interpretation services for covered individuals3 ,provided further1 ,that in seeking agencies or organizations for such partnerships or contracts in a geographic area1 a ,council shall make efforts to include entities that assist covered individuals that speak the most commonly spoken additional languages1 and entities that assist covered individuals that speak the least commonly spoken additional languages1 in that geographical area3 ,provided further1 ,that the ,councils shall report to the ,administration about the number of individuals served1 the number of services provided by type1 and the additional languages through which services are provided1 with funds appropriated under this heading3 ,provided further1 ,that the amount appropriated under this heading is designated by ,congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section #bea7;b77#b77;,a77i7 of the ,balanced ,budget and ,emergency ,deficit ,control ,act of #aihe 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #ija7;b77#b77;,a77i774