,,iii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #fii ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #bi1 #bjbf,mr4 ,padilla submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs ,,resolution ,expressing support for the recognition of ,april as ,national ,language ,access ,month4 ,whereas over #ga1jjj1jjj individuals ages #e and older in the ,united ,states speak a language other than ,english at home2 ,whereas over #be1gjj1jjj individuals in the ,united ,states have limited ,english proficiency 7,,lep7 and rely on translation and interpretation services to access vital public services and institutions2 ,whereas studies show that #dg percent of all immigrant adults in the ,united ,states have ,,lep2 ,whereas1 according to a #bjag-bjba ,census ,bureau estimate1 there are at least #ejj individual languages and language groups spoken in the ,united ,states2 ,whereas about #cj percent of ,asian-,american adults1 #ab percent of ,native ,hawaiian and ,pacific ,islander adults1 #cb percent of ,hispanic adults1 #c percent of ,black adults1 and #a percent of ,white adults reported having ,,lep2 ,whereas nearly #i percent of the ,united ,states population are individuals with ,,lep1 with some ,states and territories having even higher rates1 including-- 7#a7 #ed percent of residents in ,american ,samoa2 7#b7 #bj percent of residents in ,california2 7#c7 #ad percent of residents in ,texas2 7#d7 #ab percent of residents in ,new ,york2 7#e7 #ab percent of residents in ,florida2 and 7#f7 #i percent of residents in ,puerto ,rico2 ,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 to1 understanding of1 or benefit from services1 activities1 and programs2 ,whereas uneven coverage and implementation of language access contribute to significant disparities for individuals seeking-- 7#a7 employment services2 7#b7 transportation services2 7#c7 financial services2 7#d7 health services2 7#e7 housing services2 7#f7 legal services2 and 7#g7 other services2 ,whereas #ca percent of immigrants with ,,lep report that language barriers interfere with their ability to access health care services2 ,whereas #bi percent of immigrants with ,,lep report that language barriers affect their ability to find or maintain employment2 ,whereas #be percent of immigrants with ,,lep report difficulty applying for government financial assistance for food1 housing1 or health coverage2 ,whereas #bb percent of immigrants with ,,lep report that language barriers have made it difficult to report a crime or seek assistance from law enforcement2 ,whereas existing legislation protecting language access is integral to ensuring that all ,americans can access federally funded programs and policies2 ,whereas title ,,vi of the ,civil ,rights ,act of #aifd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bjjj;d et seq47 prohibits recipients of ,federal funding from discriminating based on national origin2 ,whereas the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq471 originally the ,food ,stamp ,act of #aifd1 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 ,english2 ,whereas the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaba et seq47 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 assistance2 ,whereas section #aeeg of the ,patient ,protection and ,affordable ,care ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ahaaf7 prohibits discrimination based on nationality and requires language assistance in the #ae most common languages for health-related programs2 ,whereas section #bjc of the ,voting ,rights ,act of #aife 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #ajejc7 requires certain counties and jurisdictions to provide bilingual voting assistance in communities with large numbers of language minorities and ,,lep citizens2 ,whereas1 for nearly #be years1 both ,republican and ,democratic ,presidents have affirmed the importance of language access through the implementation of ,executive ,order #acaff1 ,improving ,access to ,english ,services for ,persons with ,limited ,english ,proficiency1 which required ,federal agencies and grantees to examine the services they provide and provide individuals with ,,lep meaningful access to agency services2 ,whereas the ,california ,department of ,education recognizes ,april as ,national ,bilingual_/,multilingual ,learner ,advocacy ,month2 ,whereas many ,states and local governments1 including the ,states of ,new ,york and ,hawaii1 recognize ,april as ,language ,access ,month2 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 ,americans1 including individuals with ,,lep3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 supports the recognition of ,national ,language ,access ,month2 7#b7 affirms the importance of meaningful language access in ensuring equitable participation in ,federal programs and services2 7#c7 encourages ,federal agencies1 ,states1 local governments1 and community organizations to promote awareness of language access rights and resources2 and 7#d7 encourages the people of the ,united ,states to observe ,national ,language ,access ,month with appropriate ceremonies1 programs1 and activities4