CAPAC Chair Commends Justice Department Language Access Plan

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Department of Justice (DOJ) released an updated Department-wide Language Access Plan, aiming to ensure all individuals can fully participate in DOJ’s programs, activities, and services, and providing guidance to DOJ offices to help them understand the needs of communities with Limited English Proficiency (LEP), improve translation and interpretation services, promote quality assurance of those services, and expand the range of tools available to serve the public. Over 25 million individuals in the United States nation, including one-third of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities, are LEP.

Previously, Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) have written to and met with Attorney General Merrick Garland to advocate for, among other priorities, increased language access. Last year, CAPAC Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) praised DOJ for issuing a memorandum to federal agencies to improve access to services.

CAPAC Chair Chu released the following statement in response to today’s Language Access Plan:

“I commend Attorney General Garland and the entire Justice Department for releasing today’s Language Access Plan and modeling for agencies across the federal government how to better meet the needs of people with limited English proficiency. CAPAC has been unyielding in our advocacy for increased language access across the entire federal government to ensure all of the communities that call America home, including AANHPI ones, can fully participate in existing programs, activities, and services. I continue to be thankful for an enthusiastic partnership with the Biden-Harris Administration to make this a reality.”