Rep. Chu Commemorates 15th Anniversary of Executive Order 13166

Washington, D.C. – Today marks the 15th anniversary of Executive Order 13166, “Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency.” This Executive Order requires federal agencies to create systems to provide meaningful access to their services for those with limited English proficiency. Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) issued the following statement:

“Fifteen years ago today, our nation made a strong commitment through Executive Order 13166 to protect the civil rights of limited English proficient individuals. Providing language access is, without a doubt, a matter of civil rights: it ensures that our government will not discriminate against an individual’s national origin, as prohibited by law. Because Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) have the highest rates of limited English proficiency, language access is especially important for the AAPI community. So as we commemorate the 15th anniversary of Executive Order 13166, let us continue to push for more linguistically competent services so that every American, regardless of the language that he or she speaks, can meaningfully understand, benefit, and access the many services our government provides.”