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119-hr-7223119th CongressWALLET
Language Access for All Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
Introduced
Summary
Meaningful access to federal programs for people with limited English proficiency would be required across federal agencies. The bill would set deadlines, technical standards, and enforcement so translated materials, interpreters, bilingual staff, and AI rules are in place to help LEP individuals use government services.
Show full summary
- Families and LEP individuals would see translated vital documents, in-person and remote interpretation, sight translation, and multilingual notices and signage. Emergency communications during disasters and health crises would also need to be provided in appropriate languages.
- Federal agencies and staff would have to make practical Language Access Plans with measurable performance indicators, run needs assessments, hold a 60-day Federal Register public comment period, and name a Language Access Coordinator within one year to oversee training and reporting.
- Technology providers and agency tech teams would face limits on replacing humans with AI. Machine translations would need human verification, agencies must disclose AI limits and error rates, AI systems would be audited every two years, and noncompliance would be treated as discrimination under Title VI with DOJ enforcement options.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Agency language access plans
If enacted, each federal agency would have one year to write a practical language access plan. Plans would list LEP populations, say how agencies will provide translated vital documents, oral interpretation, sight translation, and multilingual digital content. Agencies would add language tracking to IT systems, publish a proposed plan for a 60-day Federal Register comment period, and send the final plan to the Attorney General and congressional leaders within 30 days. The Department of Justice would host the finished plans on a public site at LEP.gov.
Coordinators and interagency council
If enacted, each agency head would name a Language Access Coordinator to be the main contact and manage training and planning. Coordinators would push for annual training where feasible, decide each year which programs need language access, and review plans and costs three years after enactment. The General Services Administrator would convene an Interagency Language Access Standards Council and a working group led by the Attorney General to share best practices and give technical help. The working group would include one coordinator from each agency and meet with community groups and LEP stakeholders.
DOJ complaint system and enforcement
If enacted, the Attorney General would run a public complaint system for people who face language barriers with federal programs. Agencies named in complaints would have to respond within 60 days after the Attorney General forwards the complaint. Noncompliance could be treated as discrimination under Title VI, letting DOJ investigate and seek remedies or allowing private parties to pursue relief. DOJ would also publish a yearly report that breaks down complaints by agency, language, and program.
Government language technical standards
If enacted, the Attorney General, with NIST and stakeholders, would issue language access technical standards within one year. Standards would cover written, oral, digital, web, mobile, and AI-assisted communications and require annual agency certifications. Agencies would review and update the standards at least every three years. The rules would include an undue-burden waiver process that the Attorney General must decide within 30 days and that expires after two years.
Limits and checks on AI translation
If enacted, agencies could not fully replace qualified human translators with AI or machine translation. Any machine-assisted output would have to be verified by a qualified human translator or interpreter. Agencies would post annual disclosures on LEP.gov about AI tool data sources, limits, confidence levels, and error rates, follow Privacy Act and FISMA rules, test for discrimination, and fix user-reported errors. Inspectors General would audit agency AI language systems at least every two years and send reports to the Attorney General, and NIST would provide technical validation help.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
NY • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/5/2026
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/22/2026
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 1/22/2026
Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/22/2026
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]
IL • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]
TX • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]
WA • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]
IN • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7]
TX • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]
HI • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]
FL • D
Sponsored 5/13/2026
Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]
WA • D
Sponsored 6/8/2026
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]
TX • D
Sponsored 7/14/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov