FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The ALC Applauds Historic U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Report Affirming Language Access as a Gateway Right

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 18, 2026 - The Association of Language Companies (the ALC) welcomes the release of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights report, Language Access for Individuals with Limited English Proficiency, a landmark examination of language access as a civil rights issue in the United States.

The report, the culmination of a year-long investigation, examines the barriers faced by individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) when accessing federally operated and federally funded services, including healthcare, public benefits, food assistance, schools, courts, law enforcement, and other essential government programs.

Approved through a rare unanimous bipartisan vote, the report provides findings and recommendations to the President and Congress aimed at strengthening meaningful language access nationwide. Among its recommendations, the Commission calls on Congress to consider codifying Executive Order 13166 Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency (August 11, 2000) into federal law to ensure meaningful access for individuals with limited English proficiency in federally operated and federally funded programs.

The report also recommends that congressional legislation establishes a tailored framework for determining when language assistance should be provided. That framework would consider the number or proportion of LEP individuals in the eligible service population, how frequently LEP individuals interact with the program, the importance of the benefit or encounter, the consequences of inadequate interpretation or translation, and the resources and costs associated with providing language services.

Additional recommendations include translating vital documents and mission-critical public materials into languages frequently encountered by federal agencies and dominant languages spoken in the United States, developing systems to identify and track spoken and written language needs, providing staff training, using qualified interpreters and translators, and applying appropriate quality controls for machine translation and artificial intelligence.

“The ALC, which represents the industry that provides language access, recognizes the importance of this report at a time when language access has come under increasing scrutiny,” said Josh Pennise, President of the Association of Language Companies. “We are proud of the ALC members and language access leaders who testified before the Commission and provided feedback throughout the development of this report.”

The Commission’s report identifies recurring challenges that continue to affect language access nationwide, including inconsistent implementation across programs and communities, limited data on language needs, insufficient use of available language tools, difficulty securing interpreters for less commonly spoken languages, overreliance on machine translation, and the use of untrained interpreters, including family members and children.

“This report represents a significant step toward the full realization of language access as a necessary gateway right, upon which access to many other civil rights depends,” said Dr. Bill Rivers, the ALC Advocacy Consultant and Honorary Lifetime Member, who testified before the Commission in March 2025.

Shamus Sayed, CEO of Interpreters Unlimited and an ALC member leader involved in the process, emphasized the long-term importance of the Commission’s work.

“The impact of this report will be generational,” said Sayed.

The ALC continues to advocate before Congress for policies, funding, and legislative frameworks that strengthen language access and support the language services sector across the United States. The Association appreciates the Commission’s work and urges policymakers to act on the report’s recommendations.

About ALC

The Association of Language Companies (ALC) is the national trade association for interpreting, translation, localization, language education, and language service providers serving the U.S. market. The industry supports more than $30B in annual economic impact and a workforce of more than 60,000 linguists, interpreters, and language professionals nationwide. ALC strengthens the industry through advocacy, research, and collaboration, promoting high-quality, accessible language services across critical sectors.

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Ana Figueira, Manager of Communications and Membership Growth
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Statement

ALC Statement Regarding the Detention of Court Interpreter Meenu Batra in Texas

For Immediate Release

Date: April 22, 2026     

The Association of Language Companies has reviewed media reports and heard concern from members of our community regarding the detention of longtime legal interpreter Meenu Batra in Texas. We are concerned by the reported circumstances surrounding her arrest and detention, including questions about due process, transparency, and treatment in custody.

We are also concerned that when an otherwise law-abiding, working professional is taken into custody abruptly while en route to perform essential court-related work, the effects can extend beyond that individual and their family. Actions of this kind can disrupt legal proceedings, reduce the availability of highly specialized interpreting services, and undermine language access for those who depend on it.

Enforcement actions should be carried out in a manner consistent with due process and with appropriate regard for continuity, dignity, and the broader functioning of the justice system. Qualified legal interpreters are not incidental to that system. They are part of how it works.

About ALC

The Association of Language Companies (ALC) is the national trade association for interpreting, translation, localization, language education, and language service providers serving the U.S. market. The industry supports more than $30B in annual economic impact and a workforce of more than 60,000 linguists, interpreters, and language professionals nationwide. ALC strengthens the industry through advocacy, research, and collaboration, promoting high-quality, accessible language services across critical sectors.

ALC on the web

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Ana Figueira
Manager of Communications and Membership Growth
communications@alcus.org

Press Release

Association of Language Companies leads industry advocacy in support of the Language Access for All Act of 2026

ALC Advocacy program engages Congress to protect Federal multilingual services and professional language standards

For Immediate Release

Date: January 28, 2026

NEW YORK CITY — [January 28, 2026] — The Association of Language Companies (ALC) welcomed the introduction of the Language Access for All Act of 2026 and affirmed its central role in mobilizing industry support and engaging Members of Congress to strengthen and modernize federal language access policy.

Through its national advocacy program, ALC actively worked with congressional offices, coalition partners, and stakeholders across the language services sector to elevate the economic, operational, and civil rights impact of federal language access requirements.

The legislation, introduced by Representatives Grace Meng (NY-06), Judy Chu (CA-28), Dan Goldman (NY-10), and Juan Vargas (CA-51), codifies and updates long-standing language access protections that ensure individuals with limited English proficiency can access critical federal services.

“ALC appreciates the strong, legislative action from Congresswoman Meng and her colleagues who recognize that language access is essential to the functioning of government and the health of our democracy,” said Josh Pennise, president of the Association of Language Companies. “Our members see every day how multilingual services connect people to health care, disaster assistance, housing, education, and economic opportunity. The Language Access for All Act protects those connections and strengthens the systems that make them possible.”

ALC Advocacy Drives Federal Engagement

Over the past year, ALC’s advocacy program directly engaged congressional staff, submitted policy input, and coordinated with national coalitions to ensure that the perspectives of the language services industry informed legislative development.

ALC focused its advocacy on:

• Preserving federal language access requirements across agencies
• Promoting professional standards for translation and interpretation
• Ensuring responsible integration of AI and language technologies
• Protecting a qualified, U.S.-based language services workforce

“ALC helped shape the conversation around it,” Pennise added. “Our advocacy team and members made the case that language access is not only a civil rights obligation, but also a matter of operational efficiency, public safety, and sound government policy.”

Protecting Access While Modernizing Government

The Language Access for All Act of 2026 requires federal agencies to develop and publish language access plans, establishes technical standards for multilingual communications, and creates accountability mechanisms to track barriers to access. ALC strongly supports provisions that ensure AI-assisted language tools complement — not replace — qualified human translators and interpreters, and that agencies maintain privacy, accuracy, and bias safeguards.

“As technology transforms how government communicates, ALC continues to advocate for solutions that combine innovation with human expertise,” said Jinny Bromberg, President, Bromberg & Associations, a language and technology solutions company based in Farmington Hills, Mich. “This legislation recognizes that language services require professional standards, cultural competence, and accountability in high-stakes environments like health care, legal services, and emergency response.”

Economic and Workforce Impact

ALC emphasized that federal language access policy directly supports a national industry composed of tens of thousands of professionals across the United States, including translators, interpreters, engineers, project managers, and language technology specialists.

ALC Calls on Congress to Act

ALC urges Congress to pass the Language Access for All Act of 2026 and reaffirm the federal government’s commitment to accessible, inclusive, and effective public services.

“Language access strengthens trust between communities and government,” said Dr. William Rivers, principal, WP Rivers & Associates, ALC’s government relations strategy architect. “ALC stands ready to continue working with Congress and federal agencies to ensure this legislation delivers meaningful, lasting impact.”

About ALC

The Association of Language Companies (ALC) is the national trade association for interpreting, translation, localization, language education, and language service providers serving the U.S. market. The industry supports more than $30B in annual economic impact and a workforce of more than 60,000 linguists, interpreters, and language professionals nationwide. ALC strengthens the industry through advocacy, research, and collaboration, promoting high-quality, accessible language services across critical sectors.

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Ana Figueira
Manager of Communications and Membership Growth
communications@alcus.org

Press Release

ALC celebrates signing of the SPEAK Act strengthening language access in healthcare

For Immediate Release

Date: February 5, 2026

NEW YORK CITY, February 5, 2026 — The Association of Language Companies (ALC) celebrates the passage and signing of the SPEAK Act, landmark legislation directing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop and issue federal guidance on best practices for language access in telemedicine and electronic health records systems.

The SPEAK Act was signed into law by President Trump on February 3, 2026.

The Association of Language Companies spent several years advancing this bill, working directly with congressional offices to shape its language and consistently advocating with policymakers to build the support needed for its introduction and final passage. ALC also kept the SPEAK Act front and center through its annual On The Hill advocacy program and provided practical, field-tested recommendations to congressional staff throughout the drafting process.

“The SPEAK Act will require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop and issue guidance on best practices for language access in telemedicine and related health information technology,” said Bill Rivers, ALC’s government affairs advisor. “In developing this guidance, HHS must consult with a broad range of stakeholders, including the language services industry, interpreters, patient advocates, healthcare providers, and telemedicine platform providers.”

The SPEAK Act outlines best practices for topics such as:

• Facilitating and integrating use of interpreters during a telemedicine appointment
• Providing accessible instructions on how to access telecommunications systems for individuals with limited English proficiency
• Improving access to digital patient portals for individuals with limited English proficiency
• Using video platforms that enable multi-person video calls to support interpretation during telemedicine appointments
• Providing patient materials, communications, and instructions in multiple languages, including text message appointment reminders and prescription information

“Because our industry will be part of the consultative process to develop this guidance, we have the opportunity to help shape how language access should be provided in telemedicine,” Rivers added. “ALC member companies have extensive, real-world experience and lessons learned that can be brought to HHS. We have the opportunity to help shape the marketplace for years to come.”

ALC will coordinate member input and real-world examples to support the consultative process and help ensure the resulting guidance is practical, effective, and grounded in proven approaches to language access across telehealth platforms and digital health systems.

About ALC

The Association of Language Companies (ALC) is the national trade association for interpreting, translation, localization, language education, and language service providers serving the U.S. market. The industry supports more than $30B in annual economic impact and a workforce of more than 60,000 linguists, interpreters, and language professionals nationwide. ALC strengthens the industry through advocacy, research, and collaboration, promoting high-quality, accessible language services across critical sectors.

ALC on the web

www.alcus.org
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Media Contact

Ana Figueira
Manager of Communications and Membership Growth
communications@alcus.org