    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 35 (Monday, September 4, 2000)]
    [Pages 1979-1980]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Statement on Department of Health and Human Services Action on Federal
    Services for People With Limited English Proficiency

    August 30, 2000

        Today I commend the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
    (HHS) for being the first Federal agency to respond to Executive Order
    13166, which will help people with limited English proficiency (LEP)
    access Federal and federally funded services. The HHS policy guidance
    issued today will assist health and social service providers to ensure
    that LEP individuals can access critical health and social services, and
    will assist our efforts to eliminate health disparities between LEP and
    English-speaking individuals. The guidance outlines the legal
    responsibilities of providers who assist people with limited English
    proficiency and receive Federal financial assistance from HHS and
    provides a flexible roadmap to assist those providers in their efforts
    to meet the language needs of the Nation's increasingly diverse
    population.
        On August 11, 2000, I issued Executive Order 13166, which directed
    Federal agencies, by December 11, 2000, to establish written policies on
    the language accessibility of their programs and the programs of those
    who receive Federal funds. Federal agencies and recipients of Federal
    financial assistance must take reasonable steps to ensure that persons
    with limited English proficiency can meaningfully access their programs.
    Language barriers are preventing the Federal Government and recipients
    of Federal financial assistance from effectively serving a large number
    of people in this country who are eligible to participate in their
    programs. Failure to systematically confront language barriers can lead
    to unequal access to Federal benefits based on national origin and can
    harm the mission of Federal agencies. Breaking down these barriers will
    allow individuals

    [[Page 1980]]

    with limited English proficiency to fully participate in American
    society.