Federal agencies would be required to serve the 25 million limited-English speakers in the US
In committeeH.R. 7223Latest action
Sponsor: Grace Meng · Representative · NY
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: Language Access for All Act of 2026
119th Congress
Topics: Government & democracy
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
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HR 7223 requires every federal agency to provide translation and interpreter services to the roughly 25 million US residents who speak limited English.
65-second read · 5 questions answered below
What does this do?
HR 7223 requires every federal agency to translate key documents into common non-English languages, provide phone and in-person interpreters, and post public notices about these services within one year of passage. Each agency must hire a Language Access Coordinator to oversee compliance and staff training, and must publish a written language access plan that goes through a public comment process. Agencies may use AI translation tools only if a qualified human reviewer checks every AI-generated translation, and those tools must be audited for accuracy and fairness every two years with results made public.
Who does it affect?
The bill directly affects the roughly 25 million people in the United States who speak English less than very well, along with the federal agencies and employees who serve them. People who believe they were denied proper language access can file a complaint through a new Justice Department-managed federal system.
Why does it matter?
Agencies that fail to comply could face the same legal consequences as discrimination under the Civil Rights Act. The Justice Department would be required to respond to complaints within 60 days, creating a formal accountability mechanism for enforcement.
What does it cost, and who pays?
Agencies could face Civil Rights Act-level legal consequences for noncompliance, but the summary contains no spending figures, , or agency cost details.
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Where does it stand?
- IntroducedJan 22, 2026
- House committeeYou are here · Jan 22, 2026
- House vote
- Senate
- The president's desk
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.