NLA Action: LEP Executive Order

[Heide Wrigley]

Aliza and all 

Just to let you know that the Immigrant Legal Resource Center in the San
Francisco Bay area signed on in support of the LEP Executive Order.  The
Executive Order (issued by former president Clinton) suggested that all
information from the federal government be accessible to people with limited
proficiency in English. More precisely, the letter is protesting the
possible rescinding of the Executive Order by the Bush administration. 

John Segota mentioned that TESOL is discussing the issue - 

Anyone else? 

Heide Spruck Wrigley
San Mateo, CA 
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From:	Aliza Becker [mailto:azbecker at mindspring.com]
Sent:	Wednesday, April 04, 2001 7:58 AM
To:	nla at world.std.com
Subject:	NLA Action: LEP Executive Order


NATIONAL IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER
NILC Urgent Alert No. 01-04: LEP Executive Order Under Threat
March 30, 2001

Please sign onto the attached sign-on letter to President Bush opposing any
roll-back in efforts to improve access to limited English proficient
individuals.  These efforts are under serious and imminent attack.  Sorry
about the short turn-around, but the deadline for sign on is Wednesday of
this week, April 4, at 2 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time.
Last year, President Clinton signed Executive Order 13166 which called upon
agencies to prepare a plan to improve access to federal programs and
activities by eligible limited English proficient (LEP) individuals.  The
Department of Justice issued guidance at the same time outlining what would
be required of each agency.  Since then, a number of agencies have published
their guidance.  These modest steps towards making services more accessible
for non-English speakers are now being threatened on a number of fronts.  On
March 8th, Rep. Stump introduced H.R. 969, legislation that would repeal
Executive Order 13166.  The bill has gained 40 cosponsors in the few weeks
since its introduction,.  In addition, 51 medical and dental associations
have signed on to a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Service, Tommy
Thompson, asking him to "impose an immediate moratorium on enforcement of
the Office for Civil Rights Policy Guidance on Limited English Proficiency,"
and the National Association of State Workforce Agencies has weighed in with
the Department of Labor in opposition to the Guidance.
There is more at stake than the Executive Order and ensuing guidances.  For
three decades, recipients of federal funds have been required to provide
meaningful access to persons who do not yet speak English.  Rep. Stump's
legislation would undermine this longstanding policy, and the pressure from
opponents threatens to weaken executive agency enthusiasm for outreach
efforts to new American communities.
We believe that the White House is now in the process of developing its
response to the proposed legislation, and by extension to the Executive
Order.  Therefore, it is important for those who support accessible and
nondiscriminatory policies to weigh in now.
The attached sign-on letter is the first step.  Please forward this message
to any organization you think might be interested in signing on.  Although
we have set a short deadline, we will continue to accept sign-ons for at
least the rest of this week and the beginning of next week, and will submit
a revised list of signers to the President at that time.  In addition, we
urge you to send your own letter, which can be modeled on the one we have
attached, but with details specific to your work and experience.  Those who
contributed to the attached letter include the National Asian Pacific
American Legal Consortium, the National Council of La Raza, the National
Employment Law Center, and the New York Immigration Coalition, as well as
NILC.
To sign on, send the following information to Maribel Adad at
adad at nilc-dc.org or fax to 202-216-0266.
Statement:
Yes, my organization will sign on to the letter urging the Administration to
oppose H.R. 969 and to affirm its support of Executive Order 13166.
Your Name:
Name of your organization (as you would like it printed):
Type of Organization:
___ National
___ State or Local
Address:
Phone:
Fax:
E-mail:
IN ADDITION, WE HAVE SCHEDULED A NATIONAL CONFERENCE CALL FOR MONDAY, APRIL
9TH @ 3 PM EST TO DISCUSS STRATEGIES TO RESPOND TO RECENT ATTACKS ON THE LEP
GUIDANCE.  EXPECT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CALL IN THE NEXT DAY OR SO.
For a copy of the bill language and to see what members have co-sponsored
the bill, please go to http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
National Immigration Law Center
Los Angeles Office:  213-639-3900 (general calls and requests for materials)
Washington, D.C. Office: 202-216-0261 (calls regarding policy issues)

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