Resources on Executive Order 13166


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Impact of E.O. 13166 on SCHIP (August, 2007)

Department of Transportation announces new E.O. 13166 regulations (12/14/05)

E.O. 13166 imposes sweeping language requirements on a Tucson, AZ, school (August 5, 2002).

Does you school pass this 14-page language rights test? (Requires free Adobe Acrobat reader) (July 8, 2002).

Department of Justice memo announces new drive to enforce E.O. 13166 (requires free Adobe Acrobat reader) (July 8, 2002).

Bush Administration reopens discussion of Clinton Executive Order 13166.

Maryland passes statewide language entitlement, cites E.O. 13166 (April, 2002).

Office of Management and Budget requests comments on the costs of E.O. 13166 (November 30, 2001). Go to Library of comments.

Bush Justice Department issues reaffirmation of E.O. 13166 and a new set of Questions and Answers (October 26, 2001).

EO 13166 survives House vote. View scorecard(October 11, 2001).

Bush Administration letters insist on preserving EO 13166.

Congressman Ernest Istook's Dear Colleague on the need to repeal EO 13166. (Requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader).

Text of Executive Order 13166, "Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency" (August 11, 2000).

Index of Federal Regulations on Executive Order 13166.

There are 231 languages spoken in the United States, and 6,800 languages used somewhere in the world. EO 13166 potentially applies to all of them.

Draft Language Access Questionnaire for Federally-Funded Contractors (Requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader).

Congressman Istook (R-OK) urges OMB to withdraw EO 13166 (May 11, 2001).

Congressman Istook explains impact of EO 13166 during Congressional hearing (May 10, 2001).

"Istook Challenges Foreign Language Requirements" (press release, May 10, 2001).

Miami Herald (May 4, 2001): "the [Bush] administration has no plans to rescind the order"


Translation Accuracy: The Arabic Question

Read English First Foundation's issue brief, "Translation, bin Laden and E.O. 13166"

The Bin Laden Videotape (December 2001). Despite the work of four translators, some argue Arabic translated inaccurately.

Only 355,150 Americans speak Arabic at home (November 5, 2001).

"[N]o more than 200 non-Arab Americans in the entire country have a professional-level proficiency in Arabic." (November 5, 2001).

"CIA translators have turned out to be Lebanese Maronite Christians whose understanding of Islam and its prayers may have led to serious textual errors" (September 29, 2001).

Inadvertently funny translations.


Translation Costs

" Average translation costs amount to more than $10,000 per patent -- more than a third of the total cost -- which helps make a European patent five times more expensive than in the United States, according to the EU's executive office" (December 20, 2001).

California translation costs.

New York City translation costs.

Utah translation costs.

Virginia translation costs.

Even the United Nations has problems with translations. There are complaints of inadequate Internet translations and of an interpreter shortage.

The Brigham Young University Center for Language Studies and the Defense Language Institute's European and Latin American School, European School, and Middle East School teach more languages than anybody. Note that they do not teach every language and tongue.

Text of H.R.969, Congressman Stump's bill to repeal EO 13166.


General Resources

Don Feder on EO 13166 and Oakland language policy (May 2, 2001).

"Treasury Goes Polyglot," National Review Online (March 22, 2001)

"Clinton's War on English Continues," National Review Online (January 25, 2001).

English First analysis as published in National Review Online (August 23, 2000).

"Clinton Mandates Multilingual America," WorldNetDaily.com, (August 24, 2000).

Pat Buchanan commercial on Executive Order 13166 (October 10, 2000).

Justice Department Policy Guidance Document: "Enforcement of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 - National Origin Discrimination Against Persons With Limited English Proficiency" (LEP Guidance) (August 16, 2000).

Commonly Asked Questions And Answers Regarding Executive Order 13166, Department of Justice (November 13, 2000).

MALDEF statement on EO 13166.

Treasury Department issues EO 13166 regulations (March 7, 2001).


Impact on Hospitals (HHS Regulations)

English First analysis as published in National Review Online (September 5, 2000).

AMA asks HHS to repeal EO 13166 regulations (Feb. 13, 2000).

"Doctors' complaints provoke translation policy changes", Oakland Tribune May 3, 2001.

Press Release, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (August 30, 2000).

Proposed HHS Regulations as published in the Federal Register (August 30, 2000).

Fact sheet "Language Assistance to Persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP)" U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (September 26, 2000).

"Policy Guidance: Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination As It Affects Persons With Limited English Proficiency," U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (September 1, 2000).

Appendix A: "Questions and Answers" (August 29, 2000).

Strategic Plan to Improve Access to HHS Programs and Activities by Limited English Proficient (LEP) Persons (December 14, 2000).

Appendix B: "Selected Federal and State Laws and Regulations Requiring Language Assistance," U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (August 29, 2000).

Resolution Agreement between the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region I and Maine Medical Center (July 17, 2000).

President Clinton Praises U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Language Policy (August 30, 2000).

Press Release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (July 17, 2000).

Guidance Memorandum, Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination--Persons with Limited-English Proficiency, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights (January 29, 1998).


Impact on Roads and Highways

"Highway to Havoc," National Review Online (February 2, 2001).

DOT Guidance to Recipients on Special Language Services to Limited English Proficient (LEP) Beneficiaries (document undated --appeared in January, 2001).

Bilingual Road Signs Cause Accidents (December 5, 2000).


Translation Troubles

Inaccurate Chinese bilingual ballot: Republican translated as Democrat.

HUD Haitian-Creole Pamphlet (November 17, 1999).

"A Good Interpreter is Not Enough" (November 29, 2000).

Wording Matters in Court (September 7, 2000).

Sign Language Varies (November 17, 2000).

Fight Over Chinese (December 9, 2000).

Social Worker Refuses to Speak English (August 26, 2000).


Resources on Clinton Abuse of Executive Order Authority

The Use and Abuse of Executive Orders and Other Presidential Directives, Heritage Foundation (Feb. 21, 2001).

Clinton Record on Executive Orders (August 23, 1999).

Executive Orders and National Emergencies Cato Policy Analysis No. 358 (October 28, 1999).


Last modified: August 1, 2007

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