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H.R. 6623 116th Congress House

COVID–19 Language Access Act

Official title: To require all Federal agencies to translate COVID-19 materials into multiple languages, and for other purposes.

Introduced: April 24, 2020 Introduced by: Grace Meng Democratic · New York See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Cardiovascular and respiratory healthEmergency medical services and trauma careExecutive agency funding and structureForeign language and bilingual programs
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 28, 2020
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E403)
Apr 24, 2020
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
Apr 24, 2020
Introduced in House
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 Latest action April 28, 2020

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E403)

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

COVID-19 Language Access Act

This bill requires each federal agency that receives federal assistance related to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic to translate any English language written material prepared for the general public relating to the pandemic into specified languages not later than seven days after such material is made available in English.

Such languages shall include, at a minimum, the following: Spanish, Arabic, Cambodian, Chinese, Haitian Creole, French, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Russian, Tagalog, Urdu, Vietnamese, Greek, Polish, Thai, and Portuguese.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 1009 Reintroduced Bill COVID–19 Language Access Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 53
All 53 Democratic 31
D
Barragán, Nanette Diaz
California · Sep 4, 2020
Napolitano, Grace
· Sep 4, 2020
ROYBAL-ALLARD, LUCILLE
· Sep 4, 2020
 D
Boyle, Brendan F.
Pennsylvania · Jul 16, 2020
 D
Evans, Dwight
Pennsylvania · Jul 13, 2020
Luria, Elaine
· Jun 29, 2020
Cox, TJ
· May 19, 2020
Bass, Karen
· May 14, 2020
Higgins, Brian
· May 14, 2020
 D
Green, Al
Texas · May 8, 2020
 D
Sánchez, Linda T.
California · May 8, 2020
 D
Lieu, Ted
California · May 5, 2020
 D
Smith, Adam
Washington · May 5, 2020
 D
Clarke, Yvette D.
New York · May 1, 2020
 D
Krishnamoorthi, Raja
Illinois · May 1, 2020
Sires, Albio
· May 1, 2020
 D
Blunt Rochester, Lisa
Delaware · Apr 28, 2020
Haaland, Debra
· Apr 28, 2020
Speier, Jackie
· Apr 28, 2020
Cárdenas, Tony
· Apr 24, 2020
 D
Carson, André
Indiana · Apr 24, 2020
 D
Case, Ed
Hawaii · Apr 24, 2020
 D
Castor, Kathy
Florida · Apr 24, 2020
 D
Davis, Danny K.
Illinois · Apr 24, 2020
Eshoo, Anna
· Apr 24, 2020
 D
Espaillat, Adriano
New York · Apr 24, 2020
 D
Garcia, Sylvia R.
Texas · Apr 24, 2020
 D
García, Jesús G. "Chuy"
Illinois · Apr 24, 2020
 D
Gomez, Jimmy
California · Apr 24, 2020
 D
Gonzalez, Vicente
Texas · Apr 24, 2020
 D
Grijalva, Raúl M.
Arizona · Apr 24, 2020
HASTINGS, ALCEE
· Apr 24, 2020
 D
Hayes, Jahana
Connecticut · Apr 24, 2020
 D
Horsford, Steven
Nevada · Apr 24, 2020
 D
Huffman, Jared
California · Apr 24, 2020
 D
Jayapal, Pramila
Washington · Apr 24, 2020
 D
Johnson, Henry C. "Hank"
Georgia · Apr 24, 2020
JOHNSON, EDDIE
· Apr 24, 2020
Kilmer, Derek
· Apr 24, 2020
Lee, Barbara
· Apr 24, 2020
McNerney, Jerry
· Apr 24, 2020
 D
Meeks, Gregory W.
New York · Apr 24, 2020
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Apr 24, 2020
Porter, Katie
· Apr 24, 2020
 D
Pressley, Ayanna
Massachusetts · Apr 24, 2020
PRICE, DAVID
· Apr 24, 2020
RUSH, BOBBY
· Apr 24, 2020
 D
Schakowsky, Janice D.
Illinois · Apr 24, 2020
SERRANO, JOSE
· Apr 24, 2020
Shalala, Donna
· Apr 24, 2020
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Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 6623: COVID–19 Language Access Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-6623/
MLA
"H.R. 6623: COVID–19 Language Access Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-6623/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 6623, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-6623/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 6623: COVID–19 Language Access Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-6623/)
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