Given the continuously changing nature of the global pandemic, colloquially known as COVID-19, the United States government has provided a number of relief measures and resources to the federal, state, and local government agencies. In order to ensure that the necessary information reaches the general public, including those with limited English proficiency, the COVID-19 Language Access Act has been introduced.
The bill (H.R. 6623) seeks to direct each federal agency to make available any written material relating to the pandemic into various languages within 7 days of publication. The 19 minimum languages in which such information shall be made public include Korean.
The bill was introduced by Rep. Grace Meng (NY-6) on April 24, 2020. As of June 2, the bill has secured co-sponsorship of 28 members of the House and is poised to be referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.