Washington D.C.— U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is working to make FBI resources and services accessible in more languages for all Georgians to improve public safety.
Today, Sen. Ossoff launched an inquiry urging FBI Director Christopher Wray to ensure all communities have access to the information and guidance the FBI disseminates by providing increased access to multilingual resources.
“Augmenting the FBI’s existing language access efforts is essential in ensuring that all communities across Georgia and throughout the nation are protected by the FBI’s important work. As I stated during last month’s hearing, I look forward to the Atlanta field office becoming a leader in the Bureau’s language access future,” Senator Ossoff wrote.
Last month during a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Sen. Ossoff asked the FBI Director to ensure the agency is providing information and services in multiple languages to protect the health and security of all communities in Georgia.
Sen. Ossoff is continuing his efforts to make government services accessible in more languages for Georgians facing language barriers.
In May, Sen. Ossoff secured a commitment from U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Under Secretary for Rural Development, Xochitl Torres Small, to help Georgians experiencing language barriers navigate the housing market and system, improving their access to affordable housing.
In February, Sen. Ossoff led a group of 19 Senators calling on U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to direct Federal agencies to update their Language Access Plans, helping ensure people whose primary language is not English can access critical information and resources in their preferred language.
Georgia is home to more than twenty diverse language communities, with Korean, Hindi, and Spanish among the most spoken at home by Georgians whose first language is not English.
A recent report found that over 67 million households nationwide spoke a language other than English at home.
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