Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Language Access topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Language-access programs say interpreter banks and translation services expand reach of victim services
Summary
Ayuda and other language-access witnesses told the committee that OVSJG-funded interpreter banks (VSIB/CLIP) and translation programs are essential for limited-English-proficiency and deaf residents, reporting thousands of interpretation instances in FY25 and urging continued funding.
Multiple witnesses described interpreter banks and translation services as integral components of the victim-services continuum and the Access to Justice Initiative.
Tatiana Santos and Diana Batras of Ayuda described the Victim Services Interpreter Bank (VSIB/CLIP) and said trained interpreters provided hundreds to thousands of interpretation instances and translated dozens of documents in FY25, supporting legal representation, hospital accompaniment and multi-language outreach. "Each time a victim receives culturally appropriate services in their language, faith in the system is restored," Santos said.
Speakers emphasized that language access improves safety and case outcomes for survivors who otherwise would be unable to navigate services or courts. Several witnesses asked the committee to protect funding for interpreter banks and to consider additional funding for culturally specific programs serving LGBTQ+, immigrant and API communities; Avantika Shenoy of the Asian Pacific Islander DVRP cited delayed contract execution and reimbursement timing that forced her nonprofit to use reserves while waiting for an executive contract in late 2025.
OVSJG witnesses acknowledged reimbursement timing challenges during last year's hiring and spending freeze and said improvements and a newly staffed grants team are helping reduce those delays; the committee requested specific timelines on reimbursements to assess grantee vulnerability.
