Alan Grayson: “This amendment seeks to raise by 50 percent the cap on funding for the Limited English Proficiency initiative under the…”

“This amendment seeks to raise by 50 percent the cap on funding for the Limited English Proficiency initiative under the Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity section of this bill, an amount more in keeping with the historical levels on spending for this initiative. This amendment passed by voice vote last year, and it is my hope that it will do so again this year. The Limited English Proficiency initiative within HUD is vital for ensuring that individuals who are not proficient in English are aware of their rights, are able to understand the terms of leases and other housing-related documents, and are able to receive important announcements that affect the health and safety of their households. {time} 2100 Additionally, this initiative educates HUD-assisted housing providers about their responsibilities under Federal law and HUD regulations to ensure that housing programs and activities are fully accessible to all, regardless of national origin or English proficiency. Historically, the Limited English Proficiency initiative within HUD has been funded at $500,000. In the first year of its existence, 2008, it received $380,000. After that, from 2009 through 2011, it received $500,000. Then, with the change in leadership in this House, funding has slipped to $300,000 in recent years. Last year, however, this House--both Democrats and Republicans--did the right thing.…”