In a pivotal meeting of the Oregon House Committee on Early Childhood and Human Services, advocates for indigenous language interpretation services made a compelling case for House Bill 2,976. The session, held on March 18, 2025, highlighted the urgent need for language justice, a fundamental human right that ensures all Oregonians can understand and be understood in critical situations.

The executive director of Pueblo Nido PDX, a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting Oregonians from Mexico, Central, and South America to interpretation services, passionately addressed the committee. She emphasized that despite the growing population of indigenous language speakers—now estimated at over 50,000—significant barriers remain. Many of these individuals live in rural areas, far from urban centers, and face challenges in accessing essential services due to a lack of qualified interpreters.

A major hurdle is the requirement for interpreters to hold credentials, which necessitate passing formal language proficiency exams. Unfortunately, these exams do not exist for many indigenous languages, leaving interpreters unable to register and serve their communities. This situation creates a "catch 22," where the absence of credentialed interpreters denies indigenous Oregonians access to vital medical care and other essential services.

In response to this pressing issue, the Oregon legislature allocated $2 million in 2023 to develop proficiency evaluations for commonly spoken indigenous languages. The initiative has made strides, with a model now in place that can be adapted for various languages. However, advocates are seeking an additional $1.5 million in the current session to further develop language evaluations and support the recruitment and retention of qualified interpreters.

The bill, which received unanimous support in the previous session, aims to ensure that individuals can access qualified interpreters during critical moments, whether in hospitals, courtrooms, or while enrolling in public benefits. As the meeting concluded, the urgency of the matter resonated, leaving committee members with a clear understanding of the need for action to support Oregon's diverse communities.