WASHINGTON – On Thursday [7/29/10], U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) will hold a hearing titled Closing the Language Gap: Improving the Federal Government’s Foreign Language Capabilities to examine the federal government’s needs for personnel proficient in foreign languages.
Changing threats to U.S. national security, the increasing globalization of the U.S. economy, and immigration to the U.S. have greatly increased federal agencies’ needs for personnel proficient in foreign languages. Foreign language shortfalls may harm agency operations, potentially hindering U.S. military, law enforcement, intelligence, counterterrorism, and diplomatic efforts. Federal agencies are now working to identify the demand, supply, capacity, and future needs for skills in languages other than English in the federal government in order to improve foreign language capabilities.
The hearing will be webcast live at: hsgac.senate.gov
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia.
Closing the Language Gap: Improving the Federal Government’s Foreign Language Capabilities
Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 2:30 p.m., 342 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Senator Daniel K. Akaka, Chairman
WITNESSES:
Mr. David Maurer, Director, Homeland Security and Justice Team, U.S. Government Accountability Office
Mr. Jeff Neal, Chief Human Capital Officer, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Ms. Nancy Weaver, Director, Defense Language Office, U.S. Department of Defense
Hon. David Chu, Former Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness, U.S. Department of Defense
Dr. Richard Brecht, Executive Director, Center for Advanced Study of Language, University of Maryland
Dr. Daniel Davidson, President, American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS, Elected President of the Joint National Council for Languages (JNCL)
