The ATA Chronicle - March/April 2023 - 11

on-site services in Oregon.
It assumes that onsite
interpreters can be
legislated separately from
remote interpreters. This
is not the case. A solution
must be found that improves
working conditions and
wages for both, not for
one at the expense of the
other. HB 2359, which was
signed into law and took
effect on July 14, 2021,
already requires health
care providers to work with
health care interpreters
from a health care
interpreter registry operated
by the OHA.
Furthermore, in its current
form, this bill will likely result
in adverse consequences for
Oregonian patients due to
the OHA's lack of funding,
insufficient language
coverage (especially among
Indigenous languages), and
lack of remote interpreting
capabilities. This will result
in probable harm instead
of ensuring meaningful
language access. If it takes
effect, it will threaten vital
language access in Indigenous
and immigrant communities.
It will also negatively affect
Respectfully,
Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo
President, American Translators Association
wages and work opportunities
for interpreters who work
remotely, which is the
majority of interpreters today.
This legislation, as
currently written, will be a
step in the wrong direction
for Oregon. It further
contributes to a problematic
existing wage difference
between on-site and remote
interpreters by prioritizing
on-site over remote.
We urge the Oregon State
Senate to carefully consider
the complex realities of
health care interpreting
and to take steps to provide
meaningful language access
effectively, which will result
in improved health outcomes
for thousands of Oregonians.
We ask that you oppose SB
584 and its amendments as
currently written. Instead,
Oregon lawmakers should
work more closely with
health care interpreters
to draft legislation that
builds upon the foundation
already laid in Oregon
for meaningful language
access for the state's most
vulnerable residents.
Do not hesitate to contact
me for more information.
Learn More about ATA's Advocacy Efforts
Educating government officials and the public about the
role of translators, interpreters, and language access in our
society is a central part of ATA's mission. These efforts are
led in part by ATA's Advocacy Committee, which works on
behalf of ATA members-and all language professionals
for that matter-to specifically tackle policy and legislative
language issues. The committee is asked to do the following:
y Monitor the activities of local, state, and national
legislative and regulatory bodies.
y Provide recommendations for responding to requests
from these bodies.
y Provide information regarding government activities to
the Board and the general membership.
y Address international regulatory issues, as appropriate.
ATA's advocacy campaigns have included supporting
interpreters seeking fair pay in Nevada, working with a
coalition to restore language access rights in the Affordable
Care Act, warning the Santa Maria City Council (California)
about the risks of unqualified interpreting services,
advising Oregon that its plan to require credentialed
interpreters is flawed, and urging the Department of Labor
to reconsider its proposed changes to the classification of
independent contractors.
Visit ATA's Advocacy and Outreach page for more on these
efforts. You can also learn about the Advocacy Committee by
listening to Episode 58 of The ATA Podcast.
www.ata-chronicle.online
American Translators Association 11
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The ATA Chronicle - March/April 2023

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