Rep. De La Cruz applauds House passage of SPEAK Act

Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) celebrated the House passage Tuesday (September 17th) of the Supporting Patient Education and Knowledge (SPEAK) Act, a bipartisan bill she co-sponsored alongside Congresswoman Michelle Steel (CA-45).

The SPEAK Act will establish a task force to develop recommendations to improve language access in health care for Americans with limited English proficiency (LEP), removing barriers to better health outcomes. This collaborative effort will focus on enhancing access to telehealth services, patient portals, and other health information technology, ensuring that LEP individuals receive the same quality of care as their English-speaking counterparts.

“In South Texas, we know how language barriers can hinder access to critical health services,” said Rep. De La Cruz. “By ensuring that all Americans—regardless of their language—can communicate effectively with their healthcare providers, we are fostering greater health access and improving outcomes for millions of families.”