The Joint National Committee for Languages has announced Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-California 20) as the new House co-chair of the America’s Languages Caucus.
The America’s Languages Caucus was established in 2019 by Representative Price (D-North Carolina 4) and Representative Young (R-Alaska) as a bipartisan effort to support and enhance foreign language competence and international education among students and professionals across the US. Congressman Panetta has been a member of the caucus since its inaugural year and is a longstanding supporter of language education. His work to bolster funding and access to language education includes co-sponsoring the World Language Readiness and Advancement Act, which was enacted in 2019, and sponsoring the Defense Language Improvement Act, which was enacted in 2021. “It’s an honor to take over as a co-chair of the America’s Languages Caucus in the US Congress. I hope to build upon the solid foundation that was laid by the caucus’s founders, Rep. Price and the late Rep. Don Young,” said Representative Panetta. “Language skills are more and more critical these days to compete in our interconnected world. That’s why I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress as well as the Joint National Committee for Languages and National Council for Languages and International Studies so that together we can support and expand language programs to empower the next generation of multilingual leaders in the United States.”
“On behalf of the Board of Directors and our entire nationwide team of advocates, I want to express how thrilled we are to have Congressman Panetta stepping into this leadership role to move language education forward,” said Amanda Seewald, JNCL-NCLIS president. “Representative Panetta understands the need to have a multilingual citizenry prepared to address global issues and to grow equitable language learning opportunities for all learners. Both of these are the central goals of JNCL-NCLIS. With deep gratitude to Congressman Price and Congressman Young, JNCL-NCLIS is ready to take the next important steps to ensure that language education in the US grows to meet the needs of our world.”
The now bipartisan, bicameral caucus is made up of 32 members of Congress. The Senate arm is co-chaired by Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia). The caucus’s Republican co-chair joining Congressman Panetta following Congressman Price’s retirement will be announced in the coming weeks.
