FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, D.C, March 19, 2022 -- The Joint National Committee for Languages and the National Council for Languages and International Studies (JNCL-NCLIS) mourns the loss of Congressman Don Young (R-AK), language education champion and founding Co-Chair of the America's Languages Caucus.
Congressman Young's leadership and bipartisan partnership with Congressman David Price (D-NC) not only led to the founding and rapid growth of the America's Languages Caucus, but also established the creation and funding of the World Language Advancement and Readiness Grants program in the Department of Defense.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of Congressman Young and Congressman Price, the World Language Advancement and Readiness Grants program receives millions of dollars each year to ensure students in military or defense affiliated schools gain access to innovative world language programs to prepare them to address our nation's educational, defense, intelligence, diplomatic and economic prospects.
“I believe very strongly as a former teacher, language is a key to getting along with people, understanding people, understanding their culture, understanding the future”, said Congressman Don Young during a congressional briefing addressing the national language educator shortage. “I believe in language, reading, and getting together is what we have to communicate and make our human race a lot better."
On behalf of the 300,000+ language educators and professionals across the nation represented by JNCL-NCLIS, we offer our sincere condolences to Congressman Young's family and loved ones. His dedicated leadership and warm engagement with JNCL-NCLIS language advocates will be deeply missed.
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About JNCL-NCLIS:
Established in 1972, the Joint National Committee for Languages (JNCL) and the National Council for Languages and International Studies (NCLIS) unites a national network of leading organizations and businesses comprised of over 300,000 language professionals to advocate for equitable language learning opportunities. Our mission is to ensure that Americans have the opportunity to learn English and at least one other language. Contact: info@languagepolicy.org
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