Bill Overview
Title: TRANSLATE Act
Description: This bill directs the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to develop a plan to ensure that TSA material disseminated in major airports is better understood by people accessing such airports, including by foreign language speakers and people with vision or hearing impairments. In developing a plan, the TSA must take into consideration data regarding international enplanement and local populations surrounding major airports. The Government Accountability Office must also review the implementation of the plan.
Sponsors: Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
Target Audience
Population: People accessing major airports, including foreign language speakers and people with vision or hearing impairments
Estimated Size: 15000000
- The bill focuses on improving the understanding of TSA material in major airports for foreign language speakers.
- This includes not only international travelers but also non-English speaking locals utilizing these airports.
- It also targets individuals with vision or hearing impairments who may have difficulty accessing current TSA materials.
- Major airports worldwide are international hubs, servicing diverse populations from numerous linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
- Enhanced communication will primarily benefit travelers who may face language barriers, enabling smoother navigation through airport security procedures.
Reasoning
- The population targeted by the TRANSLATE Act includes foreign travelers, non-English speakers residing in local communities surrounding major airports, and individuals with vision or hearing impairments.
- The budget constraints suggest that not all airports may receive full benefits immediately, thus the impact may vary based on regional prioritization and local needs.
- The commonness of different demographics (like non-English speakers and people with impairments) within the population accessing these airports will influence how representative and widespread the policy impact is.
Simulated Interviews
Store Manager (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's often challenging to find information in Spanish at the airport. I believe having more multilingual support can really help people like me who still rely on Spanish for many things.
- I think it will reduce stress during travel, especially for my parents who only speak Spanish.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Musician (New York, NY)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I usually don't face issues, but I have seen many who struggle with the language at airports. It's a good step to make travel simpler for others.
- More languages would undoubtedly make the airports more welcoming.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Software Developer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's often a relief when I can find information in Mandarin for my parents when they visit. It means less work for me translating.
- I support this policy as it eases stress on families traveling.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Financial Analyst (Miami, FL)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Even though I speak English, my parents find it difficult when traveling due to lack of information in Haitian Creole.
- This plan could bring a bit of peace to family travel planning.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired (Houston, TX)
Age: 70 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Navigating airports can be overwhelming with my vision condition. Clearer and accessible information would help.
- I am hopeful this initiative will allow me to travel without anxiety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Civil Engineer (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With my frequent travels, I notice the lack of multilingual support for many travelers in the US compared to other countries.
- This policy could enhance travel efficiency and comfort.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Teacher (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Traveling has always been a significant challenge. This initiative could mean much less dependence on others when navigating airports.
- I look forward to a day when I can feel independent traveling.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
College Student (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 23 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Captions and clear instructions are very useful for me. There's so much room to improve for the hearing impaired.
- Such a change would help me and others travel without relying on others for help constantly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Freelance Graphic Designer (Dallas, TX)
Age: 37 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Often, languages like French are overlooked in US airports compared to other European languages. This policy could change that, making airports more inclusive.
- It's good to see the US make strides for a wider range of travelers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Hospitality Manager (Orlando, FL)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a struggle to find detailed auditory announcements accommodating hearing aids. I think it's great to incorporate this into TSA materials.
- This policy would definitely make airports more navigable for those of us with hearing challenges.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $8000000)
Year 2: $5200000 (Low: $3100000, High: $8300000)
Year 3: $5408000 (Low: $3200000, High: $8600000)
Year 5: $5830500 (Low: $3400000, High: $9200000)
Year 10: $6546612 (Low: $3700000, High: $10200000)
Year 100: $13000000 (Low: $7400000, High: $20400000)
Key Considerations
- The initial rollout will require coordination between TSA, airport authorities, and local government agencies.
- Continual updates may be needed to reflect changes in traveler demographics and emerging assistive technologies.
- Stakeholder engagement, such as input from user groups and advocacy organizations for the disabled, will be crucial.
- Potential public-private partnerships could help fund and further customize the program to suit each airport's unique needs.