This is a print on demand edition of a hard to find publication. Executive Order (EO) 13166 directs each federal agency to improve access to federal programs and services for persons with limited English proficiency (LEP). Agencies are required to develop recipient guidance and/or an LEP plan outlining steps for ensuring that LEP persons can access federal services and programs. This report: (1) determined which agencies have completed their recipient guidance and LEP plan; (2) assessed the extent to which the selected agencies have implemented the EO, and (3) examined three selected agencies' efforts to enhance collaboration. The report selected the IRS, FEMA, and SBA for this review because of the amount and significance of their interaction with LEP persons. Charts and tables.

More than 12 million adults in the U.S. report they do not speak English well or at all. Proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding the English language appears to be linked to multiple dimensions of adult life in the U.S., including financial literacy -- the ability to make informed judgments and take effective actions regarding the current and future use and management of money. A recent Federal Act in 2009 mandated an examination of the relationship between fluency in the English language and financial literacy. This report examines the extent, if any, to which individuals with limited English proficiency are impeded in their financial literacy and conduct of financial affairs. Illustrations.

Timely updates, increased citizen engagement, and more effective marketing are just a few of the reasons transportation agencies have already started to adopt social media networking tools. Best Practices for Transportation Agency Use of Social Media offers real-world advice for planning and implementing social media from leading government practit

Does transportation affect the lives of minority, low-income, elderly, and physically disabled citizens? The answer is yes, and those effects can be profound, according to The Right to Transportation. The authors argue that transportation policies can limit access to education, jobs, and services for some individuals while undermining the economy and social cohesion of entire communities. Policies that have nurtured the U.S. highway system and let public transportation wither have also led to ghettos and social isolation. More and more communities are recognizing the problem. This book explains the strategies and policies that can address inequities in the nation's transportation and transportation planning systems so that the benefits and burdens of those systems can be shared equally across all communities. With a close examination of how transportation policies affect individuals and communities, the book is a guide to transportation fairness. It explains the demographic trends, historical events, and current policies that have shaped transportation in the U.S. and offers recommendations for moving to equity.

This book provides an overview of the federal role in surface transportation and the goals and structures of federal programs. Since federal financing for the interstate system was established in 1956, the federal role in surface transportation has expanded to include broader goals, more programs, and a variety of program structures. The nation has reached a critical juncture with its current surface transportation policies and programs. Demand has outpaced the capacity of the system, resulting in increased congestion. In addition, without significant changes in funding levels or planned spending, the Highway Trust Fund -- the major source of federal highway and transit funding - is projected to incur significant deficits in the years ahead. Exacerbating concerns about the solvency of the Highway Trust Fund is the federal government's bleak fiscal condition and outlook. As a result, other federal revenue sources may not be available to help solve the nation's current transportation challenges. Given the scope of needed transformation, it may be necessary to shift policies and programs incrementally or on a pilot basis to gain practical lessons for a coherent, sustainable, and effective national program and financing structure to best serve the nation for the 21st century.