Castro, Gallagher, Baldwin Introduce Open Translation Center Act to Strengthen Translations of Open-Source Materials from China, Russia, and Other Nations of Strategic Interest

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Congressman Mike Gallagher (WI-08), the chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, and Senator Tammy Baldwin (WI) introduced the Open Translation Center Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill to establish a federally funded research center that will be charged with creating publicly-accessible translations of open-source materials (including speeches from government officials, official proclamations, and other documents) from China, Russia, and other nations of strategic interest to the United States. The center would also be responsible for training and developing exceptional analysts and linguists with designated specialties.

“The United States can’t afford to be in a position where our competitors know more about us than we know about them,” said Congressman Castro. “For generations, Congress supported open-source translation programs that helped Americans understand both our allies and our adversaries. As our investment in those programs have declined, countries like China and Russia have accelerated their own – putting us at a strategic disadvantage. The Open Translation Center will be an invaluable resource for American journalists, academics, and policymakers and will promote a 21^st-century understanding of the global challenges and opportunities that we face.”

“Our adversaries, namely the Chinese Communist Party, continue to grow increasingly aggressive across the world-stage. This poses a serious threat to American national security and in order to understand and combat these threats, it is imperative to be able to read and understand our adversaries’ primary sources,” said Congressman Gallagher. “Establishing an Open Translation and Analysis Center is an important, bipartisan step we can take in Congress to better understand and better defend the free world.”

“To better understand threats from countries like China and Russia, compete on the world stage, and keep our families safe, we need accurate, up-to-date information about our competitors and adversaries. And that starts with reading, translating, and understanding exactly what they are writing and saying,” said Senator Baldwin. “I am proud to join with my Republican and Democratic colleagues on this effort to increase transparency, strengthen our national security, and keep families and our economy safe.”  

As specified in the legislation introduced today, the mission and purpose of the Open Translation Center would be as follows:

1. To translate, analyze, and disseminate foreign government and other documents from designated countries for the purposes of enhancing the understanding of such countries’ governments, governing organizations, militaries, economies, and cultures.

2. To provide proper context and explanations of translated foreign-language material to enhance the ability of consumers to understand the meaning and significance of such translated material.

3. To strive to make as much translated foreign-language material publicly available as possible, and to provide summaries of important foreign-language material that cannot be made public.

4. To train and develop exceptional analysts and linguists with specialization regarding designated countries.

To execute this mission, the OTC would:

1. Translate documents and information from designated countries into English.

2. Provide – on a publicly accessible website – to the greatest extent possible, analyses, summaries, and important context for material translated and other untranslated material, including:

• • Biographical sketches and information on important leaders
  • Descriptions and background on political processes, important bodies, companies, economic systems, and military weapons systems and doctrines
  • Definitions and analysis of important concepts and phrases
  • Information regarding changes over time in the policies and intentions of governments, militaries, and governing organizations
  • Other issues that are of significance for understanding designated countries

For the full bill text, click here.

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