[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 80 (Monday, May 15, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S6699]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


            THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION

 Mr. SIMON. Mr. President, I am extremely concerned that in the 
rush to shrink the size of the Federal Government, Congress may 
eliminate or severely limit the services provided by many important 
programs. One such program, which gives low-income individuals a 
fighting chance, is the Legal Services Corporation [LSC]. Established 
by an act of Congress in 1974, the LSC provides grants to local 
agencies that in turn offer legal services to the poor. In its 20 plus 
years in existence, the LSC has provided funding for legal services to 
tens of thousands of low-income Americans in areas ranging from inner-
cities to native American reservations.
  The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois 
recently issued a resolution supporting the continued funding of the 
LSC. This resolution is significant because it comes from those who 
administer justice in our courts, and who have first-hand knowledge of 
the benefits of legal services. The resolution asserts that the LSC is 
essential to providing equal opportunities for justice for all 
Americans.
  I applaud the action taken by the justices in the Northern District 
of Illinois, and ask that the text of the resolution be printed in the 
Record.
  The resolution follows:

                               Resolution

       This court, the United States District Court for the 
     Northern District of Illinois, understands that there are 
     proposals before Congress to restrict or eliminate funding 
     for the Legal Services Corporation and to transfer to the 
     states the responsibility for providing legal assistance to 
     low-income persons and families. In Illinois, at least, the 
     likelihood that such assistance would be provided by the 
     state, given its present and prospective fiscal difficulties, 
     is remote, and the restriction or elimination of federal 
     funding would, in all probability, lead to a corresponding 
     restriction or to the elimination of legal assistance. We 
     believe such a decision would have a major adverse impact 
     upon the administration of equal justice.
       This court is aware that many low-income persons and 
     families in Illinois have no means to obtain redress except 
     through the five federally-supported legal services programs 
     in this state. The Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago 
     alone represented over 38,000 low-income persons and families 
     in 1994, primarily by counseling or by working the matter out 
     with other parties without resort to governmental agencies or 
     to the courts. These matters included resolution of landlord-
     tenant disputes, the provision of public benefits, providing 
     representation in marriage dissolution matters including 
     assisting in obtaining adequate child support, obtaining 
     orders of protection for victims of domestic violence, 
     enforcing consumer protection laws, assisting in employment 
     and housing discrimination matters, assisting working low-
     income people in obtaining unemployment insurance benefits, 
     and assisting migrant workers, the disabled and crime 
     victims. In many instances LAFC enlists the aid of private 
     attorneys, who provide services at minimal compensation. Many 
     of these matters involve enforcement of federal law, either 
     constitutional rights or, more commonly, statutes duly 
     enacted by Congress. Their enforcement requires adequate 
     representation, and that representation will not be available 
     without federally supported legal assistance.
       Also of particular concern to this court is the Federal 
     Court Prison Litigation Project, through which LAFC provides 
     necessary training and support. Private counsel, through the 
     district's trial bar, accept appointment as counsel in 
     prisoner cases without expectation of compensation. Having 
     counsel is of great benefit not only to the plaintiffs but 
     also to the defendants and the court, as that representation 
     is helpful in separating meritorious claims from non-
     meritorious claims at an earlier stage and in facilitating 
     orderly progression of the litigation. LAFC provides 
     training, consultation, research assistance and a data and 
     materials bank. We believe that few private counsel would be 
     willing to participate in that program if those services were 
     not available.
       Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the United States 
     District Court for the Northern District of Illinois supports 
     the continuation of the federally funded legal services 
     program as essential to the administration of equal 
     justice.
     

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