[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 1, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E639]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO DAVID LASH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. HENRY A. WAXMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 1, 2003

  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank and pay tribute to 
David Lash, the outgoing Executive Director of Bet Tzedek, The House of 
Justice in Los Angeles. David has made tremendous contributions to this 
vital organization and has been an extraordinary Executive Director 
these past nine years.
  Bet Tzedek is a non-profit organization which offers free legal 
services to the poor, elderly, consumers, tenants, employees, veterans 
and disabled residents of Los Angeles County. It has become a true 
beacon of light for thousands of individuals whose rights may have been 
violated but who can not otherwise afford the assistance of an 
attorney.
  Under David's superb supervision, Bet Tzedek has served over 10,000 
clients each year, and the results of his leadership and his commitment 
to justice are inspiring. Bet Tzedek worked with attorneys from the 
City of Los Angeles and a large law firm to sue a landlord reputed to 
be one of Los Angeles' worst slumlords. The suit settled last year with 
the landlord pledging to maintain safe living conditions at more than 
20 properties.
  David has also maintained Bet Tzedek's role as a leader in helping 
Holocaust survivors and their heirs sue European insurance carriers for 
unpaid insurance claims dating back to World War II. In addition, Bet 
Tzedek has partnered with Public Counsel in creating a new kinship care 
legal program. This program facilitates the adoption of children by 
their grandparents when the parents are unable to provide care.
  David significantly strengthened Bet Tzedek by expanding its 54-
person staff, increasing fundraising revenue by over 60 percent and 
helping Bet Tzedek reach a more diverse group of volunteers and staff. 
David introduced and expanded a number of innovative programs during 
his tenure, including the Caregiver Advocacy Project, the Nursing Home 
Advocacy Project and the Employment Rights Project.
  David has been a voice for the under-represented, the unrepresented 
and the unheard in Los Angeles. He has ably forged alliances within the 
public interest community and coordinated his efforts with talented 
staff at many of Los Angeles' large private law firms. Under his 
direction, thousands of individual rights have been restored and 
preserved.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking David Lash for his 
remarkable contributions and distinguished record of accomplishments. 
Please also join in wishing him all the best in his new position at 
O'Melveny and Myers, where he will resume his career as a full-time 
litigator and serve as the firm's Managing Counsel for pro-bono 
activities for the State of California.




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