[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 87 (Thursday, June 29, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               LEGAL AID

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 29, 2006

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I pledge allegiance to the flag 
of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it 
stands, one nation under God with liberty and justice for all. Justice 
for all--yet every year when this appropriation comes up we have to 
debate funding for Legal Services.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to remind this chamber about the vital and 
indispensable role Legal Services plays in providing access to our 
civil justice system for all people who would otherwise be financially 
incapable of seeking justice in our courts of law.
  Mr. Speaker, we need to make a decision right now about what kind of 
government we want to be. We can either decide to ensure justice for 
all Americans or we can have justice for all Americans with thick 
wallets. We can honor all of the men and women who have sacrificed 
corner offices and 6-digit paychecks to work at Legal Services offices, 
like the one down the hall from my Chicago office, or we can turn our 
back on them.
  I know funding is tight. I know there is a war to pay for and 
hundreds of other worthy causes to fund. The money pot is only so big. 
But this is where we need to make our decision. We promise liberty and 
justice to all, not liberty and justice to all who have the resources 
to pay for it. We are talking about the most basic representation to 
those Americans who have nowhere else to turn to seek justice.
  When we are serious about improving race relations, relationships 
between law enforcement and communities, when we are serious about 
reducing racial profiling on our streets and roadways, in our airports 
and in our courtrooms, when we are serious about the real pursuit of 
justice for all of America, we will secure the resources necessary so 
that everybody will have an opportunity to bridge the gap between those 
who have and those who have not.
  We must provide access to the judicial system for every single person 
who seeks it.

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