[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 18, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1338]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LEGAL SERVICES OF NORTHWEST NEW 
                                 JERSEY

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 18, 2013

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Legal 
Services of Northwest Jersey, serving five counties of northwest New 
Jersey, which is celebrating its 10th Anniversary.
  As a non-profit law firm, the Legal Services of Northwest Jersey 
seeks to provide free legal assistance on matters affecting essential 
needs of low-income and other vulnerable people in our community. In 
the past ten years, Legal Services of New Jersey has provided services 
for 42,873 low-income constituents in the area. Their services seek to 
help individuals maintain safe and affordable housing, gain suitable 
incomes, access quality health care and secure family stability. The 
organization has attorneys and administrators working in Hunterdon, 
Morris, Somerset, Sussex and Warren counties.
  Legal Services of Northwest Jersey is dedicated to the cause of equal 
justice and each year prioritizes their work and mission to serve 
different needs of the low-income community. Recently, the organization 
has focused on disaster legal assistance, access to health care and 
assistance for those affected by HIV/AIDS. In these areas, the 
organization has helped those affected by Superstorm Sandy as well as 
those seeking legal advice on accessing benefits of the Affordable Care 
Act and Medicare/Medicaid. In order to provide these services, as a 
public-private partnership, the Legal Services of Northwest Jersey is 
funded by federal, state and county governments. Most notably, the U.S. 
Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women, the Merck 
Foundation and the County Bar Associations provide support for the 
organization. In addition, the organization received a $20,000 grant 
from the State of New Jersey in October 2012, specifically to provide 
legal access to those constituents affected by HIV/AIDS.
  To highlight one of their own, William F. Matrician, Esq., a veteran, 
has served as an attorney with the Legal Aid Society of Morris County 
since 1971. He was instrumental in helping the organization grow into 
the well-recognized and respected non-profit law firm that it is today. 
His colleague, Joel A. Murphy, Esq., describes Bill as ``a great 
attorney with a very big heart''. Bill's character and dedicated 
service to those less-fortunate in his community is indicative of all 
those who devote their work and time to the Legal Services of Northwest 
Jersey's mission.
  In recent news, the Legal Services of Northwest Jersey has made 
available its MENTOR (Meeting Education Needs Through Representation) 
program to low-income constituents. The Daily Record, highlighted and 
explained the mission of the program that seeks to meet the education 
needs of its client families through representation over a broad range 
of educational areas, including special education, school attendance 
and registration, homelessness, educational access and school 
disciplinary proceedings. Through the MENTOR and similar programs, the 
Legal Services of Northwest Jersey provides constituents with help in 
obtaining their basic rights as citizens, in this case, access to a 
quality education.
  Recently, the Legal Services of Northwest Jersey has struggled to 
provide the civil legal services needed by their constituents due to 
fewer resources. Despite such obstacles, the organization has continued 
to provide the most comprehensive and helpful legal advice it can to 
low-income constituents of northwest New Jersey.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
the Legal Services of Northwest Jersey as they celebrate their 10th 
Anniversary.

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