[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 117 (Thursday, July 24, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1223]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 24, 2014

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is the 40th anniversary of the 
establishment of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), which helps 
provide civil legal aid to low-income Americans who otherwise would be 
unable to afford legal representation. LSC was created in 1974 through 
a bipartisan effort by Republicans and Democrats in Congress and was 
signed into law by President Nixon.
  Today, LSC provides funding to 134 local legal aid programs, which 
operate nearly 800 offices in every congressional district around the 
country. Funding provided through LSC supports low-income Americans, 
including women seeking protection from abuse, mothers trying to obtain 
child support, families facing unlawful evictions or foreclosures that 
could leave them homeless, veterans seeking benefits duly earned and 
seniors defending against consumer scams, among other cases. LSC-funded 
attorneys help parents obtain and keep custody of their children, 
assist parents in enforcing child support payments and help women who 
are victims of domestic violence. In fact, three out of four legal aid 
clients are women, and legal aid programs identify domestic violence as 
one of their top priorities.
  As chairman of the House Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations 
subcommittee from 2001-2006 and again since 2011, I have worked closely 
with the LSC leadership to support these programs and ensure that 
funding is spent efficiently and appropriately. I have also worked with 
my colleagues in Congress and LSC leadership to mitigate partisan 
issues that undermine support for this program. Through these efforts, 
we have been able to ensure that LSC funding is focused on supporting 
legitimate civil legal aid needs by those Americans who need it most.
  Over the past several years, I have encouraged LSC to do more to 
engage law firms and bar associations to expand pro bono services in 
coordination with the corporation. In response, the LSC board created a 
Pro Bono Task Force in 2011 and produced a comprehensive report with 
innovative ideas to bolster national pro bono efforts. I want to credit 
LSC Board Chairman John Levi and LSC President Jim Sandman for their 
leadership on this project, which has the potential to further extend 
LSC's support for low-income Americans.
  Forty years after its creation, the LSC fills a critical gap by 
providing low-income Americans with legal assistance they wouldn't 
otherwise have access to. I want to commend the Legal Services 
Corporation and the attorneys working in our communities for the work 
they do every day on behalf of Americans who need qualified counsel.

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