[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 117 (Thursday, July 24, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1226]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CELEBRATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION

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                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 24, 2014

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to honor and congratulate the 
Legal Services Corporation (LSC) as they celebrate their 40th 
anniversary this Friday, July 25th.
  In 1974, Congress established LSC to better ensure equal access to 
justice under the law. LSC was created with bipartisan support, and the 
authorizing legislation was signed into law by President Nixon. The 
goal of the program from the outset has been to ensure access to civil 
legal assistance to those who are otherwise unable to afford it. LSC 
does this by distributing federal funding to local legal aid providers 
who in turn use the funding to address the needs of our constituents. 
Today, the LSC distributes funding to 134 local providers who have 
offices in every congressional district in our nation, as well as in 
the U.S. territories.
  The programs make a vital difference in the lives of millions of 
ordinary Americans each year. Lawyers funded by LSC help families 
facing unlawful evictions, women seeking protection from abuse, 
veterans seeking benefits, seniors defending against consumer scams, 
and mothers seeking child support. In my home town of New York City, 
LSC funding also provided crucial assistance to low-income individuals 
who faced problems as a result of Superstorm Sandy and had nowhere else 
to turn.
  For all the good work that LSC-funded programs do, there is still 
more to be done. LSC funded entities are forced to turn away 50 percent 
of eligible individuals seeking assistance. This gap, known as the 
justice gap, shows that we have come a long way, but we must do more to 
ensure there is adequate funding for LSC and the programs that they 
serve. As a Member of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to 
fight to increase funding for this worthy program
  Mr. Speaker, justice should not be limited only to those who can 
afford it. Equal access to our justice system is at the essence of our 
democracy. Our court system should allow everyone who has a legitimate 
grievance to pursue justice with the best possible representation. For 
the past 40 years, LSC and all of its grantees have helped ensure that 
our nation lives up to these ideals. I hope my colleagues will join me 
in congratulating LSC for their good work over the past 40 years.

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