[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 117 (Thursday, July 24, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4897-S4899]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              LEGAL SERVICE CORPORATION'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. HARKIN. Madam President, Friday, July 25, marks the 40th 
anniversary of the Legal Services Corporation, LSC. In 1974, Congress--
with bipartisan support, including that of President Nixon--established 
LSC to be a major source of funding for civil legal aid in this 
country. LSC is a private, nonprofit corporation, funded by Congress, 
with the mission to ensure equal access to justice under law for all 
Americans by providing civil legal assistance to those who otherwise 
would be unable to afford it. LSC distributes nearly 94 percent of its 
annual Federal appropriations to 134 local legal aid programs, with 
nearly 800 offices serving every congressional district and U.S. 
territories.
  LSC-funded legal aid programs make a crucial difference to millions 
of Americans by assisting with the most basic civil legal needs, such 
as addressing matters involving safety, subsistence, and family 
stability. These low-income Americans are 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, seniors defending against consumer scams, 
and individuals who have lost their jobs and need help in applying for 
unemployment compensation and other benefits.

[[Page S4898]]

  It is LSC-funded attorneys who 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.
  I know firsthand the important work of the Legal Services 
Corporation. Before I was elected to Congress, I worked as a legal aid 
attorney in Polk County, IA. I experienced the challenges--and also the 
rewards--of representing people who otherwise would not have the legal 
assistance they deserve. And I developed a deep appreciation for the 
role that legal aid attorneys play within our system of justice.
  Investing in civil legal aid helps ensure that we have equal justice 
under the law. That is a fundamental American value, and it is 
reflected both in the first line of our Constitution and in the closing 
words of our Pledge of Allegiance. As former Justice Lewis Powell said: 
``Equal justice under law is not merely a caption on the facade of the 
Supreme Court building. It is perhaps the most inspiring ideal of our 
society . . . it is fundamental that justice should be the same, in 
substance and availability, without regard to economic status.''
  Given the vital role played by LSC-funded attorneys, it is disturbing 
to note that more than 50 percent of eligible clients who seek 
assistance continue to be turned away because of lack of LSC program 
resources. With the growing number of Americans eligible for services 
and increased demand for legal services, the need for legal aid 
attorneys has never been greater. On this anniversary, I salute the 
Legal Services Corporation and LSC-funded attorneys for the vital work 
they do every day on behalf of Americans who need qualified counsel. 
Every day that a legal aid attorney protects the safety, security and 
health of our most vulnerable citizens, they bring this Nation closer 
to living up to its commitment to equal justice for all.
  Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I wish to recognize the 40th 
anniversary of the Legal Services Corporation, LSC, which falls on 
Friday, July 25.
  Established with bipartisan support in 1974, LSC is a private, 
nonprofit corporation funded by Congress that aims to provide access to 
civil legal assistance to Americans who would otherwise be unable to 
afford it. LSC is a major source of funding for civil legal aid in this 
country and distributes over 90 percent of its annual Federal 
appropriation to over 130 local legal aid programs and close to 800 
offices across every congressional district and territory.
  Millions of Americans rely upon LSC-funded programs each year for 
help with their most basic civil legal needs. Every day, LSC-funded 
programs help low-income individuals and families fight illegal 
evictions, safeguard their financial health, and secure their veterans 
benefits. In my home State of Washington, LSC-backed programs have been 
helping survivors of the Oso mudslide get back up on their feet and 
rebuild their lives.
  LSC-funded services are especially important for women across the 
country. Over 70 percent of legal aid clients are women and one-third 
of LSC-eligible cases involve family law issues such as domestic abuse, 
child support, and child custody.
  Today, the need for LSC-supported programs and attorneys has never 
been greater. According to the Census Bureau, nearly one in five 
Americans qualifies for LSC-funded services. Yet recent studies show 
that due to financial constraints legal aid offices are forced to turn 
away more than half of the eligible individuals coming to them for 
help. As we mark this anniversary, I applaud the efforts of LSC, the 
programs and services funded by the corporation, and ask that we commit 
ourselves to ensuring that Americans of all backgrounds have access to 
adequate legal services. LSC is essential to protecting the lives and 
liberty of the most vulnerable Americans. We are a better nation for 
its 40 years of service and advocacy on their behalf.
  Ms. LANDRIEU. Madam President, July 25, 2014, marks the 40th 
anniversary of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). With bipartisan 
support, including that of President Nixon, LSC was established in 1974 
as a private, nonprofit corporation, funded by Congress, with the 
mission to ensure equal access to justice under law for all Americans 
by providing civil legal assistance to those who otherwise would be 
unable to afford it. LSC distributes nearly 94 percent of its annual 
Federal appropriations to 134 local legal aid programs and has nearly 
800 offices that serve each of the 435 congressional districts and the 
U.S. territories.
  LSC-funded legal aid programs make a crucial difference to millions 
of Americans by assisting with the most basic civil legal needs, such 
as helping women get protection from abuse, mothers to obtain child 
support, families from unlawful evictions or foreclosures that could 
leave them homeless, veterans seeking benefits duly earned, defending 
seniors against consumer scams, and individuals who have lost their 
jobs and need help in applying for unemployment compensation and other 
benefits. In my home State, more than 25 percent of the population is 
eligible for LSC-funded legal services. The three programs funded by 
LSC served nearly 40,000 Louisianians and closed nearly 16,000 cases 
last year.
  On this 40th anniversary, I congratulate and commend the Legal 
Services Corporation for the vital work they do every day on behalf of 
Americans who need qualified counsel. With the growing number of 
Americans eligible for services and increased demand for legal 
services, the need for legal aid attorneys has never been greater. 
Every day that a legal aid attorney protects the safety, security, and 
health of our most vulnerable citizens, they bring this Nation closer 
to living up to its commitment to equal justice for all.
  Mr. KING. Madam President, Friday, July 25, marks the 40th 
anniversary of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). In 1974, 
Congress--with bipartisan support, including that of President Nixon--
established LSC to be a major source of funding for civil legal aid in 
this country. LSC is a private, nonprofit corporation, funded by 
Congress, with the mission to ensure equal access to justice under law 
for all Americans by providing civil legal assistance to those who 
otherwise would be unable to afford it. LSC distributes nearly 94 
percent of its annual Federal appropriations to 134 local legal aid 
programs, with nearly 800 offices serving every congressional district 
and U.S. territories.
  LSC-funded legal aid programs make a crucial difference to millions 
of Americans by assisting with the most basic civil legal needs, such 
as addressing matters involving safety, subsistence, and family 
stability. These low-income Americans are 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, seniors defending against consumer scams, 
and individuals who have lost their jobs and need help in applying for 
unemployment compensation and other benefits.
  It is LSC-funded attorneys who 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. LSC-funded attorneys 
provide critical legal services that would otherwise be unavailable.
  In fact, I began my career as one of these attorneys. Beginning in 
1969, I worked in Skowhegan, ME for a legal services provider called 
Pine Tree Legal Assistance. Although my time predated LSC, today Pine 
Tree is funded by LSC and continues to provide high-quality legal 
services to those in most need. I learned firsthand during this period 
that the work of LSC attorneys is a critical element of making real the 
promise of our country to our disadvantaged and disenfranchised 
citizens.
  Given the vital role played by LSC-funded attorneys, we need to do 
better than turn away more than 50 percent of eligible clients who seek 
assistance because of lack of LSC program resources. With the growing 
number of Americans eligible for services and increased demand for 
legal services, the need for legal aid attorneys has never been 
greater. On this anniversary, I salute the Legal Services Corporation

[[Page S4899]]

and LSC-funded attorneys for the vital work they do every day on behalf 
of Americans who need qualified counsel. Every day that a legal aid 
attorney protects the safety, security, and health of our most 
vulnerable citizens, they bring this Nation closer to living up to its 
commitment--chiseled in stone above the entrance to the Supreme Court 
building here in Washington, DC--``Equal Justice Under Law.''

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