[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13213]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 25, 2014

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, July 25, 2014 marks the 40th anniversary of 
the establishment of the Legal Services Corporation, a private, 
nonprofit corporation tasked with ensuring equal justice for all 
Americans who are unable to afford legal representation. The creation 
of LSC was long-championed by President Richard Nixon who ultimately 
signed its enabling legislation on July 25, 1974 with bipartisan 
support from the Congress. Federally-funded, LSC awards grants to 134 
local legal aid programs, with nearly 800 offices serving every 
congressional district and the U.S. territories.
  LSC-funded legal aid programs provide vital civil legal assistance to 
the needy, including women seeking protection from domestic 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.
  Unfortunately, because of a decrease in its federal funding over the 
last several Congresses, LSC-funded programs have had to turn away more 
than 50 percent of eligible clients seeking assistance. 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. We should do more to support this vital program and protect 
our fellow Americans.
  As President Nixon said in support of his legislation creating LSC, 
``[W]e must provide a mechanism to overcome economic barriers to 
adequate legal assistance.'' On this 40th anniversary of the Legal 
Services Corporation, we should recommit ourselves to the founding 
principle and continue to ensure that LSC can fulfill its critical 
mission through sufficient funding.
  I commend LSC and its grantee programs for the vital work they do 
every day on behalf of Americans who need qualified counsel and for 
continuing its mission of equal justice for all.

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