Hearing of the House Appropriations Committee - Commerce Justice Science Appropriations Act

Hearing

Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) advocated for increased funding for legal services for low-income Americans within the FY14 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Act.

"The promise of justice for all is an empty one without access to legal assistance. The Legal Services Corporation plays a vital role in fulfilling one of those core responsibilities -- making sure all Americans, regardless of income, have proper representation in court," said Rep. Quigley during consideration of the legislation. "Funding this program at a higher level is not only the right thing to do, but it saves us money in the long run. Legal aid in Illinois produces almost a two to one return on investment and economic benefits, saving the taxpayers money on other government services and helping the court system function more efficiently."

Rep. Quigley is a former Cook County public defender and has consistently worked to protect vital services for vulnerable communities. Last month, he helped secure an additional $3 million for the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program. Earlier this year he fought to expand the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to include protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT), immigrant, and tribal victims of violent crime.

TRANSCRIPT

I appreciate the chairman's discussions about legal services because of their vital interests. One of the problems with sequestration is we're abdicating our responsibility, and while we can't do this because of certain realities, well we created those realities, and we can change them. So, if we had an opportunity to deal with a big balanced bipartisan bill, this in my mind would be part of it.

One of the founding principles of our republic is equal justice under the law. The promise of justice for all is an empty one without access to legal assistance. The Legal Services Corporation plays a vital role in fulfilling one of those core responsibilities -- making sure all Americans, regardless of income, have proper representation in court.

Unlike in criminal matters, no right to counsel exists in civil cases, which leaves many low-income Americans on their own to navigate complicated legal systems. Studies consistently show that in contested matters in court involving fundamental issues like housing, education and family law, the outcome of the case often turns on whether one has legal representation. The Legal Services Corporation provides that critical funding for a network of legal aid organizations around the country.

Each of our districts are affected by this funding, including three legal aid organizations in Illinois. The size of the population eligible for legal assistance has increased dramatically since 2007. The US Census bureau's 2011 statistics on poverty show that nearly one in five Americans -- 60 million Americans -- qualified for civil legal assistance.

As a result, legal aid programs across the country are struggling to keep up with this overwhelming demand. Recent studies indicate that legal aid offices turn away fifty percent or more of those seeking help. The legal community is already doing its part, providing more than two million hours of pro bono service and donating more than $12 million per year to support pro bono and legal aid organizations in Illinois alone. But they cannot do this alone.

My amendment would increase the funding for legal services to the President's requested level of $430 million in order to meet the demand. Mr. Chairman, funding this program at a higher level is not only the right thing to do, but it saves us money in the long run. Legal aid in Illinois produces almost a two to one return on investment and economic benefits, saving the taxpayers money on other government services and helping the court system function more efficiently.

Source