OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Legal Aid--Hon. Danny K. Davis

Date: June 29, 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Judicial Branch

LEGAL AID -- HON. DANNY K. DAVIS (Extensions of Remarks - June 29, 2006)

HON. DANNY K. DAVIS
OF ILLINOIS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, June 29, 2006

* Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God with liberty and justice for all. Justice for all--yet every year when this appropriation comes up we have to debate funding for Legal Services.

* Mr. Speaker, I rise to remind this chamber about the vital and indispensable role Legal Services plays in providing access to our civil justice system for all people who would otherwise be financially incapable of seeking justice in our courts of law.

* Mr. Speaker, we need to make a decision right now about what kind of government we want to be. We can either decide to ensure justice for all Americans or we can have justice for all Americans with thick wallets. We can honor all of the men and women who have sacrificed corner offices and 6-digit paychecks to work at Legal Services offices, like the one down the hall from my Chicago office, or we can turn our back on them.

* I know funding is tight. I know there is a war to pay for and hundreds of other worthy causes to fund. The money pot is only so big. But this is where we need to make our decision. We promise liberty and justice to all, not liberty and justice to all who have the resources to pay for it. We are talking about the most basic representation to those Americans who have nowhere else to turn to seek justice.

* When we are serious about improving race relations, relationships between law enforcement and communities, when we are serious about reducing racial profiling on our streets and roadways, in our airports and in our courtrooms, when we are serious about the real pursuit of justice for all of America, we will secure the resources necessary so that everybody will have an opportunity to bridge the gap between those who have and those who have not.

* We must provide access to the judicial system for every single person who seeks it.

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