Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chair, I rise today to support the Cohen amendment and urge the House to oppose the excessive cuts to the nonprofit and independent Legal Services Corporation.

Legal Services has a mission to ``provide equal access to the system of justice'' in America. It is the most important provider of civil legal aid for Americans who cannot afford high-priced legal counsel. In fact, legal representation often is out of reach for many American families. This amendment will make the lives of millions of American families even more challenging. Plus, if you take away legal counsel, you also complicate the resolution of disputes for businesses and others as well. You all know Legal Services is not a Washington-based bureaucratic program. To the contrary, there are legal aid attorneys and professionals in every State, with more than 800 offices. Legal Services' moneys are put to work back home across America outside of Washington.

In my Tampa Bay community, Bay Area Legal Services helps to keep the wheels of justice turning for everyone. What type of legal help? Foreclosure, consumer assistance, domestic violence. Many of the domestic violence victims are simply trying to keep their children safe and their families together. Others include veterans returning from war, families with housing issues, those that were hit hard by natural disasters and are dealing with the aftermath, and families involved in child custody disputes. I have seen these advocates in action. Many Members of Congress actually refer cases to Legal Services groups in our area. They help families navigate the justice system. They also boost the economy through avoided costs and swift resolution of disputes.

I would also like to remind my colleagues that Legal Services has already undergone significant cuts over the past few years. Funding for Legal Services was $420 million in fiscal year 2010. It was cut--especially after sequestration in 2013--and any further cuts will do severe damage. This amendment jeopardizes access to justice and the rule of law.

This year's bill is a destructive step backwards which threatens these vital community services by slashing funding by $75 million. This is the lowest level of funding since FY 1999. These devastating cuts will terminate over 1,000 full time staff including 430 attorney positions. Under these draconian cuts, Legal services offices across the country will be forced to close 25 offices, complete 150,000 fewer cases, and serve 350,000 fewer people.

In exacting such severe cuts, your advice to families is, ``You can't get help''. ``You can't avoid a foreclosure''. ``You can't escape an abusive relationship or defend yourself against consumer scams''.

We cannot allow hundreds of thousands of American veterans, elderly victims of foreclosure, and women and children desperate to escape domestic violence to be denied assistance.

So I strongly urge a ``yes'' vote on the Cohen amendment.

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