Washington, DC – As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law (CAL), Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today held a hearing to examine the growing casework demands of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). 

 

During the hearing, Congressman Cohen heard testimony from Mr. Harrison McIver III, the Executive Director/CEO of Memphis Area Legal Services, Inc. (MALS).

“The Memphis Area Legal Services handled nearly 5600 cases in 2008.  But with the downturn in the economy, and the resulting increased requests for legal representation, the agency has handled over 4500 cases through the first 6 months this year alone, and will easily exceed the number of cases it handled in 2008,” Congressman Cohen said. “I commend Executive Director McIver and his committed staff for all their hard work, and I know that my colleagues on the CAL Subcommittee appreciate their in-the-trenches assessment of how LSC grants are making a difference. I am committed to doing everything that I can to make sure that all those who walk through MALS doors are able to get the assistance they need.”

Established by Congress in 1974, LSC is a private, non-profit corporation which promotes equal access to justice under the law by providing grants to programs for civil legal assistance to those living at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty guideline.

LSC helps displaced persons attempting to obtain federal emergency assistance following hurricanes or floods, and victims of predatory lending practices.   The programs have provided vital legal assistance to families and individuals to obtain public benefits and to fend off foreclosures of their homes.

Congressman Cohen is a cosponsor of the Civil Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would authorize an increase in funding for LSC, strengthen LSC’s internal controls and corporate governance, and allow LSC-funded programs to utilize non-federal funds more efficiently.  The bill is pending before the House Judiciary Committee.


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Steven Broderick
Communications Director
Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9)
1005 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Direct: 202-226-7916
Main: 202-225-3265
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