Legal Services Corporation Funding. (Discuss in all meetings.)

The ABA strongly supports a significant funding increase for the Legal Services Corporation. The goal for ABA Day (and beyond) is to gain or reinforce the Member's support for LSC, and to get their firm commitment to actively work on behalf of LSC funding throughout the appropriations process. Senators should be asked to sign the annual letter circulated by Senator Kennedy in support of a funding increase.

H.R. 1423/S. 825, Legal Services Benefit Act. (Discuss with Members of House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees and with other Members of Congress who support LSC-funding.)

H.R. 1423, the Legal Services Benefit Act, introduced by Reps. Pete Stark (D-CA) and Paul Ryan (R-WI), and S. 825, introduced by Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) would restore the pre-tax status for Group Legal Services Benefits. Group legal services efficiently deliver preventive legal services and provide access to the justice system for low and moderate income Americans.

Guaranteed Legal Assistance for Low-Income Military Families. (Discuss with Members of House and Senate Armed Services Committees; Judiciary Committee members may also have a special interest in this issue.)

The ABA urges Congress to amend to amend 10 USC 1044 to guarantee the delivery of legal assistance to low-income military personnel and to their dependents. Legislation has not yet been introduced. ABA Day participants should encourage Members of Congress to sponsor or co-sponsor such legislation.

Access to Counsel for Immigration Detainees. (Discuss with Members of House and Senate Appropriations Committees; certain Judiciary Committee may also have a special interest in supporting this request.)

The ABA supports increased funding for the Legal Orientation Program (LOP), a program administered by the Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. DOJ contracts with nonprofit legal services organizations to provide immigration detainees with group legal rights presentations, individual screening and, in appropriate cases, referral to pro bono counsel. U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement detains over 300,000 persons annually, including asylum-seekers, victims of human trafficking, long-time permanent residents, and parents of U.S. citizen children. The LOP facilitates noncitizens’ access to justice, improves immigration court efficiency, and saves government resources.