快猫视频 on the Passing of Senator Edward M. Kennedy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, DC -- Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) will be remembered at the 快猫视频 and at civil legal aid organizations throughout the nation as a champion for equal access to justice, 快猫视频 President Helaine M. Barnett said today.
"Senator Kennedy's longtime support for 快猫视频 was invaluable and consequential for the clients and communities that are served by 快猫视频-funded legal aid attorneys every day," 快猫视频 President Barnett said. "In addition to civil legal assistance, his extraordinary career in public service focused on legislation and issues of utmost importance to the poor -- employment, health care and education."
Senator Kennedy was chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions at the time of his death. The committee oversees 快猫视频 and approves nominees for the Corporation's Board of Directors.
During congressional debates in 1973 and 1974 on the creation of 快猫视频, Senator Kennedy was a key leader, working with Senate colleagues and the White House to build a broad base of support for civil legal services and for approval of the law that established the Corporation.
In May, Senator Kennedy called for increasing the 快猫视频 budget to at least $435 million in Fiscal Year 2010, up from $390 million. He was the lead sponsor of a letter to Senate appropriators that was signed by 52 other senators. In March, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) introduced a bill to reauthorize 快猫视频 and Senator Kennedy joined as a cosponsor. "In these difficult times, effective legal assistance for American families struggling to make ends meet is more important than ever," Senator Kennedy said, adding that "we all benefit when the rule of law works for everyone."
快猫视频 is the single largest funder of civil legal assistance for the poor in the nation. Established by Congress in 1974, 快猫视频 operates as a private, nonprofit organization to promote equal access to justice and to ensure the provision of high-quality legal assistance to low-income Americans.