FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact: Joel B. Finkelstein
March 2, 1999	202.225.5635

REP. NADLER SUCCESSFULLY DEMANDS EXPLORATION OF FUNDING FOR LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION Convinces Majority to Consider Providing Legal Voice to Weak and Powerless WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) today successfully led the Judiciary Committee in passing an amendment pledging to examine increased funding for the Legal Services Corporation; this amendment defeated a Republican amendment condemning the funding. Rep. Nadler is the Ranking Democratic Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law, which has jurisdiction over the Legal Services Corporation. "Today, we achieved a great victory in the battle against hypocrisy by convincing the Republican members of this Committee not to condemn outright this modest increase," Rep. Nadler said. "These are the same Republican members, after all, who over the past few months have spouted no small amount of rhetoric regarding the need for the weak and the powerless to have their day in court. Well, this increase is not nearly enough to ensure equal justice under the law -- but it is a start." The amendment introduced by Rep. Nadler and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) put the Judiciary Committee on record as supporting an examination of the Legal Services Corporation's budget request for Fiscal Year (FY) 2000 of $340 million -- an increase of $40 million from FY 1999. Of such an increase, roughly 30% would go to meet increased costs for local programs that provide legal services to the poor around the nation. The other 70% would fund new, focused initiatives to increase services to victims of domestic violence and children, and to expand the use of technology and promote client self help. "Legal Services has been under attack for years," Rep. Nadler said. "That is not surprising, since they represent the poor and powerless against the rich and powerful. Now that equality for the poor and powerless has received rhetorical support from the majority, the least they are owed is some substantive support." Representative Nadler has served in Congress since 1992. He represents the 8th District of New York, which includes parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn. # # #