Speech #930271544

In 25 key respects this bill as approved by conference is weaker than the bill adopted by the House of Representatives in 1973. and that bill was weaker. in 13 key respects than the bill introduced by the Nixon administration. Under this bill it is not required that lawyers be admitted to practice law. there is no provision for citizens to sue the corporation to see that the law is followed by local projectsor to provide reimbursement of costs for such lawenforcing activity. the American Bar Associationwhose committees and staff are increasingly influenced by legal services project attorney membersis accorded control over policy governing attorney conduct and behavior. procedures for disciplining project attorneys who violate regulations are removed from control of the national board. aid to boycotts and strikes is permitted. eligibility is so defined as to permit students. teenagers alienated from their parents. and persons who voluntarily opt for an economically nonproductive lifestyle to get free representation. the list Is endless. This bill translates into taxpayer subsidy for busing suitsas have been brought in Boston and Detroit. for involvement in union jurisdictional disputes. as on behalf of Cesar Chavez against the Teamsters. for urging that States be required to give convicted felons the right to vote. as in a recent case before the Supreme Court. for pushing to give noncitizens proportional rights to civil service employment. as argued for in California. for organizing American Indian Movement and National Welfare Rights chapters as in South Dakota and elsewhere. for bringing abortion test cases as in Utah and Massachusetts. for implementing quotas in education and employment. as in the DeFunis case and in suits against small businesses. for defending May Day rioters. as the National Juvenile Law Project did in 1972. The list has literally thousands of outrageous examples. H.R. 7824 does not contain the safeguards needed under a staff attorney system and. by shutting out prospects for judicare. and the use of private lawyers. it denies the poor the equality of choice and us the market protections which come with the private practice of law.