,,iv  #aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,h4 ,,res4 #ifj  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(     
,,repres5tatives  ,may #h1 #bjbj,mr4    
,k5n$y 7= himself1 ,mrs4 ,brooks (      
,indiana1 ,mr4 ,coh51 ,mrs4 ,d+ell1 ,ms4
 ,jayapal1 ,ms4 ,lee ( ,cali=nia1 ,ms4  
,om>1 ,mr4 ,rask91 ,ms4 ,s*ak[sky1 ,mr4 
,scott ( ,virg9ia1 ,mr4 ,s]rano1 ,mr4   
,upton1 ,ms4 ,tlaib1 ,ms4 ,ku/] ( ,new  
,hamp%ire1 & ,mr4 ,nadl]7 submitt$ !    
foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to !    
,committee on ! ,judici>y  ,,resolution 
,recogniz+ ! "r to c\nsel 9 civil       
proce$+s4  ,:]eas ! ju/ice sy/em 9 !    
,unit$ ,/ates dep5ds on fair & equal    
access to ! c\rts z a fundam5tal "r 9 a 
democratic society2 ,:]eas ! fir/ l9e ( 
! ,unit$ ,/ates ,con/itution id5tifies  
e/abli% ,ju/ice z a purpose ( !         
,con/itution2 ,:]eas1 9 crim9al proce$+s
 involv+ imprisonm5t1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates   
,con/itution gu>antees a lawy] = anyone 
unable to af=d "o 9 ord] to ensure      
fairness & equal treatm5t2 ,:]eas       
engrav$ 9 /one above ! entrance to !    

,unit$ ,/ates ,supreme ,c\rt reads      
,equal ,ju/ice ,"u ,law2 ,:]eas ,*ief   
,ju/ice ( ! ,supreme ,c\rt ( ,texas &   
presid5t ( ! ,conf]5ce ( ,*ief ,ju/ices 
,na?an ,he*t has said ju/ice = only ^?  
:o c af=d x is nei!r ju/ice = all nor   
ju/ice at all2 ,:]eas civil proce$+s (t5
 det]m9e issues involv+ basic human     
ne$s1 includ+ %elt]1 cu/ody ( *ildr51   
safety f abuse1 heal?1 & su/5ance2      
,:]eas ! ,am]ican ,b> ,association1 :i* 
is ! l>ge/ volunt>y association ( legal 
pr(essionals 9 ! _w1 has long urg$ !    
,f$]al ,gov]nm5t & ,/ate & t]ritorial   
gov]nm5ts to provide legal c\nsel z a   
matt] ( "r at public exp5se to l[-income
 individuals 9 adv]s>ial proce$+s       
involv+ basic human ne$s1 includ+ %elt]1
 su/5ance1 safety1 heal?1 & *ild cu/ody1
 z det]m9$ by ea* jurisdiction2 ,:]eas  
individuals )\t lawy]s face difficult & 
(t5 insurm\ntable b>ri]s to obta9+      
ju/ice 9 ! c\rts2 ,:]eas c\rts attempt+ 
to provide ju/ice to individuals )\t    
lawy]s (t5 _c obta9 vital in=mation     

necess>y = mak+ fully in=m$ decisions on
 ! m]its2 ,:]eas ! #bjag ,ju/ice ,gap   
,report publi%$ by ! f$]ally fund$      
,legal ,s]vices ,corporation f\nd t at  
lea/ #ga p]c5t ( l[-income h\seholds    
exp]i5ce a civil legal problem1 includ+ 
problems reg>d+ dome/ic viol5ce1        
vet]ans' b5efits1 disability access1    
evictions1 h\s+ conditions1 & heal? c>e2
 ,:]eas ! #bjag ,ju/ice ,gap ,report    
f\nd t l[-income individuals 9 ! ,unit$ 
,/ates receiv$ inadequate or no legal   
help = #hf p]c5t ( _! civil legal       
problems2 ,:]eas millions ( individuals 
9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates _c af=d to hire a     
lawy]1 includ+ approximately #id1jjj1jjj
 individuals ) family incomes bel[ #bjj 
p]c5t ( ! ,f$]al pov]ty guidel9es 7z    
def9$ by ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,heal? & ,human  
,s]vices72 ,:]eas assi/ance programs    
support less ?an #a civil legal aid     
attorney p] #aj1jjj individuals ) an    
income "u #bjj p]c5t ( ! ,f$]al pov]ty  
guidel9es2 ,:]eas c\ntless /udies h %[n 
t programs t provide attorneys to       

l[-income individuals produce fair]     
outcomes1 promote public confid5ce 9 !  
ju/ice sy/em1 facilitate great] judicial
 effici5cy1 & save taxpay] doll>s2      
,:]eas a #bjae report titl$ ,! ,l&scape 
( ,civil ,litigation 9 ,/ate ,c\rts     
publi%$ by ! ,national ,c5t] = ,/ate    
,c\rts f\nd t only #bf p]c5t ( def5dants
 h an attorney2 ,:]eas ! ,conf]5ce (    
,*ief ,ju/ices & ! ,conf]5ce ( ,/ate    
,c\rt ,adm9i/rators resolv$ 9 #bjae to  
support ! aspirational goal ( #ajj p]c5t
 access to effective assi/ance =        
ess5tial civil legal ne$s2 ,:]eas       
self-repres5t$ litigants face           
significantly worse outcomes 9 c\rt1    
includ+ t-- 7#a7 9 ,montgom]y ,c\nty1   
,m>yl&1 dome/ic viol5ce victims )\t     
lawy]s are almo/ ?ree times m likely ?an
 ^? ) lawy]s to drop _! cases be=e      
obta9+ f9al protection2  7#b7 9 ,m>icopa
 ,c\nty1 ,arizona1 judges take1 on      
av]age1 less ?an a m9ute to he> eviction
 proce$+s involv+ unrepres5t$ t5ants1 ) 
judgm5ts ov]:elm+ly favor+ l&lords2     

7#c7 9 ,wiscons91 ,social ,security     
,disability claimants ) repres5tation   
succe$ up to #gj p]c5t ( ! "t :ile      
unrepres5t$ claimants succe$ only #cj to
 #ee p]c5t ( ! "t2 &  7#d7 nationwide1  
only #ad p]c5t ( def5dants 9 debt       
collection proce$+s h attorneys 7comp>$ 
) #ii p]c5t ( pla9tiffs7 & def5dants )  
an attorney are significantly m likely  
to prevail 7includ+ #aj times m likely  
to prevail 9 ,virg9ia72 ,:]eas inve/+ 9 
civil legal aid provides enorm\s co/    
sav+s to ,/ates1 includ+ t-- 7#a7 9     
#bjaf1 ,florida sav$ #fj1djj1jjj by     
provid+ civil legal s]vices1 includ+    
#b1ijj1jjj 9 avoid$ co/s ( em]g5cy      
%elt]1 #ej1fjj1jjj 9 avoid$ =eclosure   
co/s1 & #f1ijj1jjj 9 avoid$ co/s        
associat$ ) dome/ic viol5ce2  7#b7 = e  
#a sp5t on civil legal aid = h\s+ cases 
9 ,massa*usetts 9 #bjad ! ,commonweal?  
sav$ #b4fi on o!r s]vices1 includ+      
em]g5cy %elt]1 heal? c>e1 fo/] c>e1 &   
law en=cem5t1 & by provid+ legal s]vices
 to survivors ( dome/ic viol5ce1        

,massa*usetts sav$ #b = ea* #a sp5t t   
ye>2  7#c7 9 #bjaa1 a #ec1fjj1jjj       
inve/m5t 9 civil legal s]vices 9        
,p5nsylvania creat$ #b1fdc jobs & yield$
 #eid1jjj1jjj 9 income & co/ sav+s =    
resid5ts1 includ+ a #be1jjj1jjj sav+s 9 
em]g5cy %elt] co/s & an influx (        
#aah1jjj1jjj 9 ,social ,security b5efits
 = l[-income resid5ts2 &  7#d7 9 #bjjh1 
civil legal aid 9 ,miss\ri help$ #acj   
l[-income families avoid homelessness1  
sav+ ! ,/ate #a1ejj1jjj 9 em]g5cy %elt] 
co/s1 & t aid provid$ repres5tation 9   
dome/ic viol5ce proce$+s t sav$ ! ,/ate 
#b1bjj1jjj 9 avoid$ co/s1 includ+ co/s  
relat+ to m$ical c>e = injuries1 police 
res\rces1 & c\nsel+ = affect$ *ildr52   
,:]eas e ,/ate has enact$ legislation to
 gu>antee c\nsel = "s types ( civil     
proce$+s1 mo/ commonly *ild welf>e &    
m5tal heal? proce$+s1 b ! rea* ( ^! laws
 is v limit$2 ,:]eas a few ,/ates1      
c\nties1 & cities ?r\gh\t ! ,unit$      
,/ates h s\ght to address unmet civil   
legal ne$s by gu>antee+ attorneys =     

individuals :o _c af=d !m 9 proce$+s    
affect+ basic human ne$s1 includ+ t--   
7#a7 s9ce #aige1 ! ,/ate ( ,new ,york   
has provid$ a "r to appo9t$ c\nsel =    
individuals liv+ bel[ #bej p]c5t ( !    
,f$]al pov]ty guidel9es 9 critical      
family law proce$+s1 includ+ proce$+s   
relat$ to adoption1 *ild cu/ody1 &      
dome/ic viol5ce2  7#b7 s9ce #bjji1      
,cali=nia has fund$ ! provision (       
attorneys 9 sev]al c\nties = individuals
 liv+ bel[ #bjj p]c5t ( ! ,f$]al pov]ty 
guidel9es 9 proce$+s involv+ basic human
 ne$s1 includ+ h\s+ & family law        
proce$+s2  7#c7 s9ce #bjjh1 ,wyom+ has  
provid$ a "r to appo9t$ c\nsel =        
unrepres5t$ individuals subject to civil
 commitm5t proce$+s = m5tal illness2    
7#d7 9 #bjag1 ,new ,york ,city enact$   
legislation to provide a "r to c\nsel by
 #bjbb = all t5ants subject to eviction 
:o are liv+ at or bel[ #bjj p]c5t ( !   
,f$]al pov]ty guidel9es & appropriat$   
funds to gu>antee1 9 "s areas ( ! city1 
! provision ( full legal assi/ance to   

income-eligible t5ants & brief          
consultation s]vices to all o!r t5ants2 
7#e7 9 #bjag & #bjah1 ! ,di/rict (      
,columbia & ,new>k1 ,new ,j]sey1        
respectively1 began appropriat+ fund+ to
 provide legal c\nsel 9 eviction        
proce$+s = individuals :o live bel[ #bjj
 p]c5t ( ! ,f$]al pov]ty guidel9es1 )   
,new>k1 ,new ,j]sey provid+ legal c\nsel
 z a matt] ( "r2  7#f7 9 #bjah1 ! ,san  
,francisco ,mayor's ,(fice ( ,h\s+ &    
,community ,developm5t began provid+    
#e1hjj1jjj to #aj nonpr(it law firms to 
implem5t ! vot]-approv$ ballot measure  
to gu>antee repres5tation = all t5ants  
fac+ eviction 9 ! city2  7#g7 9 #bjai1  
,los ,angeles ,c\nty1 ,cali=nia1 provid$
 fund+ = pilot projects to provide legal
 assi/ance 9 eviction proce$+s =        
individuals liv+ bel[ #hj p]c5t ( !     
m$ian income 9 r5t-burd5$ ,,zip ,codes2 
7#h7 9 #bjai1 ! ,clevel& ,city ,c\ncil  
e/abli%$ a "r to legal s]vices provid$  
?r\gh city-fund$ legal aid programs =   
all t5ants 9 eviction proce$+s :o h     

*ildr5 & live at or bel[ #ajj p]c5t ( ! 
,f$]al pov]ty guidel9es2 &  7#i7 9      
#bjai1 ! ,philadelphia ,city ,c\ncil    
e/abli%$ a "r to legal s]vices provid$  
?r\gh city-fund$ legal aid programs =   
all t5ants 9 eviction proce$+s :o live  
at or bel[ #bjj p]c5t ( ! ,f$]al pov]ty 
guidel9es2 ,:]eas access to free legal  
repres5tation has successfully help$    
l[-income individuals 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates 
pres]ve ! necessities ( life1 includ+   
t-- 7#a7 9 ,new ,york ,city1 dur+ ! fir/
 ye> ( a city-fund$ program to provide  
c\nsel 9 eviction proce$+s1 #hd p]c5t ( 
! t5ants :o receiv$ a lawy] rema9$ 9 _! 
homes 7#ba1iee individuals 9 #g1hdg     
h\seholds72 &  7#b7 dur+ ! fir/ #e ye>s 
( ,cali=nia's ,s>g5t ,%riv] ,civil      
,c\nsel ,act1 adopt$ 9 #bjji1 #aj pilot 
projects s]v$ ne>ly #bg1jjj individuals 
9 proce$+s involv+ ! loss ( _! homes1   
*ild cu/ody disputes1 or ! urg5t ne$ = a
 family gu>dian%ip or cons]vator%ip1 )  
h\s+ s]vices alone affect+ ov] #gc1jjj  
h\sehold memb]s2 & ,:]eas ! unprec$5t$  

heal? & economic crises caus$ by !      
,,covid-#ai p&emic are comp\nd+ &       
int5sify+ ! legal ne$s ( l[-income      
individuals1 includ+ t-- 7#a7 millions m
 individuals & families w become        
eligible = legal assi/ance ?r\gh legal  
aid programs due to lo/ jobs1 furl\gh$  
employees1 & m$ical debt2  7#b7 m ?an   
#cj1jjj1jjj individuals fil$ =          
unemploym5t b5efits dur+ ! p]iod beg9n+ 
on ,m>* #ae1 #bjbj1 & end+ on ,april    
#be1 #bjbj2  7#c7 millions ( individuals
 are unable to make r5t or mortgage     
paym5ts & are at risk (1 or are fac+1   
eviction or =eclosure proce$+s2  7#d7   
accord+ to an analysis ( ov] #ac1jjj1jjj
 h\s+ units nationwide conduct$ by !    
,national ,multifamily ,h\s+ ,c\ncil1   
#ca p]c5t ( t5ants fail$ to pay r5t dur+
 ! fir/ #e days ( ,april #bjbj1 comp>$ )
 #ah p]c5t ( t5ants :o fail$ to pay r5t 
dur+ ! same p]iod 9 #bjai2  7#e7 accord+
 to a survey complet$ 9 ,/4 ,l\is1      
,miss\ri1 #de p]c5t ( r5t]s d n h en\gh 
money 9 sav+s to pay r5t = ev5 a s+le   

mon?2  7#f7 police dep>tm5ts across !   
,unit$ ,/ates are see+ dramatic         
increases 9 reports ( dome/ic viol5ce   
:ile1 z ( ,april #aj1 #bjbj1 ov] #ij    
p]c5t ( individuals are subject to      
/ay-at-home ord]s2 &  7#g7 a survey ( ! 
reque/s = legal assi/ance receiv$ by    
,legal ,s]vices ,corporation grantees   
dur+ ! la/ two weeks ( ,m>* #bjbj1      
comp>$ ) ! reque/s receiv$ dur+ ! same  
"t p]iod 9 #bjai1 %[$ t-- 7,a7 ,legal   
,s]vices ( ,v]mont _h a #ej-p]c5t       
increase 9 reque/s = legal assi/ance2   
7,b7 ,legal ,aid ( ,arkansas _h a       
#ac4b-p]c5t increase 9 ov]all reque/s = 
legal assi/ance & a #ej-p]c5t increase 9
 reque/s = h\s+-relat$ cases2 &  7,c7   
,montana ,legal ,s]vices _h a #cj-p]c5t 
increase 9 dem& = legal aid1 ) mo/ cases
 involv+ evictions1 dome/ic viol5ce1    
consum] debt1 & unemploym5t b5efits3    
,n[1 !re=e1 be x  ,t ! ,h\se (          
,repres5tatives f9ds t-- 7#a7 ! lack (  
c\nsel = l[-income individuals 9 civil  
proce$+s dim9i%es ! ju/ice sy/em 9 !    

,unit$ ,/ates2  7#b7 to effectively &   
effici5tly address ! national crisis    
describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a71 !re mu/ be a  
"r to c\nsel 9 ! civil ju/ice sy/em =   
cases involv+ basic human ne$s1 includ+ 
heal?1 safety1 family1 %elt]1 or        
su/5ance2 &  7#c7 ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t    
%>es ! burd5 )1 & %\ld support1 ,/ate & 
local ef=ts to gu>antee ! "r to c\nsel 9
 ! civil ju/ice sy/em & r$uce ! ju/ice  
gap by provid+ c\nsel 9 appropriate     
civil proce$+s )\t co/ = l[-income      
individuals4