WASHINGTON, April 2, 2014 — Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., will receive the American Bar Association's Congressional Justice Award on April 9 for his work to make the legal system more accessible to low-income people as well as his dedication to improve the American justice system.
"Rep. Quigley's commitment to access to justice is evident in his support for issues ranging from funding for the Legal Services Corporation to reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. We are honored to award him our ABA Justice Award," ABA President James R. Silkenat said.
In addition to championing ABA priority issues including greater federal court resources and comprehensive immigration reform, Quigley supported legislation to increase funding for the Legal Services Corporation, which is the nation's single largest provider of civil legal aid to citizens who live on incomes below or near the poverty line.
With 60 million low-income Americans qualifying for legal aid assistance, the LSC grantees provide direct services to approximately 1 million constituents, including veterans returning from combat, domestic violence victims, those coping with the after-effects of natural disasters, families involved in child custody disputes, people with disabilities and individuals facing foreclosure or other housing issues.
Quigley's support of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act ensured expanding protections for Native Americans, campus victims, survivors of sexual assault and victims of violence, regardless of immigration status. Explicit protections for LGBT victims were included in VAWA for the first time.
Quigley also opposed tax proposals that would burden law firms and other personal service businesses by requiring them to pay tax on income they have not yet received and may never receive.
Rep. Quigley will receive one of the four ABA Congressional Justice Awards that will be given as part of the association's annual effort to connect policymakers with constituents in the legal profession. ABA Day 2014 brings distinguished lawyers from 50 states to D.C. to discuss issues such as funding for the Legal Services Corporation.
Other recipients of 2014 ABA Congressional Justice Awards include Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo.
With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is one of the largest voluntary professional membership organizations in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law. View our privacy statement on line. Follow the latest ABA news at www.ambar.org/news and on Twitter @ABANews.
